Today, Wednesday, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II attended the graduation ceremony of a new class of diploma students from the Theological Seminary in Alexandria. The ceremony was held at the theater adjoining the Papal Residence in Alexandria.
The ceremony featured a number of speeches and presentations. It began with an address by His Grace Anba Hermina, General Bishop of the Churches of the East Alexandria Sector and Professor of Dogmatic Theology at the Seminary. He expressed his gratitude to His Holiness and emphasized that education is a biblical commandment and that, through knowledge, we can become more like God.
He explained that knowledge bears three characteristics: faithfulness, humility, and enlightenment. He noted that just as Pope Shenouda III made the Theological Seminary a driving force for education in the Coptic Church, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II is likewise a Pope of renewal and enlightenment in Church education.
In his address, Fr. Andrawes Matta, Dean of the Seminary, emphasized that students face the great challenge of living according to what they study in order to bear witness to Christ. He also presented a report containing statistics on the graduates. His Holiness then viewed a presentation of several graduation projects.
The ceremony concluded with an address by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, in which he congratulated the graduates and commended the various presentations and reports delivered during the ceremony. His Holiness spoke about the different educational institutions within the Coptic Church, particularly those established and developed following the pioneering work of St. Habib Girgis.
His Holiness also announced that the Church is in the process of establishing a Council for Church Education, consisting of 24 doctorate holders, which will be responsible for developing the educational policy of the Coptic Church.
His Holiness encouraged the students to possess the qualities of abundant love and perseverance in enduring hardships as good soldiers of Jesus Christ, and to be contemporary individuals who live in the present with a clear vision and mission.
Fr. Andrawes Matta then read the graduates’ pledge.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, His Holiness honored the graduates of the Diploma in Theological and Ecclesiastical Studies, comprising 117 graduates, as well as the graduates of the Accelerated Diploma in Theological and Ecclesiastical Studies, comprising 66 graduates.
The ceremony was attended by His Grace Bishop Pavly, General Bishop of the Churches of the Montazah Sector in Alexandria; His Grace Bishop Hermina, General Bishop of the Churches of the East Alexandria Sector; and Fr. Abraam Emil, Patriarchal Vicar General in Alexandria.
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