The Winter Course 2023 of the Wittenberg Center for Reformation is held in the rooms of St. Cyprian College Tunis. The Tunisian capital is located on the site of ancient Carthage, whose most important bishop was Cyprian. In the third century Cyprian converted to the Christian faith and became leader of the Christian community in Carthage. He faced two persecutions and participated in many discussions about the reaction to these persecutions. In 258 AD he was executed for his Christian faith by the Roman authorities.
Because Cyprian is one of the founding fathers of Western Christendom and helped to shape the Christian church in North Africa, the Anglican Church named its training center for church staff after the bishop of Carthage. St. Cyprian College belongs to the Alexandria School of Theology. It was founded in 2013 and started its theological studies program in 2017. St. Cyprian College is located in the premises of St. George’s, the Anglican Church of Tunis.
St. Cyprian College offers an academic program: A diploma degree is awarded after studying 120 credit hours (approximately two and a half years). The students learn the basics of Christian faith. They are introduced to the Bible and its interpretation, into church history, and systematic and practical theology. Since the students, who come from different North African countries, need to balance studying with work and family commitments the courses are held at intervals. Several students already have completed the full course of studies, and seven of them have also graduated, three from Tunesia and four from Algeria. Dean of the College is Archbishop Sami Fawzi, Rev. Mark Senada serves as academic coordinator, and Sawsen Lachtar as manager.
The Wittenberg Center of Reformation studies thanks the staff of St. Cyprian College and of St. George’s Anglican Church for their hospitality and support.