The government denied the shut down of 3 churches in Minya this month assuring the 3 claimed places have never applied to the committee to legalize churches according to the law assuring that freedom of worship is supported by the Egyptian constitution. It is worth mentioning that several churches have applied according to the law, but are still closed like churches of Qabbabat and Kafr Waslin in Atfih and five other churches in Esna, Luxor, as well as several churches in Suhag.

Coptic activist Isaac Ibrahim denounce today governmental denial of church existence in Zafrana village assuring it supports the extremists and their attacks on churches. Ibrahim said that Samalout diocese issued a statement yesterday showing that police have shut down 6 churches for more than 15 years, and called all dioceses to issue similar statements to show the closed churches and the real size of the problem.

Bishop Bemen of Qus had undergone an operation following a heart stroke. His health conditions have improved and he is expected to leave hospital in few days.

The deputy of the Monastery of the Virgin Mary the Muharraq in Assiut died today at the age of 75 years after a period of serious illness. His funeral will be held tomorrow at the Moharraq monastery and will be attended by a number of bishops and monks.

Police in Cairo are investigating a terrorist attack by explosives near the church of St. Mary and Abu Sifien in Nasr City, Cairo. An Egyptian explosives expert has been killed while he was attempting to defuse one of three bombs that were stored at a nearby mosque. Imam of the mosque has suspected the packages and reported the Police who moved quickly and sent the expert to defuse the bombs and he defused two of them before the third exploded and killed him.

Public prosecutor was reported against Yassir Borhamy, Vice President of the Salafist Call, over his fatwa to forbid congratulating Christians in their feasts. Borhamy described the Copts as infidels and sharing their feasts is worse than drinking alcohol and committing adultery.

The Board of Directors of the New Urban Communities Authority headed by Egypt’s Prime Minister agreed to allocate three pieces of land in new cities to build three churches of the Orthodox, Evangelical and Catholic Churches. The new churches are located in Nasser City in Assiut and 10th of Ramadan city.

Damanhour Criminal Court decided today to postpone the hearing in Bishop Epiphanius murder to January 27. 3 witnesses of the monks said that the murder weapon was there before it was presented by investigation authorities as murder weapon, which supports the claims of the defendant Wael Saad.

Dr. Manal Awad, Governor of Damietta, witnessed the celebration of the Greek Orthodox Church in the presence of several senior officials of the governorate. She congratulated the Christians on the Western Christmas wishing the best of Egypt and the world in the New Year.

Pope Tawadros II participated at the annual celebration of the Holy Bible Day at the Great Cathedral of St. Mark where the team of Bible House attended his weekly sermon. Pope praised the efforts of the Holy Bible House in Egypt, pointing out that the Coptic Orthodox church is based on the Bible in all its prayers, liturgy and praise.

A policeman is currently being investigated for wishing a Coptic woman a terrorist attack on her church in order to gloat over their grief! Prosecution has ordered his arrest for 15 days and police have apologized for what he said. It is worth mentioning that the policeman was assigned to secure the church of the Saints in Alexandria where a terrorist attack had targeted the church in 2011 killing and wounding dozens of the worshippers.

The Minya Criminal Court decided today to postpone the case of the lady of the Karm village where an old Coptic lady was stripped nude and dragged in the streets over rumors about romantic relationship between her son and a Muslim woman. 25 defendants are accused in the case and are charged with burning houses of the Copts.

Minya s criminal court resumes tomorrow the case of stripping a Coptic lady off and dragging her in the streets by about 25 people. In May 2016, a rumor had circulated in the village that the Copt Ashraf Ayad was having an illicit affair with the Muslim woman Nagwa Ragab; both in their early thirties. Ayad quickly fled the village taking with him his wife and four daughters. A Muslim mob, however, attacked his aged parents in their home, injured his father Danial Ayad, dragged out his near-70-year-old mother Suad Thabet to the street, stripped her and beat her up. The mob also attacked other Copts houses, burning six plus a Coptic-owned warehouse.

His Grace Bishop Makarios of Minya and Abu Qirqas said during the memorial service of the two Copts killed by policeman in Minya that it is very unfortunate and sad accident that carries dangerous indications. He called for urgent and fair trial for the policeman who killed unarmed Copts.

Families of the martyrs of St. Samuel monastery attack celebrated the 40 days anniversary of the murder of their families at the terrorist attack that targeted pilgrims near the monastery. The holy mass was celebrated at the same place of the attack under extra security measures. They demanded the paving of the road to help security forces do its job and prvent further attacks.

Abba Makarious, Bishop of Minya, led prayers of the Coptic congregation in Minya diocese for peace in Egypt and the whole world. The prayers were attended by family of the two Copts who were killed by a policeman in front of a church in Minya. The worshipers demanded justice and called for urgent trial for the policeman who killed a father and his son.

Funeral of two Copts were held today at the chuch of ST. Bishoy and St. Paula in Minya, after they were killed by a police man assigned to secure the Evangelical church. The two victims (a father and his son) had a fight with the policeman a day earlier, and he killed them yesterday. Police were reported and the matter is currently under investigation.

Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, delegated Bishop Raphael, former secretary of the Holy Synod, to visit Melbourne and to take care of its congregation after the resignation of its Bishop. He will celebrate a number of holy masses and meet with the people in several churches to discuss their problems and report them to the Pope.

The family of Girgis Baromi was disappointed after General security refused to release the man. Girgis haa spent more than 7 years in prison after being convicted in raping a girl though he according to the medical report has a complete sexual impotence, and another medical report confirmed before the court that the girl was not assaulted. The court sentenced Girgis to 15 years in prison and prevented his lawyer from attending the hearing of the assaulted girl!!!

The monks of the Monastery of Abba Samuel in Minya held a protest today in front of the monastery against the security policies in preventing the entry of critical material for the monastery. Cars carrying wheat were prevented by police from entering the monastery as well as families of the monks.

St. Abraam Coptic Orthodox Church in Long Island, New York, USA, organized an Egyptian day entitled “Be Egyptian” in order to support the home land. The annual festival aims to link the Egyptians abroad to the homeland and offered this year Egyptian products, handicrafts, games and food.