ACTS Signs Historic MOU with St. Didymos Institute at Hymns Conference with the Blessing of HH Pope Tawadros II

Cairo Egypt, July 4, 2023— By the Grace of God, and blessed with the presence of HH Pope Tawadros II, HE Metropolitan Serapion, HG Bishop Kyrillos, along with HE Metropolitan Daniel, HG Bishop Mikhail, and other distinguished clergy, the first Global Hymns Conference was held from June 26 to July 5, 2023 in Cairo. This conference culminated with the graduation of three cantors from the Diocese of Los Angeles, and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the St. Didymos Institute for Cantors and St. Athanasius and St. Cyril Coptic Orthodox Theological School (ACTS).

For decades, St. Didymos has been training cantors to lead and teach our Coptic hymns. The institute was moved to Cairo by Pope Kyrillos VI, then was named and restructured by Pope Shenouda III. Under the leadership of HH Pope Tawadros II, the Institute has grown and expanded significantly. As HE Metropolitan Serapion said, “We are grateful to God that we see the vision for the importance of our Coptic hymns in Pope Kyrillos VI, Pope Shenouda III and Pope Tawadros II…and this vision is essential for the future of our Church.”

With the blessing of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, the direction of Fr. Fam El-Anba Bishoy, and the teaching of the cantors (muallimeen) of the St. Didymos Institute, our three students from America were allowed to study their curriculum for the past few years online, then were examined in Egypt. His Holiness graciously allowed ACTS and St. Didymos to arrange this special graduation ceremony to honor these students and sign this MOU.

This newly-signed MOU allows these newly graduated cantors to continue the mission of St. Didymos Institute by teaching hymns of the Coptic Church to English-speakers living in America. This agreement is the first of its kind in the history of the Coptic Orthodox Church, in launching a new Department of Hymnology at ACTS. As HE Metropolitan Serapion stated, “Teaching hymns is not simply a musical endeavor, but is deeply rooted in the theology of our Church.” The MOU also specifies ACTS commitment to assist St. Didymos in its new building project, as well as future projects. ACTS further plans to hold a study abroad program in Egypt, as well as retreats in America.

Throughout the weeklong hymns conference, youth from across the US and England joined together in Egypt to pray with and learn directly from St. Didymos’ primary instructors. Each day, conference attendees met at a different church in Cairo to celebrate the Diving Liturgy and chant alongside the cantors. After an agape meal, the attendees enjoyed a private hymns lesson followed by a Q&A session with the cantor of that church. They also took a one day trip to four of the Wadi El Natroun monasteries where they took the blessings of many churches, relics, and fathers of the monasteries. This conference not only sparked life-long connections and friendships among its attendees, but also inspired many others abroad to join the Institute after following news reports and social media posts of the events.

We are grateful to God for all these open doors which He has graciously provided, and we pray He blesses this endeavor for future generations for the Glory of His Name.