The fourth and final day of the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME) Student Summer Conference brought to a close an inspiring week of prayer, learning, dialogue, and ecumenical fellowship.

The day opened with morning prayer according to the Byzantine Orthodox tradition, led by Archimandrite Jack Khalil, Dean of the Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology at the University of Balamand, and ATIME Former President. He also offered the biblical reflection on the Gospel account of the Risen Lord's appearance to the disciples on the road to Emmaus, emphasizing that true knowledge of Christ is possible only through a personal encounter with the living Lord.

The third day of the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME) Student Summer Conference continued its exploration of the relationship between theology and artificial intelligence through a rich program of prayer, academic reflection, and ecumenical dialogue.

The day began with morning prayer prepared by the Evangelical group and led by Rev. Dr. Samuel Rozfy, Dean of the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo and Executive Secretary of ATIME, together with Ms. Basma Hosney, who led the participants in a series of beautiful worship songs, creating a spirit of prayer, joy, and communion among all those gathered.

Continues Its Activities in Cairo

With a Visit from His Beatitude Patriarch Anba Ibrahim Isaac Sidrak

And Explores Human Dignity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Cairo, Egypt | 14 July 2026

The second day of the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME) Student Summer Conference began with morning prayer according to the Catholic tradition. The prayer was led by Rev. Fr. Antoine Al Ahmar, Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), together with Sr. Rose Abi Aad, ATIME Associate Executive Secretary. The biblical meditation was delivered by Dr. Laurent Yacoub (Theology student from Saint Joseph University of Beirut), inviting participants to begin the day in prayerful reflection before entering into the conference sessions.

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.

Revives Historical Memory and Celebrates the Beauty of Language

at a Cultural Seminar in Beirut

With the Participation of an MECC Delegation

In a cultural evening distinguished by its audience and vibrant literary engagement, St. Maron Church in Gemmayzeh hosted a seminar and book-signing ceremony for the novel “Oyoun Al Warak (meaning “Eyes of Pape “) by Father Dr. Michel Kanbar, Former Executive Secretary of Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME), published by Kalima Art Liban Publishing House. The event was attended by a large gathering of Church, cultural, academic, media, and social figures.

Attendees were His Eminence Bishop Maroun Ammar, Maronite Bishop of Sidon, His Eminence Bishop Chokrallah Nabil El Hajj, Former Member of Parliament and Minister Edmond Rizk; Maroun Helou, President of the Maronite League, together with members of its Executive Council, and a delegation from the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) including Father Dr. Antoine El Ahmar, Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department, Professor Laure Abi Khalil, Coordinator of the Dialogue, Social Cohesion, and Human Dignity Rehabilitation Program, Journalist Lea Maamary, Coordinator of Church Relations and Media, Dr. Sultan Nassereddine, President of Dar Al Banan, the Mayor of Al-Hajja, several municipal leaders, as well as Priests, academics, students, friends of the publishing house, and members of the family of Bishop Youssef Rizk.

As part of the activities of the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME), the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Abbasia, Cairo, hosted a Theological student meeting entitled: “The Synoptic Gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke,” on Friday, March 13, 2026.

The gathering brought together around 200 students from Theological Colleges and Institutes in Egypt, representing Theological Colleges affiliated with the Coptic Orthodox Church, Catholic Church, and Evangelical Church. This academic and Ecumenical gathering aimed at enhancing Ttheological knowledge and foster interaction among students from different Theological Institutions.

Its New Executive Secretary Reverend Dr. Samuel Rozfy Ibrahim in a Special Episode for the “Platform of the Word” at MECC:  

"ATIME’s vision lies in strengthening cooperation between Theological Academic Institutes in the Middle East and instilling the Ecumenical spirit among their students"

What Are the New Activities that He Revealed?

Exclusive: Media of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) 

From the Cradle of Christianity to the entire world, and from the Middle East, a region that clings to its hope, to all corners of the globe, its mission is one: witnessing to faith and unity, and promoting the Ecumenical spirit in the region. It is an Association of fraternity, education, respect, and, most importantly, exchanging experiences and aspirations for a one, unified Theological future for all.

It is the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME), which has always sought to be a reference for students of Theological Institutes in the region. A Theological, cultural, and educational reference for future Church Leaders by contributing to the development of their capabilities and skills. How was ATIME established? What are its objectives and frameworks?

Dean of the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo and Executive Secretary of the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME)

Produced by MECC

The Video Is Produced by the Coptic Orthodox Media Center

The Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (A.T.I.M.E) held its General Assembly meeting on Friday, July 18, 2025, at Our Lady of Peace Sheraton - Cairo, headed by Archimandrite Jack Khalil, the ATIME’s President, and Father Michel Kanbar, the Executive Secretary. At the beginning of the second session at 5:00 pm, a new Executive Secretariat was elected as follows:

President: His Grace Bishop Bigol Abbot of St. Virgin Mary El-Muharraq Monastery and Director of the Monastery's Seminary (Eastern Orthodox Family)

Executive Secretary: Reverend Dr. Samuel Rozfy Ibrahim, Dean of the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo (Evangelical Family)

Associate Executive Secretaries:

Dr. Gergis Ibrahim Saleh, Honorary Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (Oriental Orthodox Family)

Sister Dr. Rose Abi Aad, Professor at the Faculty of Religious and Theological Sciences at La Sagesse University (Catholic Family)

Dr. Daniel Ayouch, Professor at the St. John of Damascus Institute, University of Balamand (Orthodox Family)

"Nicaea from the Preaching of the Apostles... to the Evangelization of Today"

At a regional moment saturated with transformations, and in the heart of Cairo, more than fifty students from various Churches and Theological Institutes in the Middle East gathered to participate in the third student conference of the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME), entitled:

"The Council of Nicaea - The Faith of the Church from the Preaching of the Apostles to the Evangelization of Today," which took place from July 13 to 18, 2025, at Our Lady of Peace Hotel, Sheraton Heliopolis, Cairo.

