The Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East – A.T.I.M.E
The First Annual Student Conference
Respect for Creation is Glorification of the Creator
Maadi - Cairo, 2023
The Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (A.T.I.M.E) held its first annual student conference, at the Faculty of Humanities and Theological Sciences, Maadi - Cairo, from 23 to 30 July. The conference was organized and attended by the ATIME’s Predsident, Archimandrite Jack Khalil, ATIME’s Executive Secretary Father Michael Mikhael Kanbar, the Associate Executive Secretary Reverend Bishoy Helmi, and the Associate Executive Secretary Reverend Samuel Rosvi. The following members of the Association also attended and participated: Father Bishoy Rasmi, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Theological Sciences, Maadi - Cairo, Dr. Gerges Saleh, Dr. Adly Anis Souleiman, on behalf of the Theological Seminary in Cairo, Dr. Isaac Ibrahim Ajban Shenouda, on behalf of the Institute of Coptic Studies, Dr. Michael Edward Abdo Mikhael on behalf of the Institute of Care and Education, and Father Kevork Karakozian on behalf of the Higher Theological School - the Armenian Catholicosate of the House of Cilicia - Antelias, and Father Andraos Matta on behalf of the Seminary Faculty in Alexandria. The conference's guests, Reverend Dr. Benjamin Simon from the World Council of Churches, and Dr. Manal Nader, Director of the Institute of Environmental Studies at the University of Balamand, also participated.
The students who represented their Colleges are: Dany Geagea and Roudolph Harb from the Faculty of Religious and Theological Sciences – Sagesse University. Rami Al Turk from the St. Paul's Institute of Philosophy and Theology - Paulist. Ihab Isaac and Sarmad Abdallah from the Bbael College of Philosophy and Theology - Ankawa - Erbil. Nada Al Mallah from the Faculty of Religious Sciences - Saint Joseph University. Richard Badran and Weam Al Bitar from St. John of Damascus Theological Institute - Balamand. Marcel Abed Al Latif and John Kourieh from St. Ephrem Theological Seminary - Maarat Saydnaya, Syria. Roy Zeidan and David Keyrouz from the Pontifical Theological College - Kaslik. Father Avedik Dirkara Bedian from of the Higher Theological Seminary – Armenian Catholicosate of the House of Cilicia - Antelias. Aline Tahzian and Myriam Pollak from the Near East Theological Seminary. Kyrillos Saad and Michael Fares from the Seminary’s Faculty - Day Department - Cairo. Mary Hani and Mona Michel from the Institute of Coptic Studies - Cairo. Nabih Souleiman and Amira Roudolph from the Care and Education Institute - Cairo. Raymonda Nesfi and Milad Nabil from the Seminary’s Faculty- Alexandria. Iman Sami from the Seminary’s Faculty, Postgraduate Studies, and Sandy Emile from the Seminary’s Faculty, evening department, in Anba Rewis. Naji Chawki and Mina Zaki from the Faculty of Humanities and Theological Sciences, Maadi. Safwat Fawzi and Youhanna Rizkallah from the Faculty of Humanities and Theological Sciences - Sakakini. Abanoub Yemen and Milad Bahran from the Evangelical Theological Faculty in Egypt - Cairo. Majida Habil and Timotaos Ayad from the Evangelical Faculty of Theology in Egypt - Alexandria.
Day 1: Monday 24 July 2023
Opening session:
The conference opening Prayer at the Faculty was presided over by His Beatitude Patriarch Anba Ibrahim Isaac, Coptic Catholic Patriarch of Alexandria, and Head of the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Egypt. Then, everyone moved to the "Theology Hall", where the opening session was held, during which the fathers Bishops of the Coptic Catholic Church in Egypt participated, Bishop Anba Michael from the Coptic Orthodox Church, Bishop George Chihan from the Maronite Church, the Counselor of the Vatican Embassy Monsignor Marcel, and Rev. Dr. Benjamin Simon representing the Secretary General of the World Council of Churches, and Reverend Dr. Refaat Fikry, representing the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches.
In his speech, His Beatitude the Patriarch stressed that we meet today, by the Spirit of God, stressing the need for Man to respect nature in order to be able to preserve humanity. The opening session included a welcome speech by the Seminary’s President Father Bishoy Rasmi, the speech of the Secretary General of the World Council of Churches, Dr. Reverend Jerry Pillay, delivered by Professor Benjamin Simon, and the speech of the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs, delivered by Reverend Refaat Fikry, ending with the speech of the ATIME’s President Archimandrite Professor Jack Khalil.
Afterwards, Professor Benjamin Simon delivered the first lecture at the conference, entitled "History of the Ecumenical Movement".
Second session:
The second session of the conference was held at 2:00 pm, in which Professor Manal Nader presented a lecture about "The Church's Role in Environmental Work and Sustainable Development". In his lecture, he gave a detailed explanation of the Institute of Environmental Studies at the University of Balamand, whose message reflects the activation and dissemination of the Orthodox Church’s commitment in giving additional value to the defense of the environment and sustainable development.
