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FACULTY
Deans
HH Pope Tawadros
St. Didymus Institute, Cairo
HE Metropolitan Serapion
Institute of Coptic Hymns, LA
Associate Deans
HG Bishop Kyrillos
Institute of Coptic Hymns, LA
Spiritual Advisors
Fr. Fam St. Bishoy
St. Didymus Institute, Cairo
Hegumen Fr. Joseph Boules
Institute of Coptic Hymns, LA
Hymns Instructors
El Moalem Ibrahim Ayad
El Moalem Ibrahim Ayad enrolled at the St. Didymus Institute for Cantors in Cairo, Egypt, in 1967. That same year, he started teaching at the Clerical College alongside the late Moalem Sadek. He graduated from St. Didymus Institute in 1972 and was conscripted into the army shortly after. In 1976, he started teaching at St. Didymus Institute, initially teaching the first, second, and third-year curricula. In 1979, he assumed responsibility for the third and fourth-year curricula when Moalem Gad joined the faculty. As the faculty grew, Moalem Ibrahim assumed responsibility for teaching the fourth-year curriculum and also took on the priest hymns portion of the fifth and sixth-year curricula. He continues to teach these curricula to this day.
Moalem Ibrahim is among the most prominent Moalemeen in the world, renowned for his significant contributions to the growth and dissemination of hymnology within the Coptic Orthodox Church. He was the first Moalem to teach at St. Didymus Institute alongside the late Moalem Farag. Throughout his tenure at the institute, he made substantial contributions to enhancing the curricula and expanding the faculty. He has taught at countless churches throughout Egypt as well as churches all over the world. Moalem Ibrahim helped spread the love of hymnology across the globe through his countless hours of recordings and albums.
In 1976, Moalem Ibrahim was appointed by His Holiness to serve at the St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Abbassia, Cairo, where he continues to serve to this day.
El Moalem Gad Lewis
El Moalem Gad Lewis enrolled at the St. Didymus Institute for Cantors in Cairo, Egypt, in 1972, at the age of 15, and graduated in 1979. He started teaching at the institute that same year, initially teaching the first-year curriculum. After two years, he took on the additional responsibility of teaching the second-year curriculum for one year. Later, on the recommendation of the late Moalem Farag Abdelmessih, who remarked, "Moalem Gad doesn't change any hymns," he was then entrusted with teaching the fifth and sixth-year curricula, a role he has faithfully maintained to this day.
Moalem Gad is recognized as one of the most prominent and dedicated hymns teachers in the world. Beyond his work at the institute, he has taught at various churches and conferences and has made hours of teaching tapes available to the public.
In 1974, during his second year at the institute, Moalem Gad began serving at St. Demiana Coptic Orthodox Church in Al Haram, where he continues to serve.
El Moalem Melad Nady
El Moalem Melad Nady enrolled at the St. Didymus Institute for Cantors in Cairo, Egypt, in 1980 and graduated in 1987. He started teaching at the institute that same year, co-teaching the first-year curriculum with El Moalem Gad. The following year, he assumed full responsibility for the first-year curriculum and continued to teach it for several years. Over time, his role was further expanded to include teaching both the first and second-year curricula, as well as the seasonal hymns for students from years one through six. Currently, he teaches the second-year curriculum.
In his third year at the institute, Moalem Melad began serving at St. Philopater Coptic Orthodox Church in Old Cairo, where he has continued his dedicated service ever since.
El Moalem Magdy Bekheet
El Moalem Magdy Bekheet enrolled at the St. Didymus Institute for Cantors in Cairo, Egypt, in 1984 and graduated in 1990. He was the first non-blind student to complete all the years of study and test without the use of a book.
Upon graduating, Moalem Magdy started teaching at the institute, where he was instrumental in developing and integrating the Doxologies and Deacon Responses into the curricula. He also established the policy of testing the first-year curriculum without the use of a book. He started teaching the first-year curriculum in 1996 and continued until 2021. Since then, he has been responsible for teaching the third-year curriculum.
Moalem Magdy has served at several churches across Cairo, including St. Mary & St. Bishoy Coptic Orthodox Church in Abbasiya, St. George Coptic Orthodox Church in Shoubra, St. Demiana Coptic Orthodox Church in El Waili, and churches in Manial El Roda. Since 2000, he has served at St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Church of Zamalek. Additionally, he has traveled and served overseas in the United States and Canada.
El Moalem Kirellos Marco
El Moalem Kirellos Marco enrolled at the St. Didymus Institute for Cantors in Cairo, Egypt, and graduated in 2009. He was appointed assistant to Hegumen Fam El-Anba Bishoy assisting in administrative duties at the institute. He started teaching at the institute in 2017 and currently teaches the first-year curriculum.
Moalem Kirellos started serving at St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Church El Wogouh, Cairo in 2006 and continues to serve there to this day.
