His Beatitude Pope Theodoros II Receives a Delegation of Academicians from ATIME
His Beatitude Pope Theodoros II, Greek Orthodox Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, received a delegation that included a group of Academicians from the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME) and Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology in Balamand Lebanon, which is affiliated to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, and headed by Archimandrite Dr. Jack Khalil, Dean of Saint John of Damascus Institute, and ATIME’s President, in the presence of Father Dr. Michael Kanbar, ATIME’s Executive Secretary, Priest and Professor. This visit was held on Saturday 29 July 2023, at the Patriarchal Residence in Alexandria, Egypt.
During the meeting, His Beatitude Pope Theodoros II delivered a speech in which he spoke about the glorious Theological past of the Church of Alexandria and its modern missionary and humanitarian work. His Beatitude said, according to the Patriarchal Office in Alexandria: “Welcome to the headquarters of the Presbyterian Church in the city of Alexandria, which was founded by the second Evangelist, the Evangelist Mark. Welcome to the land of the Nile, the Cradle of Christianity and the creator of the Theology that led the Church under heaven towards the path of truth, in the country in which the great fathers and Faith teachers lived and worked, and enlightened the Apostolic and Patriarchal throne of Alexandria, such as the President of the First Ecumenical Council, Pope Alexandros, and the Theologians, the pillars of our faith, the great saints Athanasius and Cyril.
We welcome you to the Holy land of Egypt, whose famous Alexandrian School strengthened, through Pantaenus, Clement and Origen, the connection between the Christian faith and the Greek philosophy, while the vast deserts gave birth to asceticism and finally formed monasticism and its rules. This is through the spiritual struggle of Pachomius the Great, Anthony the Great, Saint Macarius, Saint Mary of Egypt, as well as many Saints Monks and Nuns.
We welcome you to God-fearing Egypt, the place that provided safety for the Child Jesus, the Prince of Peace, from the bloodthirsty Herod. I hope that this peace will always be marked by mutual respect, loving cooperation and relations between the Apostolic Thrones of Alexandria and Antioch, as well as among the relations between the Orthodox Churches and Christians in general... worthy of that in the firm tradition of our Fathers. In this, we think optimistically about a hopeful future for Africa, where we work ceaselessly for a better tomorrow for its hard-working children, who are bathed firstly by the light of the Gospel and the Resurrection of Christ.
From his end, and in response to the speech of His Beatitude Pope Theodoros II, Archimandrite Dr. Jack Khalil shed light on the history of the Balamand Theological Institute and its academic work, referring to the initiative to activate the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME). He also expressed the joy of all members of the group for their presence in Egypt, in the land of the Holy Fathers, the Holy Monks, and the thousands of the faith martyrs.
Then, souvenirs were exchanged, and a tour at the Patriarchate’s Library and the Archives was made.
Photos Source: Facebook Page of His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolas Antoniou, Metropolitan of Tanta (Ermopolis) and its Dependencies
