Coptic Orthodox Church announced that St. Mary festival in Bayad, Beni Suef, will start on Monday at the first day of Saint Mary’s fasting.

Police in Beni Suef have taken extra security measures to secure churches in Beni Suef during the holy mass on Sunday.

An argument between neighbors from a Muslim and a Christian family in Fashn has developed into a sectarian attack after a huge number of Muslim attacked the Christians and injured 5 of them. Police were reported and the matter is currently under investigation. It’s worth mentioning that Fashn public hospital refused to issue a medical report for the injured.

Abba Ghobrial, Bishop of Beni Suef, told Copts United that the church decided to postpone all trips and conferences for security reasons. He added that such decision comes following the instruction of police and security services.

His Eminence, Abba Gabriel, Bishop of Beni Suef, said: the church prays for low-income people and the poor in Egypt who are badly affected by the program of economic reform. He added that though it’s understood that the reform in crucial for this country, the poor are badly affected by it and the government has to take care of them in a better way.

Abba Ghobrial, Bishop of Benni Suef, said that the celebrations of St. Mary monastery in Bayad will be held in August during the fasting of St. Mary.

His Eminence Bishop Gabriel, Bishop of Beni Suef, headed the celebration of the feast of Archangel Michael at his church in Azhari, Beni Suef. Celebration was attended by priests of the church and its congregation.

Rev. Wael Ramesses, the Pastor of the Anglican Presbyterian Church in Fashn, denied a terrorist act behind the burning of the church. He added in a statement that the fire broke out at the church and destroyed several electrical appliances and that the accident was caused by a short circuit due to the high load on electricity and the high temperature. He explained that he was at the church at the time of the accident.

Baba Bishopric decided to freeze its membership in the Egyptian family house in protest against the assault of security on the Church of Safat al-Kharsa in Fashn Center. Police has stormed into the building and threw all sacred vessels, books and icons in the streets and shut down the place.

Father Bernaba Fawzy, priest of St. George Church in Nazlet Hanna, El Fashn, Beni Suef, said that 6 victims of the terrorist attack at St. Samuel monastery in Minya left hospital after receiving their medical treatment, while three other people are still in hospital.

After one year has passed since their son Emad Mamdouh was killed on duty in exchange fire with terrorists in Sinai, their daughter disappeared in mysterious circumstances. Nermin Mamdouh, university student, has disappeared while she was heading to the church last month and she was never found ever since. Police were reported and the matter is currently under investigation.

St. Mary Cathedral in Beni Suef celebrated the feast of St. Athanasius, the 20th Pope in the history of the popes of the Coptic Orthodox Church, who is known as the protector of the Faithful. Remains of the saint were perfumed in the celebration.

Churches of Bnei Suef celebrated the feast of St. George in the presence of the congregation and the clergy. The holy mass was celebrated on that occasion as well in churches carrying the name of the great saint.

Alam Bishay, father of the slain Christian boy in Beni Suef, demanded the arrest of the criminal as well as real investigations. He added that 19 days have passed since the murder of his child, and the criminal was not arrested yet.

In violation to the law of houses of worship, police in Beni Suef governorate stopped the restoration works of a house owned by a Coptic man claiming it is being converted into a church though the second floor is already used as a church since 1993, and police is securing it since 2001 as a church.

Family of the Coptic martyr Emad Mamdouh Mahrous said that his name was not called on a school or a street like other Muslim martyrs whom are killed on duty. They added that Coptic martyrs are not treated usually like Muslim Martyrs and they don’t receive the due honor like other martyrs.

Jamal Monir, Coptic farmer, complained that police demolished his farm claiming it was converted into unlicensed church.

Abba Ghobrial, Bishop of Beni Suef, answered a question about former prevention from visiting Jerusalem saying that Copts will not be punished by prevention from taking communion.

Coptic boy called Gamal Bishay, 15 years old, was found slain in Ezbet Saida, Beni Suef. The boy went out to attend a private school lesson and never returned home. His family started looking for him everywhere, but he was found dead.

Father Paul Fahmi, deputy of the Coptic Catholic Church in Beni Suef, said that Pope Francis will not postpone his visit to Egypt after the terrorist attacks against Coptic Churches.

Coptic churches and monasteries celebrate The Exaltation of the Holy Cross today. In the Christian liturgical calendar, there are several different Feasts of the Cross, all of which commemorate the cross used in the crucifixion of Jesus. While Good Friday is dedicated to the Passion of Christ and the Crucifixion, these days celebrate the cross itself, as the instrument of salvation.