Today, Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria, Patriarch of the Sea of St. Mark and Head of the Institute of Coptic Studies announces the start of the International Congress of Coptic Studies, “Future Aspirations”, which will take place 5-7 December at the Seat of the Coptic Orthodox Church in ʿAbbāsiyya on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Institute. Many important personalities are going to participate at the opening ceremony, for example Dean of the Institute, Dr. Sāmī Sabrī, the heads of the Egyptian churches, ambassadors of some Arab and western countries, vice chancellor’s of Egyptian universities, prelates and bishops of the Coptic Orthodox Church as well as President-elect of the International Society for Coptic Studies, Prof. Dr. Jacques van der Vliet and last but not least a representative of the World Council of Churches General Secretary. The activities of the Congress will include lectures in all fields of Coptic Studies, such as Coptic arts, history, music, literature , language, manuscripts and Coptic papyri.(Ashraf Sādeq, al-Ahrām, 5 December 2014).