El Moalem Zaher Andrawis
El Moalem Zaher Andrawis enrolled at the St. Didymus Institute for Cantors in Cairo, Egypt, in 1996 and graduated in 2002. He started teaching in 1999, instructing hymns, praises, and specialized courses at the Hymns Conferences of the Bishopric of Youth. In 2004, he commenced teaching Liturgical Prayers of the Priest at the Theological Seminary in Luxor and Aswan, under HH Pope Shenouda III. By 2005, he extended his expertise to the Institute of Hymns and Liturgy in Zagazig, as well as contributing to the hymns and praises curriculum for the Mahragan El-Keraza and serving as a judge.
In addition to his extensive teaching experience, Moalem Zaher has a substantial collection of teaching lessons available on his YouTube channel.
Currently, Moalem Zaher serves at Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church in Al Saqaieen, Cairo, Egypt.
El Moalem Bola Mounir
El Moalem Bola Mounir enrolled at the St. Didymus Institute for Cantors in Cairo, Egypt, in 2001 and graduated in 2007. Since graduating, he has become one of the most prominent hymns teachers in the world. His extensive collection of teaching lessons is available to the public on his YouTube channel, where he continues to make significant contributions to the teaching and preservation of Coptic hymns.
Moalem Bola serves at Saint Anthony Coptic Orthodox Church in Maadi, Cairo, Egypt.
El Moalem George Mikhail
El Moalem George Mikhail was born in Hollywood, CA, and raised in the Diocese of Los Angeles. He earned his BS in Computer Design with a minor in Art History from Cal Poly Pomona University. Since 1997, he has served at St. George Coptic Orthodox Church in Bellflower, CA, and St. Mary & St. Verena Coptic Orthodox Church in Yorba Linda, California (formerly Anaheim). Moalem George pioneered the first Hymns School Concept, where youth follow the St. Didymus curricula at a more manageable pace.
Moalem George established the first Hymns School for youth in the Diocese of Los Angeles in 2012. Currently, the school has over 150 students representing 22 churches from around the Diocese that meet every week year-round.
In 2020, Moalem George became the first student from outside Egypt or Sudan to be admitted to the St. Didymus Institute for Cantors, Cairo, Egypt, and graduated in 2023. In 2024, he enrolled at Antiochian House of Studies and is currently studying Byzantine Chant.
El Moalem Dr. Joseph Sedrak, MD
El Moalem Joseph Sedrak, MD, was born and raised in the USA. He developed an interest in the Coptic language and Coptic hymns at a young age while serving at St. Abanoub and St. Antony Coptic Orthodox Church. He later served at St. Mary and St. Verena Coptic Orthodox Church. After moving to Texas, he served at St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Church for 14 years, where he was ordained as a Subdeacon, before moving back to California.
Moalem Joseph is a Double Board Certified Dermatologist and Micrographic Dermatologic Surgeon practicing in Huntington Beach. He graduated from UC Riverside with a BS in Biochemistry and a minor in Philosophy and attended medical school in Alabama. After returning to California, he completed a surgical internship at UCLA, followed by a dermatology residency at Loma Linda University, and a Procedural/Skin Cancer fellowship.
Additionally, Moalem Joseph earned an MA in Ancient History from Macquarie University, focusing on the Coptic language. He contributed to the early translations of the Holy Psalmody and Deacon Service Book, which became the initial versions of Coptic Reader. He currently teaches the Coptic language at the Asaph Institute in the Southern United States Coptic Diocese and Coptic/hymns at the TSP Seminary in the Southern United States. He is fluent in both Arabic and Coptic.
In 2020, Moalem Joseph enrolled at the St. Didymus Institute for Cantors in Cairo, Egypt, and graduated in 2023. He is the oldest person to graduate from the institute and the first to hold both the titles of Moalem and Doctor. He currently serves at St. Verena Coptic Orthodox Church in Yorba Linda, California.
El Moalem Mina Makar
El Moalem Mina Makar was born in Egypt and emigrated to the United States in 1996. He grew up in New Jersey and has served for over 18 years as a hymns leader and teacher. In 2011, he graduated with a BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. In 2021, he enrolled at the St. Didymus Institute for Cantors in Cairo, Egypt, and graduated in 2023.
Moalem Mina was a founding board member of the St. Pantenous Hymns Academy in the Diocese of Pennsylvania and its affiliated regions, where he taught various courses on hymnology and the Coptic language. He also served as a teaching assistant for Coptic language and Hymnology at TSP Seminary in the Southern United States, alongside El Moalem Joseph Sedrak. He has done extensive research in the Coptic language, particularly on the Coptic Agpeya and Coptic Psalter. He has developed several Coptic-themed applications, including a Coptic keyboard, Bible, dictionary, Agpeya, and a veneration tool, all aimed at furthering the education of the church faithful.
Moalem Mina served at St. Mary & St. Joseph Coptic Orthodox Church in Levittown, PA from 2020-2024. He currently resides in California and serves at St. Verena Coptic Orthodox Church in Yorba Linda, California.
Other Faculty
Rites & History
Scripture
Coptic Language
Professor Hany Takla
Institute of Coptic Hymns, LA
Archdeacon Dr. Roshdy Dous, PhD
Institute of Coptic Hymns, LA
Fr. Dr. Daniel Habib, PhD
Institute of Coptic Hymns, LA
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