Cairo – Sunday, August 30, 2026

During his address at the graduation ceremony of the 18th cohort of the Episcopal School of Theology, held at All Saints’ Episcopal Cathedral in Zamalek, the Most Rev. Dr. Samy Fawzy, Archbishop of Alexandria for the Episcopal Anglican Province of Alexandria and Bishop of the Diocese of Egypt, expressed his gratitude to Dr. Shady Anis, Dean of the Episcopal School of Theology, and the members of the School’s Board of Directors for the education and vision they have provided in guiding the work toward the extension of God’s Kingdom.

Archbishop Samy Fawzy also thanked the School’s professors and lecturers for their efforts in teaching, grading, following up with, and guiding the students. He also expressed his appreciation to the administrative team for the arrangements made throughout the year, particularly those related to the graduation ceremony.

The Archbishop noted that the Episcopal School of Theology has received accreditation and joined the Association of Theological Colleges and Institutes in the Middle East, emphasizing that this means the degrees held by the School’s graduates are trusted by many. At the same time, he stressed that this places a greater responsibility on the School to maintain and develop the quality of education.

Bishop Samy Fawzy thanked the church leaders and representatives who joined the School in celebrating the occasion, asking the Lord to bless them and reward them for their labor of love. He also extended special thanks to the graduates’ families—their wives, husbands, children, fathers, and mothers—for the burdens they carried throughout the years of study due to absences, work commitments, and limited time.

In his address, Dr. Gergis Saleh, Honorary General Secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches and representative of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, emphasized that graduation is not the end of knowledge, but rather the beginning of a new journey. He noted that the Bible is a vast sea, and the more a person grows in knowledge, the more they recognize the depth of what they still need to learn.

Saleh congratulated the Episcopal School of Theology and its graduates, expressing his happiness at the School’s admission to the Association of Theological Colleges and Institutes in the Middle East. He emphasized the importance of cooperation among theological education institutions in the region and its role in strengthening missionary work and serving the Church. He also encouraged the graduates to continue their studies and formation and to prepare themselves for missionary ministry. He thanked the School’s leadership, faculty, and everyone who contributed to the formation and preparation of the graduates.

For his part, the Most Rev. George Chehade, Archbishop of the Maronite Archdiocese of Cairo, Egypt and Sudan, and Apostolic Visitor to North Africa, emphasized the importance of continuing formation, growing in knowledge, and listening to the Word of God, referring to Mary, the sister of Martha, who sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to His teaching.

Chehade explained that believers are called to listen more deeply to the teaching of Christ and the Holy Scriptures so that they may bear witness through both word and life in society and the world. He noted that graduation represents a new beginning for further knowledge, formation, and ministry. He called on the graduates to be examples in society and to have the courage to commit themselves to the mission of the Gospel and to bear witness to Christ.

In his address, the Rev. Refaat Fikry, Head of the Council for Dialogue and Ecumenical Relations of the Evangelical Church in Egypt and Associate General Secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches, emphasized that the celebration represents the fruit of a journey of academic and spiritual formation, as well as the beginning of a new stage of responsibility in serving the Church, society, and humanity.

Fikry congratulated the School on joining the Association of Theological Colleges and Institutes affiliated with the Middle East Council of Churches, describing the step as an important addition to the journey of theological education and ecumenical cooperation in the region. He stressed that theological education should lead to a firm faith and responsible service, emphasizing the need of the Church in the Middle East for ministers who combine depth of faith with intellectual rigor, and faithfulness to the faith with respect for human dignity, while contributing to building bridges of dialogue and peace.

Fikry also congratulated the graduates of the 18th cohort and their families and thanked the faculty members and staff of the School. He emphasized the importance of the School continuing its mission of preparing ministers who are academically and spiritually equipped, capable of serving the Church and society and contributing to building bridges of dialogue.

The ceremony concluded with prayers by the Most Rev. Dr. Samy Fawzy for the graduates, asking the Lord to bless their lives and ministries, guide their steps in this new stage, and use them for the glory of His name and the service of the Church and society.

The ceremony was attended by the Most Rev. George Chehade, Archbishop of the Maronite Archdiocese of Cairo, Egypt and Sudan, and Apostolic Visitor to North Africa; the Rev. Refaat Fikry, Head of the Council for Dialogue and Ecumenical Relations of the Evangelical Church in Egypt and Associate General Secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches; Dr. Gergis Saleh, Honorary General Secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches and representative of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II; Dr. Hoda Gendy, Vice Chair of the School’s Board of Directors; the Rev. Dr. Justin Terry, Board Member and Academic Dean of Wycliffe Hall, University of Oxford; Bishop Justin Holcomb, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida; the Rev. Yashua Yacoub, General Secretary of the Council of Churches of Egypt; and Archdeacon Yasser Koko, Assistant to the Bishop for the Ministry to Sudanese People in the Diocese.

It is worth noting that the Episcopal School of Theology continues to receive applications for admission for the new academic year until September 5, 2026. Classes at the Cairo and Upper Egypt campuses will begin on September 24, 2026, while the academic term at the Alexandria campus will begin on October 1, 2026.

Issued by
The Media Office of the Diocese of Egypt of the Episcopal Anglican Church