Pope Tawadros II attended on 16 May 2026 the first PhD thesis defence at St Mark Coptic Academy since its inauguration as an academic umbrella for Coptic and Coptic-related studies in November 2025.
The PhD thesis, presented by the monk researcher Fr Athanasius al-Bahnassawy, the Papal delegate to Ghana, was titled “The evangelisation effort of the See of St Mark in Africa from the 19th Century to the beginning of the 21st Century”.
The jury comprised Professor Dr Moheb Khella Tawfik, Head of the Department of African Studies, Chair and Supervisor; Anba Joseph, Bishop of Namibia and its Affiliated Regions, Academic Expert; Dr Joseph Ramez Amin, Professor in the Department of African Studies, Supervisor; as well as Professor Dr Magdy Tadros, Head of the Department of History.
Following the discussion, the jury decided to award the researcher a doctoral degree with highest honours.
The discussion was attended by Anba Thomas, Bishop of Qoussiya and Abbot of the Monastery of the Holy Virgin and Archangel Michael in al-Bahnasa, together with several monks from the monastery. Among other attendees were Professor Dr Maged Rasmy, Dean of the Institute of Coptic Studies, as well as a number of academics, researchers, and individuals interested in African studies.
