The second phase of the project to train church leaders in the ecclesiastical education development project started last Sunday with the participation of 215 trainee from 14 dioceses. The project aims to train 1000 priests and ministers on new skills in ecclesiastical education using the Bible, the liturgy, the teachings of the Fathers, the history of the Church and the Coptic identity.

Abba Mina, Bishop of Messiaga, Vancouver and Western Canada, celebrated the Holy Mass at St. Marks Church in Edmonton, which is the 40th anniversary of its establishment as the first Coptic church in western Canada. Father Ruis Rophael was promoted and a new deacon was ordained for the ministry.

Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, said in an interview with a news agency during his visit to Germany that History proves that Egypt is never divided. He added that many people die because of terrorism and violence from Muslims and Christians, but they can never divide the Egyptians.

Coptic Bishops of North America issued a statement to denounce the attack on the priest Samaan Shehata assuring it is not individually They said that such attack is part of the repeated sectarian attacks against Christians in Egypt. They called the government to deal seriously with the problem in order to stop evil plans to persecute the Copts.

A double attack was carried out today by the terrorists in Arish on the Church of St. George in Arish and the Ahly Bank in Arish. The attacks were carried out by 12 terrorists and using machine guns and RBJ missiles and led to killing 6 martyrs and 17 wounded.

Activists of social networking site shared a video of Sheikh Samir Hashish, Islamic preacher, assuring that killers of non-Muslims, whom he describes as infidels, shouldn’t be punished severely like killers of Muslims. He added that they shouldn’t be sentenced to death penalty as blood of non-Muslims is not precious like Muslims’ A Coptic priest was recently stabbed and slain by a fanatic Muslim man in Cairo.

Pope Tawadros receives two monks from Milan to arrange the diocese matters after the departure of Abba Kyrilous, the late bishop of Milan. Father Antonio and Father Jiovani of the Monastery of Anba Shenouda in Milan are taking care of the diocese of Milan till another bishop is ordained for it.

Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, is going to attend meeting of Patriarchs and Bishops of the Churches of the Middle East next week in Germany. According to a statement issued by the Church s Media Center, the meetings are hosted by the German Church under the title: Christianity in the Middle East: Challenges and the Future.

Abba Estifanous, Bishop of Al-Fashn, denounced describing murderer of the priest as Mentally retarded The priest was attacked by a man holding a knife who stabbed him several times to death.

Abba Morkos, Bishop of Shubra al-Khaymah, ordained 5 new priests for the ministry in the diocese and its surrounding villages. the new priests are: Father Azer Adel, Father Sila Wadie, Father Tobia Suleiman, Father Haroun Samaan and Father David Asaad.

Abba Pachomious, Bishop of Behaira and former acting Patriarch, celebrated yesterday the annual youth day organized by the Youth Committee of the Diocese. Those who obtained doctorate and masters degree and diploma during the past years were honored in the celebration, and there was a campaign to donate blood.

Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, opened today the conference of the priests of the Northeast of the United States of America. The conference is held at Logos center in Wadil Natroun, and entitled: challenges before priests.

Pope Twadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, congratulated the Coptic people on the holy feast of the Cross. Coptic churches and monasteries in Egypt has celebrated the holy feast of the Cross called in other churches “The Exaltation of the Holy Cross”. The Cross of Jesus Christ was discovered in 326 by Saint Helena, the mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, during a pilgrimage she made to Jerusalem. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre was then built at the site of the discovery, by order of Helena and Constantine. The church was dedicated nine years later, with a portion of the cross placed inside it. The date of the feast marks the dedication of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in 335.

Pope Twadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, said that gay marriage is abnormal philosophy and extinguishes the spirit of God. This came during his his weekly sermon that was delivered on Wednesday at the Church of the Transfiguration at the Monastery of St. Bishoy in Wadi al-Natroun.

During the celebration of the 4th anniversary of Council of Churches of Egypt, Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, said that the council has become a special Coptic Christian voice in Egypt. Pope added that Christians should rejoice in Christ at all times and that we complete one another by our differences.

Dr. Ahmed Karam, Professor of Sharia at Al-Azhar, said that having sexual intercourse with the dead wife or beast is not clearly legitimate, but it came as a precautionary action to prevent adultery. He added that Islamic scholars shouldnt discuss such sensitive topics in the public.

Coptic Orthodox Church Participated today in the Prayer for Peace held in Canada at St. Michael Church in Toronto. The prayers were dedicated for the suffering people all over the world on the occasion of the Coptic new year of the martyrs.

Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews delivered a speech at the reception of Pope Twadros II in the state, where he expressed his happiness with the visit assuring that Coptic community is a great example of growth. He also congratulated the Copts on the feast of Nayrouz and invited the Pope to repeat his visit to the state each year.

Abba Pfnotius, Bishop of Samalout, inaugurated the Cathedral of the Savior of the World in Samalut. Spokesman of the Coptic Orthodox Church said the church is built on 1500 square meters and the Holy Mass was celebrated in it on the first year of the Coptic Calendar.

Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, departed Sydney to visit the Australian capital Canberra. Father Pauls Halim, a spokesman for the Coptic Orthodox Church, said the Pope was received in Canberra by the Egyptian ambassador to Australia Ismail Khairat, along with a large group of the church congregation.

Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, sent a congratulatory message to the Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi to congratulate him and all Muslims on Eid al-Adha. Pope wished him success in leading Egypt and wished Egypt all peace and progress.