Part IV: 2. Institutions

Institutions

Under the guidance of Abba Kyrillos V (112th Pope), the Theological Seminary was reopened. It was housed in a building next to a church bearing the name of the Blessed Virgin surrounded by a big garden. Nonetheless, it was situated in one of the poorest suburbs of Cairo — that of Mahmasha. Then, in February 1953, it was transferred to the building situated on what is now known as the Abba Roweiss Ground. A year later, “The Higher Institute for Coptic Studies” was inaugurated in a building standing on the same ground. The difference between the Seminary and the Institute lies in that the former is restricted to student for the priesthood, and as such its syllabuses are highly specialized; while the latter is open for whomever desires to study and research into the Legacy of the Copts. The Seminary is divided into what might be termed two schools;

1. the day, which students enter after their secondary school Certificate (equals matriculation);

2. the evening, whose students are university graduates. An off-shoot of the Seminary is the Didymus School in which the Cantors are trained.

As for the Institute, it comprises ten sections, these are : music; Coptic Language; Transitional period from Ancient Egypt to Coptic Era; History of the Coptic Church (with reference to the General); African Studies; Art (including painting mosaics, glass-stain, sculptor and crafts); Law; Theology; Social Studies (with special emphasis on the Coptic community); Photography; then what are termed “assisting” studies, namely English, French and German, to assist the researchers in their readings.

There is, too, a Coptic Museum including a Library; it stands between two of the oldest churches : that of the Blessed Virgin known as “Al-Mo’allakah”, and that of Abu Serga both in Old Cairo. The Museum started by the Copts and placed among two of their most cherished churches.

In 1933, it became part of the National heritage under the administration of the Government.

Beside the Library adjoined to the Museum, there are two Papal Libraries : one in Alexandria and one in Cairo. While each monastery and each convent has its library. Needless to say that the Theological Seminary and the Institute, each, has its own library.

It should be added that at the entury to the Abba Roweiss Ground, to the right of the entrant, stands “La Société de l’ Archeologie Copte”, founded in 1932. It publishes books, holds seminars and lectures, and has a wellsized library. It, also, succeeded in carrying out some excavations, unearthing the monastery of St. Phoebamon. From 1934-1952, it issued a yearly bulletin, since then, the bulletin appears whenever possible. Its articles are in Arabic, English, French, and German — oftentimes, the original Coptic is put side by side with the translation. The Society has, moreover, published numerous books.

But the activity for which the Coptic feel great elation is that of the Youth. The Sunday Schools, started since the papacy of Abba Kyrillos V and extends now from Alexandria to Aswan, including the villages. It has become known as “The Schools of Ecclesiastical Education”. They are held on Fridays after the Liturgy and in the afternoons, and on Sunday afternoons. The classes range from “the reception” class to the secondary school education. As for the university students, they have two kinds of meetings :

1 — one strictly parochial where each group meets within its own church;

2 — one entitled “the University families”. These latter are formed by student of one (or more) college : for example the students of the Agriculture College (Ain Shams University) group themselves in “St. Athanasius Family”; on the other hand, the students of Commerce in both universities of Cairo and Ain Shams have bended themselves together to form “St. Paul’s Family”. There are more than fifty of these families in Cairo. They are all under the guidance of the Pope Abba Shenouda III. Each family meet once a week for a lecture or a discussion.

The latest offshoot, is the opening of “nurseries” for the children whose mothers work. These schools are usually in rooms adjoining the churches, or within the garden of a church which happens to have one. The supervisors are mostly volunteers working in collaboration with the priests and under their guidance.

Another revived custom is the incessant onflow of these groups — singly, together or with other groups — to the monasteries and convents. The diverse Church seasons and commemorations are capitalized for such “pilgrimages”. For example, Lent is a most appropriate time for all those inclined to meditation, and the long hours of prayers upheld in these sanctified retreats-offer them great satisfaction. Also, the week during which the commemoration of the martyrdom or death of a saint is a time for celebration : The Ritual invariably includes hymns of praise and processions overflowing with spiritual elation. There is, thus, an incessant contact between the desert dwellers and those living in the world. And, in all honesty, a day spent in one of these sanctuaries is impossible to describe; it has to be experienced.