The conference was organized by the ATIME’s Executive Secretariat, headed by Archimandrite Jack Khalil, and coordinated directly by Father Dr. Michel Kanbar (Executive Secretary), with the participation of the Associate Secretaries Reverend Dr. Bishoy Helmy, Reverend Dr. Samuel Rozfy, and Father Antoine Al Ahmar, Director of the Theological Department of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC). It provided unique space that combined serious Theological research, living Ecumenical experience, and human communication across Church Affiliations.

Holds its Annual Meeting for the Theological Students in Lebanon, Hosted by the Near East School of Theology (NEST)

"The Council of Nicaea, The Faith of the Church from the Preaching of the Apostles to the Evangelization Today"

Media of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

Under the title "The Council of Nicaea, The Faith of the Church from the Preaching of the Apostles to the Evangelization Today," the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME) organized its annual meeting in Lebanon in order to consolidate the Ecumenical spirit and bridge the distances between the Theological students from various Institutes. The meeting was held on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, hosted by the Near East School of Theology (NEST) in Beirut.

In the presence of the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, attendees were Archimandrite Dr. Jack Khalil, Dean of the Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology at the University of Balamand – Lebanon, and ATIME President, Father Dr. Michael Kanbar, ATIME Executive Secretary, Archpriest Father Bassam Nassif, ATIME Associate Executive Secretary for the Orthodox Family, Father Dr. Nicolas Bustros, MECC Associate Secretary General, Archpriest Professor Porphyrios Georgi, and Reverend Dr. Rima Nasrallah, Professor of Practical Theology at the Near East School of Theology (NEST). As well as, attendees were Professors, Priests, Pastors, and students from various Theological Institutes, in addition to the MECC Media.

Entitled "The Council of Nicaea, the Faith of the Church from the Preaching of the Apostles to the Evangelization Today"

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) issues its annual report for the year 2023. It compiles in its pages the activities of the Middle East Council of Churches and the achievements it has accomplished at various Ecumenical, Theological, humanitarian and media levels. Despite a year burdened with global fluctuations, the MECC was not prevented to achieve its mission and desired goals of building bridges and standing together, in addition to spreading the values of love and fraternity, and the culture of peace and dialogue among all Church Families and Religions, from the Cradle of Christianity to the whole world.

Hence, through this report, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) reaffirms the necessity of adhering to faith, continuing to Pray together, and relying on our Lord Jesus Christ, in order to overcome all the difficulties and challenges that cast their shadows over the Middle East.

The Second Annual Student Conference - Obour - Cairo

“We Witness Together” is the title of the second annual student conference of the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East – A.T.I.M.E., which was held at St. Mark's Conference House in the Obour – Cairo, between 7 and 12 July 2024, with the participation of 40 students from 18 Theological Institutes in the Middle East. The conference was organized and attended by the President of the Association Archimandrite Professor Jack Khalil, Dean of the Saint John of Damascus Theological Institute at the University of Balamand, the Executive Secretary Father Dr. Michael Kanbar, and members of the Executive Secretariat of the Association, Reverend Dr. Bishoy Helmi, Reverend Dr. Samuel Rozfi, and the Rt. Reverend Father Bassam Nassif, who was unable to attend for personal reasons.

Attendees and Participnats were also the Secetary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs, the Association Members Dr. Gergis Saleh, the Honorary Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Dr. Ishak Ibrahim Ajban Shenouda from the Institute of Coptic Studies, and Dr. Michael Edward Abdo Mikhael from the Institute of Care and Education.

Hence, the video report provides an overview of the work of this conference.

In the Church of the Patriarchal Monastery of St. George, Cairo

At the invitation of the Rt. Reverend Archimandrite Damaskinos Alazrai, Head of the Patriarchal Monastery of St. George of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa in Cairo, the Rt. Reverend Archimandrite Jack Khalil, Dean of the Saint John of Damascus Institute at the University of Balamand in Lebanon and President of the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East A.T.I.M.E., presided over the Divine Liturgy, on Sunday 14 July 2024, at the Monastery’s Church.

The Mass was attended by Dr. Michel Abs, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Arlette Michel, President of the Good Shepherd Greek Orthodox Association in Heliopolis, and Member of the General Assembly of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, the MECC Media Church Relations Coordinator, and believers.

Afterwards, there was a tour in the Patriarchal Monastery of St. George and a visit to both the Babylon Fortress and the Greek Orthodox Center for Studies and Dialogue in the Monastery.

In this context, the video report presents some details about the Divine Liturgy, as well as the tour that was held after it. 

Stressing the Importance of Dialogue and Convergence

Cairo, July 14, 2024

Dr. Michel Abs, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), concluded his visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt, with the visit of His Eminence Bishop Anba Ermia, General Bishop, President of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center and Assistant Secretary General of the Egyptian Family House. Dr. Abs was accompanied by the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, the MECC Media Church Relations Coordinator. The visit took place at the Center’s headquarters - Cairo.

During the meeting, Dr. Michel Abs spoke at length about the issue of dialogue which MECC is working on it, through conferences and lectures that are being prepared and presented under the title of shared religious spaces.