On 29th November 2011, His Beatitude Theodor II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa officiated at the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Church of St Savvas the Sanctified in Alexandria, prior to the completion of which he conducted the ceremony of the wearing of the rason of the African seminarians of the patriarchal Academy of St Athanasios, Alexandria, to whom he also addressed paternal counsel, wishing them progress in their studies and success in their efforts.
The historical patriarchal Academy was reinstituted by His Beatitude during the 2007-2008 Academic year, after 470 years, with the aim of the support, assistance and promotion of the efforts of the Alexandrian Patriarchate throughout the African continent through the appointment of indigenous African clergy. Towards this end, the African students are instructed in the fields of agronomy, nursing, education, theology, information technology, as well as Greek language in order that they develop abilities imperative the productive service and humanistic efforts among the specific and often adverse conditions of life and activity in Africa
