Abba Estiganous, Bishop of Beba, issued a statement concerning the martyrdom of the Coptic priest Semaan Shehata who was slain and stabbed by a fanatic Muslim man. Statement assured that the attacker is a registered criminal called Mohamed Sonbaty.

Abba Ghobrial, Bishop of Beni Suef and supervisor of St. Mary Monastery in Muharraq, said that Pope Tawadros II has asked for a medical report and CV for presidency candidates of the monastery. It’s worth mentioning that three monks won the elections for the presidency of the monastery and Pope will appoint one of them as head of the monastery.

Two gang members were arrested in Beni Suef for their attempt to kidnap a 10 years old Coptic girl in front of her school. The criminals said they were planning to kidnap her for 100.000 LE ransom, but they failed to kidnap her after the child refused to go with them.

Abba Ghobrial, Bishop of Beni Suef, said during his weekly sermon that Tithes is a private relationship between man and God that has nothing to do with poverty and riches. He added that it is important for all believers to pay the Tithes in order to receive God s blessings in our lives.

Sources in the Muharrq monastery told Copts United about the results of the elections at the Muharraq monastery where there monks were elected and Pope Tawadros is going to chose one of them as head of the monastery. The elected monks are Fathers Arsanius, Mina and Begol.

Abba Gabriel, Bishop of Beni Suef, told Copts United that Pope Tawadros II will meet a delegation from the Muharraq monastery next week to choose the new bishop of the monastery. The monks of the monastery will name three nominees to choose one of them to take the office of the bishop and head of the monastery.

Father Yacoub Labib, priest of St. George chruch in Beni Bekhait village, participated in the opening celebration of a new mosque. The celebration was attended by several officials in Beni Suef Governorate.

Abba Ghobrial, Bishop of Beni Suef, said during his weekly sermon that the Coptic Orthodox Church does not accept the baptism of the Catholic Church but recognizes the catholic immersion in baptism, but has to be followed by Coptic Orthodox chrism. He explained that the person is not allowed to take communion or get married in the Orthodox Church until they are anointed with myron, the holy anointing oil.

Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Beni Suef is holding a meeting for prayers and praises after the weekly sermon of H.G. Abba Ghobrial, Bishop of Beni Suef. The prayers will be held today all night from 11 PM to 6 AM and will be concluded by the Holy Mass.

The Coptic Orthodox Church celebrated the feast of Niroz under extra security measures taken by police to secure the celebrations. The Feast of Neyrouz marks the first day of the Coptic year. Nayrouz or Neyrouz is a feast when martyrs and confessors are commemorated within the Coptic Orthodox Church. Celebrated on September 11, the day is also the start of the Coptic new year and its first month, Thout.

Christians in Minya complained that police have prevented them from visiting the monastery of St. Mary in Assiut for security reasons. Police said that they won t be able to secure the buses and forced them to cancel the trip.

Abba Ghobrial, Bishop of Beni Suef praised efforts excreted by police to secure the celebrations of St. Mary festivals at churches and monasteries of the governorate. He added that the church has received several threats that may have led to the cancelation of the celebration, but police managed to secure the celebrations.

The monastery of St. Mary in Bayad, Beni Suef, received thousands of visitors during the celebrations of St. Mary fasting. Police have taken extra security measures to secure the celebrations that will end on August 21st.

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.