Coptic Theological Seminary

The Coptic Theological Seminary is an institution of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria based in Cairo and with branches and affiliated seminaries throughout the world.[1] The Seminary claims historical continuity with the historic Catechetical School of Alexandria of the 2nd and 3rd centuries, and regards the 1893 establishment as a reestablishment of this school.[citation needed]

Directors of the Coptic Theological Seminary in Cairo include Yusuf Manqariyus from 1893 to 1918, Habib Girgis.[2][3] Graduates include Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria.[4]

History

The original school in Alexandria continued until it was closed by the Byzantine emperor at the Council of Chalcedon. The centre of learning of the Coptic Church became the Monastery of Saint Macarius the Great in the Wadi El Natrun ("valley of soda-ash") 90 km north of Cairo. In 1893 the Theological College in Alexandria was re-founded by teaching children in some Cairo churches and Coptic School halls,[5] and today has campuses in Cairo, Sydney, New Jersey and Los Angeles.

References

  1. ^ Eastern Christianity: Volume 5 – page 503 Michael Angold – 2006 "... theology in the Coptic Orthodox Church is taught at the Coptic theological seminaries, primarily the Coptic theological seminary at al-Abbasiya and the higher institute for Coptic studies, both attached to the patriarchate in Cairo."
  2. ^ Two thousand years of Coptic Christianity – page 63 Otto Friedrich August Meinardus – 2002 Habib Girgis, who succeeded Yusuf Manqariyus as director of the Coptic Theological Seminary in Cairo, wrote altogether more than thirty books, the best known of which are his Dogmatic Theology, The Mystery of Godliness,
  3. ^ Guide to the archives of the Church of the Province of Southern Africa University of the Witwatersrand. Library – 1991 "Abuna Marcos (Principal of the Coptic Theological Seminary, Cairo)"
  4. ^ Encyclopedia of modern Christian politics – page 509 Roy Palmer Domenico Born Nazeer Gayed in Asiut (Upper Egypt), he completed his studies at the University of Cairo and at the Coptic Theological Seminary. Following a period of monastic life in a monastery in the western desert of Egypt (1956–1962), ...
  5. ^ Archdeacon Habeeb Guirguis M Gibrael "In July 1893, the Pope thought of establishing a theological college which would provide the opportunity of learning for those called to become servants of the altar. ... He started by teaching the children in some Cairo churches and Coptic School halls."