Dr. Michel Abs Participates in the Pilgrimage Trip for the Deans of the Theological Colleges and Institutes in the Middle East
A Prayer in Front of the Relics of St. Mark the Apostle – Egypt
Cairo, July 13, 2024
Dr. Michel Abs, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), participated in the pilgrimage visit made by the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East A.T.I.M.E., headed by its President the Rt. Reverend Archimandrite Jack Khalil, Dean of the Saint John of Damascus Theological Institute at the University of Balamand, Lebanon, and Father Dr. Michael Kanbar, the Executive Secretary of A.T.I.M.E., the MECC Honorary Secretary General Dr. Gergis Saleh, the MECC Associate Secretaries General Reverend Refaat Fikri, Father Dr. Nicolas Bustros, and the Deans of the Theological Colleges and Institutes in the Middle East and their representatives, to the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral of St. Mark in the Abbasiya area in Cairo. Dr. Gergis Saleh presented to the participants an extensive explanation of the history of the Cathedral and its Icons.
Then, they visited the Shrine of St. Mark the Apostle, prayed and were blessed from his relics.
Afterwards, the delegation made a tour in the Bishop Anba Royce Theological Seminary and Institute, and were received by Bishop Anba Michael, Bishop of Helwan and Al Masara, and the Vice Dean of the Seminary Institute - Bishop Anba Royce, in the presence of the Secretary General of the Egypt Council of Churches Reverend Yeshua Yacoub.
Following the reception, the Rt. Reverend Archimandrite Dean Jack Khalil, the President of A.T.I.M.E., delivered a speech in which he thanked Bishop Anba Michael for his fatherly reception, presenting an explanation of the role of A.T.I.M.E. and the conference that was held under the title “We Witness Together.”
Bishop Anba Michael then delivered a speech, thanking everyone for their visit to the Institute, which is considered one of the most important and oldest Theological Institutes in the history of the Coptic Orthodox Church. He praised the valuable lectures that characterized the conference, stressing the importance of serving the Lord in all that is best for the good of mankind.
Then, Dr. Michel Abs delivered a speech in which he thanked Bishop Anba Michael and everyone for their fraternal reception that reflects great love, mentioning the role played by the Coptic Orthodox Church and all the Churches of Egypt, especially in MECC, where it is considered one of its pillars. He also talked about the goals of his visit and the stations it included.
After that, the Rt. Reverend Archimandrite Jack Khalil and Father Dr. Michael Kanbar offered Bishop Anba Michael a book entitled “Monasteries of the See of Antioch”, who in turn offered the delegation icons of the Entry of the Holy Family into Egypt and the icon of Jesus the Master, as well as a book entitled “The Seminary Institutes in 125 Years.”
At the end of the visit, everyone made a tour in the Institute and had a look at its departments and specializations.
