Abba Youannis, bishop of Assiut, headed the celebrations at St. Mary monastery in Assiut. Thousands of visitors have arrived to the monastery to attend the celebration that is held each year at the historic monastery in Jabal al-Tair.

Yassir Dosouky, Governor of Assiut, visited the monastery of St. Mina in Abnoub known as the Hanging Monastery at the feast of establishing the first church on his name. The monastery has been celebrating this occasion for years by celebrating the holy masses and receiving many visitors.

Coptic Orthodox, Catholic and Evangelical Churches in Assiut announced they will not hold celebrations on Easter and will only hold the ritual prayers and receive condolences on Easter.

7 terrorists were killed while exchanging fire with security forces in the Eastern mountain in Assiut. Police announced that the terrorist started shooting at the forces when the forces were trying to arrest them. Several weapons were found in their possession.

A group of Russian students have paid a visit to the Monastery of Our Lady in Assiut. They are learning Arabic and Islamic civilization in Egypt.

Police in Assiut were reported about the kidnap of a Coptic child called Kyrolous in front of his elementary school.

3 people were injured in sectarian clashes between Coptic and Muslim families in Assiut. The clashes came after disagreement between children of the two families. the injured people were moved to hospital to receive treatment.

Father Karas Badri, priest of the Coptic church in St. John church in Dewaina village, Abu Tig, said that the church has launched anti-illiteracy campaign.

After five years of struggle to build the Evangelical Church in Abu Tig, Assiut, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi issued a presidential license to build the Church.

Assiut criminal court sentenced 4 defendants to death penalty on charges of murder, kidnapping and resisting authorities.

Police in Assiut arrested 6 defendants on charges of kidnapping a Coptic child in Sahil Salim village, Assiut, for ransom.

Masked men kidnapped a Coptic student called Kyrolos Reda in front of his school in Assiut today. Eyewitnesses said that the child was hit on the head first before he was forced into their car. Police were reported and the matter is currently under investigation.

Egyptian police and army are taking extra security measures to secure celebrations of Christmas. Abdel Basset Denkul, Assiut director of security, said that cooperation with Egyptian army comes to secure the celebrations as well as public and private properties.

Tight security measures were taken by Assiut directorate of security around the monastery of the Virgin Mary Jebel Dronka to coincide with the celebrations of the feast of St. Mary.