On July 29th 2023 His Beatitude Theodoros II Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa, received at the Patriarchal See the visit of a large group of academics from the Association of Theological Academies of the Middle East and the Institute of Theology of Balamand, of the Patriarchate of Antioch, led by their Rector the Very Reverend Archimandrite Iakovos Kihalil, Professor of Biblical Theology, Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Panagia Balamad.
In his reply, the Very Reverend Rector Archbishop Iakovos Kihalil, referred extensively to the history and academic work of the Theological Institute of Balamand, as well as to the initiative to activate the Association of Theological Academies of the Middle East, while he expressed the awe of all the members of the group for the fact that they are in God-walked Egypt, the land of the Holy Fathers, the Holy Monastics and its thousands of Holy Martyrs An exchange of commemorative gifts followed, as well as a guided tour of the Patriarchal Library and the Archives by His Eminence Metropolitan Pantelimon of Naucratis, Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate