ATIME Student Summer Conference Opens in Cairo with a Spiritual Encounter with His Holiness Pope Tawadros II
You can find some photos at the end of the text.
The Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME) Student Summer Conference 2026 officially opened on 13 July 2026 at Our Lady of Peace Guest House in Cairo, bringing together theology students from across the Middle East for a week of ecumenical formation, dialogue, and fellowship.
The conference began with a morning prayer according to the Coptic Orthodox tradition. The prayer was led by Dr. Gergis Saleh, former General Secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and current Associate Executive Secretary of ATIME, together with Fr. Movses Yosolkanian, representing the Armenian Faculty of Theology. All student participants took part in the prayer, marking the beginning of the conference in a spirit of worship, fellowship, and Christian unity.
The opening session was moderated by Rev. Dr. Samuel Rozfy Ibrahim, Executive Secretary of ATIME and Dean of the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo. He welcomed the participants and emphasized the importance of preparing a new generation of ecumenical leaders committed to serving the Churches of the Middle East in a spirit of unity.
Welcoming addresses were delivered by Anba Bakhoum , Rector of Our Lady of Peace Guest House; Rev. Refaat Fikry, Associate General Secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches; and Dr. Gergis Saleh, Honorary General Secretary who conveyed greetings on behalf of the Coptic Orthodox Church. Ms. Elina Mikkola, representative of the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission (FELM), the conference's supporting partner, also addressed the participants, expressing her best wishes for a fruitful and inspiring conference.
Following the opening session, the participants visited the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, one of the most significant spiritual centers of the Coptic Orthodox Church. They prayed at the tombs of Saint Mark the Evangelist, founder of the Church of Alexandria, and Saint Athanasius the Apostolic, giving thanks for their enduring witness to the Christian faith and drawing inspiration from their rich spiritual legacy.
The highlight of the day was an audience with His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark. During a spiritual encounter lasting more than one hour, His Holiness offered a profound reflection on the essential foundations that shape the human person and enable young people to respond faithfully to the challenges of the modern world. He explained that every person needs security to live with confidence and peace, a clear identity rooted in a living relationship with God and an awareness of one's true dignity, a strong sense of belonging to the family, the Church, and society, a meaningful purpose that gives direction and value to life, and the competence to develop and employ one's gifts and talents for the good of others. His Holiness concluded by stressing that these five pillars help young people remain steadfast amid the rapid changes of our time and empower them to become bearers of hope and faithful witnesses to Christ and to the love that never fails.
Following the Pope's address, His Eminence Anba Bijol, President of ATIME, presented the Association's mission and activities, highlighting its role in strengthening ecumenical cooperation among theological institutions and in forming future Church leaders through dialogue, fellowship, and common witness. The meeting concluded with an open dialogue, during which the students had the opportunity to ask questions and receive pastoral guidance from His Holiness.
The conference continued in the afternoon with its first keynote lecture, "Artificial Intelligence and Its Applications in Church Life," delivered by Dr. Ramy Saed. The lecture was followed by workshops and small-group discussions, enabling participants from different Church traditions and countries to exchange perspectives, deepen their understanding of the topic, and strengthen their ecumenical fellowship.
The ATIME Student Summer Conference will continue throughout the week with lectures, workshops, spiritual activities, and cultural visits, providing theology students from across the Middle East with opportunities to grow together in faith, knowledge, friendship, and their shared commitment to Christian unity and common witness.
