Thank you for your support at the 2019 Friends of Coptic Education Gala
The 2019 Friends of Coptic Education Fundraising Gala was an event to remember as Fr. Khaled Anatolios, Ph.D., shared his wisdom regarding how St. Athanasius and St. Cyril established an effective Christian foundation, and His Grace Bishop Kyrillos, Dean of ACTS, shared an inside glimpse into the future of the school. Overall, the event was a successful fundraiser that helps ensure the continued success of the Christian Education Department and its programs under the guidance of His Grace Bishop Kyrillos. As a result of the generous contributions from the Friends of Coptic Education, the Christian Education department will be able to continue to support education at all age levels including Saint Athanasius and Saint Cyril Coptic Orthodox Theological School, the new deacon certification programs, Sunday school curriculum, and servants preparatory education.
Guests began the evening with independent tours of Michaelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. The exhibition at the Christ Cathedral demonstrates Michaelangelo’s artistry and allows visitors to get up-close and personal. Guests who had visited the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican in Italy prior remarked that the presentation of the exhibit allowed them to examine the Renaissance art with more detail than physically possible at the chapel itself.
Afterward, part Master of Ceremonies and part stand-up-comedy act, Father Andrew Iskander, enthralled the crowd with quirky anecdotes and witty quips. These include reminiscing on his first time serving at the altar alongside His Eminence Metropolitan Serapion, and grocery shopping with His Grace Bishop Kyrillos for Bulgarian feta.
His Eminence, Metropolitan Serapion, briefly spoke at the event, reflecting on the importance of early church fathers such as St. Basil, St. Gregory the Theologian, and St. John Chrysostom. His Eminence extolled the benefits of Christian education and learning about these theologians’ teachings, as it not only enhances our own understanding but allows us to better communicate the Truth to the world. He emphasized that we live in a highly intellectual society and that it’s important to “speak their language, but without deviation from our faith,” much like these early fathers did in their teachings.
Afterward, Maestro and accomplished violinist, Adel Eskander, performed a number of heartfelt renditions of classic Coptic hymns such as Hail to Mary and My Coptic Church, O Seeker, as well as several other classic Coptic Arabic hymns.
After dinner, keynote speaker and University of Notre Dame Professor, Fr. Dr. Khaled Anatolios guided the audience in an examination of how St. Athanasius and St. Cyril guide us in understanding how Jesus Christ is the Truth and its role as the foundation of Christian education. He remarked that humans continually search for beauty, and that “everything around us is full of inexhaustible meaning and radiance.” Dr. Anatolios demonstrates that this human search for truth is explained by St. Athanasius. St. Athanasius explains that we find this truth when we realize everything around us reflects God because “all of creation participates in the Son’s imaging and expression and reflection of the Father.” Therefore, St. Athanasius teaches us that despite the breadth of Christian education, it must be centered on human life and our pursuit of Christ. Furthermore, St. Athanasius and St. Cyril teach that the fullness of human action and human achievement was already achieved by Christ. As such, our actions are significant if they are also in participation with Christ’s actions of joining humanity to God, destroying death, and life through the Resurrection. Dr. Anatolios further emphasized that “the reason that St. Athanasius and St. Cyril are still models for us today in thinking about Christian education, is that they did not lay any foundation other than Jesus Christ. Instead, they clearly and profoundly taught us that Jesus Christ is the foundation and goal of all human knowing and doing.”
At the end of the program, His Grace Bishop Kyrillos, as Dean of St. Athanasius and St. Cyril Theological School (ACTS), shared achievements from the last year’s Gala as well as next year’s hopes. Donations from last year were utilized primarily to hire new staff, from a part-time director, interns, and adjunct faculty. He emphasized the tangible benefits of the additional staff; the number of students has increased, with 98 students enrolled, and 150 that are active in the school. The school boasts 18 international students, a number that is constantly growing.
ACTS Press, a printing press that focuses on theological education for all ages, including children's coloring books. ACTS Kids also launched, a weekend “school” program for ages 8-13yrs, which gives youth an introduction to theology. Marketing efforts of the school have also expanded, with education outreach occurring through social media regarding church history, events in the church, and the lives of the saints.
Most notable future plans include the launch of two new programs to be released within the next year: firstly, a Master in Christian Counseling, and a Master of Divinity (MDiv). His Grace would also like to create further programs for education regarding Iconography and Hymnology, though such programs require greater space and resources. As for the diocese servant’s certification, 40 churches were involved in the Servant’s Certification Program, and the diocese estimates over 1,000 servants will be certified by the end of the year. Presently, the ACTS Library boasts over 5,000 volumes, and His Grace hopes to double this number within the next year.
On behalf of the Friends of Coptic Education, ACTS would like to thank all its attendees, participants, and supporters. A community that values investing in education is an essential part of the Christian education ethos, and as such, continued and consistent support is necessary and greatly appreciated.
