• Historical Context: The lecture begins by painting a picture of the Coptic Church in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, describing it as a "very dark period" marked by a lack of formal education, high illiteracy, and external pressures from Western missionaries. Pope Shenouda III regarded Habib Girgis as a "light in the midst of this darkness" and attributed the revival of education within the church to him.

• Pioneer of Religious Education: Habib Girgis is presented as the "pioneer of religious education" in the modern Coptic Church. He was born in 1876 in Cairo and, despite losing his father at a young age, excelled in his education at the Great Coptic School.

• Founding the Theological College: He was among the first students to enrol in the Theological College, established by Pope Kyrillos V in 1893. Despite the seminary initially lacking a proper theology curriculum, Habib Girgis diligently educated himself by studying manuscripts and books in the Patriarchal library. He eventually became the first professor of theology and homiletics and later the dean of the seminary in 1918, a position he held for 53 years until his passing. He expanded the seminary's buildings and introduced diverse subjects like logic, philosophy, psychology, Hebrew, and Greek.

• Sunday School Movement: Habib Girgis felt that adult education and preaching alone were not enough to advance the Coptic Orthodox Church. To counteract the influence of Protestant and Catholic missionaries, he established Coptic Orthodox Sunday schools in 1900, 15 years before Egyptian public schools, envisioning young children as their true foundation. He developed a simple catechism for children and a comprehensive curriculum for teachers, including six volumes for different age groups. He also championed the education of girls, which was uncommon at the time.

• Writings and Publications: He was a gifted writer and journalist, publishing over 30 religious books. He founded and published the influential religious, moral, and historical journal Al-Karma (The Vine), which ran for 17 volumes from 1907 and included translations of patristic literature, church canon law, biblical studies, and theology. His numerous books included The Seven Sacraments of the Church, The Consoler of the Faithful, and The Mystery of Piety. He also authored religious melodies and songs for Sunday School children.

• Holistic Approach to Education: Habib Girgis advocated for a holistic approach, providing education for boys, girls, blue-collar workers, and families, and finding innovative methods like using religious pictures and Coptic hymns to teach the illiterate. He strongly believed that priests needed formal theological education, stating that no one in any other profession could be trusted without proper training, and the same should apply to those responsible for souls. He also emphasized the preservation of the Coptic language as integral to Coptic identity.

• Challenges and Perseverance: He faced significant resistance and lack of funds, but he was highly determined, embodying the saying: "one cannot be envious or resistant except the one who does not have grace. Stones are thrown only at the trees that are filled with fruits and birds Peck only at ripe fruits".

Pope Shenouda III stated, "Habib Girgis established a strong foundation, and many built upon it. Perhaps others were able to build higher, but without his foundation, they would not have been able to build at all. He was the one who labored and all of us have entered into his labor"