Join us at the Friends of Coptic Education 2019 Fundraising Gala

On October 13, the Friends of Coptic Education will be holding their second annual fundraising gala as a means to support the educational endeavors of the Christian Education Department of the Diocese of Los Angeles. Program highlights include a keynote speech by Fr. Khaled Anatolios, musical performance by maestro Adel Eskander, and an open-house tour of the Sistine Chapel exhibit at the Christ Cathedral. The event will be presided over by His Eminence, Metropolitan Serapion, and His Grace, Bishop Kyrillos. 

The Friends of Coptic Education value education as a means to equip Copts with a deep understanding and pride in our orthodox heritage, enabling us to treasure our faith and enlighten the world around us. Therefore, we aim to support the Church and our community organizations by funding progressive educational strategies and actions designed to guide and inspire our community.

Funds raised from our gala or through donations are used to support the ventures of the department of Christian Education in the Diocese of Los Angeles and Hawaii. This includes St. Athanasius and St. Cyril Theological School (ACTS), scholarships, ACTS Press, Deacon education, sunday school curriculum, and sunday school servant training. Tickets are available for purchase at the Friends of Coptic Education website. If individuals are unable to attend, they are encouraged to share with others or alternatively submit a donation to help further the pursuits of Christian education. 

Fr. Khaled Anatolios is a priest in the Melkite Greek Catholic Church and a Professor of Theology at Notre Dame. He primarily studies the History of Christianity and has written several books including “Retrieving Nicaea: The Development and Meaning of Trinitarian Doctrine” and “Athanasius: the Coherence of his Thought.” He’s written a number of other books and papers regarding St. Irenaeus of Lyons, the Council of Nicea, and other subjects. 

Maestro Adel Eskander is an accomplished violinist and artistic director of the Layali Zaman Academy Orchestra. He has performed and toured with famed artists such as the Umm Kulthum Institute of Arabic Music and Hany Mehanna. Eskander has also creatively experimented with the fusion of Middle Eastern and western styles of music through his work with critically acclaimed artists such as Led Zeppelin, Shakira, and Ricky Martin. Today, Eskander works to preserve Middle Eastern culture and music through performances and education at the Layali Zaman Academy Orchestra. 

The gala will be held at the Christ Cathedral at 5 p.m. Guests will have the opportunity to explore the cathedral’s Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel Exhibition, at a distance impossible to replicate at the Sistine Chapel. The ceiling paintings have been reproduced with care and integrity, thus the original size reproductions accurately reflect Michaelangelo’s artistic mastery. 

Please join us in this worthy endeavor!