His Grace Anba Ermia, General Bishop and President of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center, participated on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in the annual Iftar banquet organized by Ain Shams University at Al‑Zaafaran Palace, in the presence of a distinguished group of senior state officials and public figures.
The event was held at the invitation of Prof. Dr. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen, President of the University. The banquet was attended by several officials and leaders, including Dr. Hussein Eissa, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs; Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research; Counselor Hany Hanna, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs; Dr. Ahmed El-Ansary, Governor of Giza; and Dr. Mohamed Awad Tag El-Din, Advisor to the President of the Republic for Health and Prevention Affairs. The gathering also included a number of university presidents, leaders of the Ministry of Higher Education, public figures, media professionals, religious leaders, as well as chairpersons and editors-in-chief of Egyptian newspapers.
The organization of this Iftar comes as part of an annual tradition upheld by Ain Shams University to strengthen ties of communication and cooperation among various state institutions, and to promote a spirit of unity and engagement among community leaders in an atmosphere of goodwill and fellowship.
During the event, Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa affirmed that the Iftar banquet reflects a longstanding annual tradition that fosters social relations and the spirit of cooperation among state institutions. He noted that it also provides an important opportunity to exchange views on the development of the educational process. He further praised the efforts of faculty members, their assistants, and administrative staff, emphasizing their essential role in supporting the higher education system and advancing institutional performance.
For his part, Prof. Dr. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen welcomed the attendees, stressing the university’s commitment to maintaining this tradition, which reflects a spirit of belonging and communication between the university community and the various pillars of society. He added that the presence of this distinguished group of ministers, senior officials, and public figures at Ain Shams University and Al-Zaafaran Palace reflects the university’s esteemed academic and national standing, and affirms its leading role as an academic institution contributing to the development process and the building of the Egyptian citizen.
