Every year, the bishops of the Coptic Orthodox Church in North America meet for a consultation to discuss theological issues. This year, the University of Notre Dame hosted the discussion for the first time — a landmark moment in the history of Coptic and Catholic cooperation.
Gathering under the auspices of the Tantur Ecumenical Institute, the 12 visiting bishops spent two balmy days in mid-June on Notre Dame’s campus discussing the teachings of St. Athanasius of Alexandria, one of the greatest foundational figures in Christian tradition. During this time, they also held liturgical services in the Malloy Hall Chapel (with permission from Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend), witnessed fellow Coptic priest Fr. Arsany Paul defend his Ph.D. dissertation in theology, and met with Notre Dame President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C.
“The Coptic bishops' decision to gather at a Catholic university is a sign that they respect Notre Dame and our academic community,” said Chuck Lamphier, executive director of Notre Dame's Office of Mission Engagement and Church Affairs. “Notre Dame certainly returns that respect and desire for friendship with the Coptic Orthodox Church. Jesus prayed that all Christians may be one, and Notre Dame takes seriously our responsibility to contribute to that desired unity.”
Fr. Khaled Anatolios, the John A. O’Brien Professor in the Department of Theology, led the discussion on St. Athanasius. A priest in the Byzantine Church and an expert in Patristic and Eastern Christianity, Anatolios is also a senior ecumenical fellow at the Tantur Ecumenical Institute. In this role, Anatolios coordinates scholarly activities that foster encounters across divides within Christianity, enabling Notre Dame to engage globally with the Christian tradition. He was invited to join the Coptic bishops for their theological consultation after presenting a lecture on St. Athanasius at a conference sponsored by the Coptic Orthodox Church last year.
“Everyone was impressed by Fr. Anatolios’ lecture and his knowledge,” said Metropolitan Serapion, the first hierarch and bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Los Angeles, Southern California, and Hawaii. “So we wanted to come here to have our theological consultation with him, leading the discussion on St. Athanasius.”
At Notre Dame, the bishops discussed St. Athanasius’ theological personality and his writings on the Trinity, creation, Christology, salvation, and deification.
“I think it’s one of the best consultations we’ve had,” said Bishop Kyrillos, who serves as dean of the St. Athanasius and St. Cyril Theological School (ACTS) at Claremont University and obtained one of his doctoral degrees at Notre Dame. “It’s refreshing to just focus on St. Athanasius, and Notre Dame went above and beyond our expectations.”
Anatolios hopes for more collaborative opportunities between Notre Dame and the Coptic church, as well as other ecclesial traditions. Metropolitan Serapion said he is especially hopeful for academic partnerships between Notre Dame and ACTS.
Interreligious interactions like this visit are key to the work of the Tantur Ecumenical Institute, which serves as a place for ecumenical encounters and cooperation operated by Notre Dame. Though physically located in Jerusalem, its impact extends around the globe through academic events, other programs, and the works of Anatolios and other leaders.
“Catholicity entails a commitment to the unity and universality of the Church and, therefore, a commitment to ecumenism,” Anatolios said. “So for Notre Dame to fulfill its Catholic mission, it must fulfill its ecumenical mission.”
