The Monastery of St. Maqar in Wadil Natroun celebrated the second anniversary of Bishop Epiphanius who was killed in the monastery. Two monks were accused of murdering the bishop and one of them was sentenced to death penalty and the other received life sentence.

The members and deputies of the General Council and the Coptic Endowments Authority announced their support for President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi s decision to support the Egyptian borders and the Libyan people. They assured that Turkey is threatening the Egyptian and Libyan national security and they entrusted the President to defend them.

In his interview with Copts United, Bishop Benyamin of Menofia revealed behind the scene of the return of the Coptic woman Rania Abduul-Messih, and explained that she was filmed while she was kidnapped and how she was forced to film a video to announce her conversion into Islam, but she could escape and contacted her family. He added that her return is a miracle and her disappearance was planned by evil people. He said that her story was covered by Copts Untied news website, which is trusted by all Egyptians and is always covering all vital events and stories.

Center of the Church in the Great Cathedral of St. Mark in Cairo. During the interview Father Poulos Halim praised Copts United news website and its mission to support the church and the Egyptian society. He added that it is always present in all events of the church and its role is appreciated by the Coptic Church. Father Poulos Halim denied rumors about the health condition of His Holiness Pope Tawadros and assured he is in good health, and have been practicing all his pastoral duties as usual and held several official meetings during the past two days.

Churches of Tima reopened today after 4 month of closure due to the spread of Corona virus. Bishop Isaac of Tima said that only 50 people are able to attend each Holy Mass in the grand churches, and 25 in the chapels, and everybody have to follow the rules of social distancing and wearing masks.

Dr. Rev. Andre Zaki, President of the Evangelical Community in Egypt, witnessed the inauguration ceremony of Reverend Gohar Azmi, pastor of the Evangelical Church in Obour City in the presence of leaders of the Evangelical Community. The ceremony was attended by several officials and thinkers who came to congratulate the congregation on the inauguration.

After three months of disappearance, the Coptic woman Rania Abdel-Messiah returned Yesterday to her family. She appeared happy with her family that denied all rumors about her conversion into Islam and thanked Bishop Benyamin of Menofia for supporting them during the crisis.

The disappeared Coptic woman Rania Abdel-Messih returned today to her village of Ashmoun Center in Menoufia. The church said Rania is Christian and was not converted into Islam as announced earlier.

The disappeared Coptic girl Marina Anwar, 17 years old, returned saft today to her home in the village of El-Kosheh in Sohag. Marina returned 5 days after her disappearance, and the church thanked police for doing their best to return the girl in record time.

Father Paul Halim, spokesman of the Coptic Church, said that Pope Tawadros is fine and is holding meetings with the bishops is part of his daily routine. He added that Pope’s call to pray for him came as part of a spiritual exercise during the fasting of the Apostles.

Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, expressed his deep concern about the calls made by some Turkish politicians to review the current status of the museum of the Hagia Sophia Church and convert it into a mosque. He described this action as threat to Christianity. The Patraich said that this church was built in the sixth century in honor of Christ the Savior, and it is of great importance to the entire Orthodox Church, especially the Russian Church. Kirill said in a statement issued by his press office: I am very concerned about calls by some Turkish politicians to review the status of the Hagia Sophia as a museum.

Coptic Orthodox Church announced it will produce a movie about its 21 martyrs in Libya. The movie is produced under the supervision of Pope Tawadros II and Bisho Pfnotious of Smallout.

A number of Coptic monasteries announced their closure before visitors during the current period following the decisions of the Permanent Committee of the Holy Synod. The prayers of the Holy Mass in monasteries will be limited to monks only until the Holy Synod will issue another decision in that account. The monasteries also canceled its annual celebrations in several governorates due to the spread of the Coronavirus.

Court of Cassation issued a final ruling to confirm the former death sentence to Monks accused of killing Bishop Epiphanius of St. Macarius Monastery in Wadi El-Natroun. Bishop Epiphanius was found dead on July 29 inside the monastery and two monks, who were kept in detention pending investigation since then, confessed their crime. The expelled monk Ash’eyaa, whose birth name is Wael Saad, and Monk Faltaous al-Makary, whose birth name is Raymond Rasmi Mansour, were charged of deliberate murder of Bishop Epiphanius.

The Coptic Orthodox Church announced the death of Father Pachomius Fouad, priest of St. John in Nag Hammadi, Qena, who was the sixth priest infected with COVID-19 virus. The priest tested positive 10 days ago and was moved to Isolation Hospital in Luxor where he died.

Archbishop Pachomius of Behirah and former Acting Patriarch, decided to extend the closure of churches in the diocese till mid-July to prevent the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. He decided to celebrate the feast of the Apostles with only one priest and four deacons and 25 of the congregation. This came after the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church gave bishops the authority to decide when and how to reopen their churches in order to insure safety of the people.

Bishop Agathon of Maghagha and Adwa decided to open the churches of the diocese this week while maintaing all precautionary measures and all instructions issued by the Permanent Committee of the Holy Synod regarding prayers and number of attendees. The decision of the Committee gave bishops the authority to decide when and how to reopen their churches in order to insure safety of the people.

The Monastery of St. Anthony in the Red Sea, which is the oldest monastery in the world, issued a statement to announce it will continue closure for two extra weeks and no visitors will be allowed during that period. The monastery said that the decision will be revised in two weeks and prayed that God may remove this epidemic from the world.

For the first time in 3 months, the churches of the Red Sea dioceses have celebrated the holy mass amid precautionary measures according to the decision of the Holy Synod headed by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, the decision which permitted each bishop to decide to reopen or to continue closure of the churches in the diocese. The church organized four masses on two altars, in order to give an opportunity to the largest number of worshippers to celebrate the holy mass and take communion.

Bishop Andrew of Abu Tij, Sadfa and Al-Ghanayem, decided to reopen all churches in the diocese while maintaining all precautionary measures. The holy masses will be held from Monday to Thursday in each church, and only 25 people are allowed to attend each of them. Worshippers shall receive invitations to be able to attend.

In its online meeting yesterday, the Evangelical Church issued several decisions concerning the Egyptian government to reopen houses of worship starting from next Saturday. The Church decided to suspend prayers for July 6 till leaders of the churches have the time to present the plan. The weddings and funerals shall be attended by 25% of the capacity of the churches following the rules of social distancing. Ordinations are allowed provided that they follow the preventive measures. Pastoral visits shall be suspended, and services shall be broadcast online and the communion shall not be held till churches are reopened.