In the afternoon, the conference participants visited the President of the Evangelical Church Reverend Andrea Zaki, at his Residence in Cairo. He presented to the participants the activities of the Evangelical Church in Egypt. Following the meeting, the participants went to visit the Evangelical Faculty in Abbasiya and congratulated its new President, the Associate Executive Secretary of ATIME Dr. Samuel Rosvi.
Day 2: Tuesday 25 July 2023
First session:
It included a lecture delivered by the ATIME’s President Archimandrite Professor Jack Khalil, under the title "Respect for Creation is Glorification of the Creator in Romans 1: 16-32".
Second session:
It included a lecture delivered by Dr. Reverend Sherif Salah, under the title "Our Message Towards Creation".
In the afternoon, the participants headed to Askit Wadi El Natrun. They visited the Monastery of Anba Bishoy and were received by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II at the "Logos" Center. At the beginning, His Holiness accompanied the conferees on a tour at the Papal Residence in the "Logos" Center, where they visited the Church of the Transfiguration, the Pontifical Central Library, the hall of the Holy Synod and the museum corridor. Afterwards, they went to the hall of the Deacon Engineer Emad Sobhy, where His Holiness gave a lecture about the aspects of this time, in which he explained how Man has become without feelings, and technology without principles, and the earth without stability. He also explained how these aspects can be dealt with by relying on God Almighty, taking the Bible as a guide for life, in the bosom of the Church, which is the port of salvation, and the family, which is an entity and security. Then, His Holiness distributed gifts to participants, and took photos with them.
Day 3: Wednesday 26 July 2023
First session:
A Lecture delivered by Father Youssef Abi Zeid entitled "The Call of tHuman in the Light of His Created Nature"
Second session:
A workshop about the internal bylaws for the students of the Association, directed by Archimandrite Jack Khalil.
In the afternoon, the participants visited the Mokattam Mountain and the Church of St. Simon the Tanner, then they moved to the Papal headquarters in Anba Rewis in Abbasiya, and they visited the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center and the ME Sat station, as well as they met His Eminence Anba Ermia, who supervises the Center and the station. Then they visited Anba Michael, President of the Seminary’s Faculty, and they had a tour in the Institute of Coptic Studies and the Welfare Institute.
Day 4: Thursday 27 July 2023
The fourth day was dedicated to tourism in Cairo. Firstly, a visit was made to the pyramids in Giza, then to the Egyptian Museum, afterwards to the Greek Orthodox Monastery of St. George and the Hanging Church of the Coptic Orthodox in Ancient Egypt. Then, there was lunch on the "Andreas Memphis" floating restaurant in the Nile. Finally, a visit was made to the Church of the Virgin Mary in Maadi.
Day 5: Friday 28 July 2023
First session:
Father Bishoy Helmi's Lecture entitled "Respect for Creation in the Thought of the Church Fathers".
Second session:
A workshop on "Prominent Ecumenical Meetings between Spiritual Leaders in Recent Decades, a Sign of Hope for Unity" moderated by Father Bishoy Helmi.
In the afternoon activity, the participants continued listening to proposals for amendments to the students' bylaws. The two regional committees were also elected:
The Committee of Students of Lebanon, Syria and Iraq. The results of the elections were as follows:
Deacon David Keyrouz, President
Father Avedik Dikar Bedian, Vice-President
Weam Al Bitar, Secretary
Aline Tahzian, Treasurer
Committee for the Students of Egypt. The results of the elections were as follows:
Deacon Naji Chawki, President
Deacon Michael Fares, Vice President
Majida Habil, Secretary
Nabih Souleiman, Treasurer
Day Six: Saturday 29 July 2023
The sixth day was dedicated to tourism in Alexandria, where the participants visited firstly St. Mark's Church and the Theological Seminary. After that, they visited His Beatitude and Holiness Pope Theodoros II, Greek Orthodox Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa. His Beatitude and Holiness received them in the official hall, and referred in his speech to the glorious history of the Church of Alexandria and its Theological school, and talked about its modern missionary and humanitarian activity. He added: “Welcome to the headquarters of the historic Church of Alexandria, which was founded by the Evangelist, the Apostle Mark. Welcome to the land of the Nile, the Cradle of Christian Theology that led the Church under heaven to the path of truth, in the country where great fathers and teachers lived, worked and taught, and enlightened the Apostolic and Patriarchal Throne of Alexandria. We can mention the President of the First Ecumenical Council Pope Alexandros, and the Theologians, the pillars of our Faith, the great Saints Athanasius and Cyril. Afterwards, gifts were exchanged and a tour of the Patriarchate Library and Archives was made.
Thus, the conference’s sessions and activities ended were concluded with the hope that the work will continue to activate the Association and strengthen the joint activity between the students of Theological Institutes and Colleges in the Middle East.
Archimandrite Jack Khalil Father Michael Kanbar
President of the ATIME Executive Secretary
