The Media Center of the Coptic Orthodox Church announced the death of Father Markos Aziz yesterday evening in America at the age of 74. The statement said that the late Father was priest of the Church of the Hanging Church in Cairo and was delegated to minister in the United States of America 10 years ago.

Pope Tawadros II participates in the day of brotherly love between the Coptic and Catholic Churches on Tuesday. The meeting, which will be held in the Church of the House of the Jesuit Fathers, includes speeches by His Holiness Pope Twadros II, the Vatican s Ambassador to Egypt Bruno Mozart, Patriarch Abraham Isaac of the Catholic Copts and some discussion sessions.

Archbishop Makarious, former Acting Patriarch, ordained two new deacons in the diocese of Behira at St. Mark Chruch in Karmet Damandhour. The new deacons are Poulos Ghali and Potros Arandas. Two other priests were promoted to the rank of Hegumin, namely: Father Amonious Adel and Father Angelos Isaac.

HG Bishop Salib of Mit Ghamr laid the foundation stone of the Church of St. George in Diarb Negm that was built in 1953 and is currently being restored. The church has received recently a decision of restoration by the authorities.

The sun stands on the altar of the great martyr St. George in his feast in Dir Al Malak, Minya al-Qamh, Sharqia. The Holy Mass of his feast was attended by a number of clergy and public figures and was covered by local media.

His Grace Bishop Mark of Paris and northern France celebrated the feast of resurrection of Jesus Christ at the Cathedral of St. Mary and Archangel Raphael in Darvi. The Holy Mass was attended by a number of Egyptian and French officials who came to congratulate the Copts on the feast.

HG Bishop Karras, Coptic Bishop of Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland, celebrated on Saturday evening, the glorious resurrection at the Church of Our Lady in Pennsylvania. The Sunday school children participated in the celebration and received souvenirs from the bishop.

Egyptian police announced they are taking extra security measures to secure citizens, public and private properties during the current feasts n Egypt. Christians in Egypt are celebrating the Holy Week and Easter, and Egypt celebrates the national day of liberation of Sinai on April 25.

Egypt s Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Medbouli congratulated the Coptic Christians on Easter and congratulated the Egyptian workers on their day. Madbouli praised the Egyptians for their active participation in the referendum on the constitutional amendments and for police and army for securing the election process.

HG Bishop Salib of Mit Ghamr, laid the foundation stone of the Church of St. George in Diarb Negm. The church has received recently a permission of restoration.

Vice President of the UAE, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, said commenting on the terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka that terrorists want to ignite a religious war among humans. He offered his sincere condolences to the world and to all those who work for tolerance, coexistence and mutual understanding and Human affinity.

The Coptic Orthodox Coptic Church issued a statement to condemn the bombings that took place on the island of Sri Lanka yesterday, which killed and injuring hundreds of innocent people. The Church strongly condemns all forms of violence against any person of any belief, sex or nationality, and said it prays for the families of the martyrs who shed their precious blood so that the Lord may grant them condolences and patience, as well as for the speedy recovery of the wounded. The statement added we pray for a world free of hatred and violence.

Answering a question from a young man about the future of Minya diocese, Pope Tawadros said he has not decided yet what to do in Minya. Pope said he is studying the case after the departure of Minya Archbishop, but he has not made up his mind yet. Pope explained he is holding meetings with the clergy and the people of the diocese to see what they are thinking.

Bishop Boutros Fahim, Bishop of the Coptic Catholic Church of Minya, inaugurated a new Catholic church in Minya yesterday at the church of St. Mary in Barba after its renovation. The new church was inaugurated in the presence of a group of clergy and the congregation.

Bishop Abraam of Fayoum and the supervisor of Wadi Al Rayyan region inaugurated yesterday the church of St. Macarius of Alexandria in Wadi Al Rayyan in Fayoum. The three altars were inaugurated as well as the holder of icons and the icons of the Church and the Baptism. After the inauguration ceremony 15 deacons were ordained at the basic rank of Ebsaltus (translated chanter).

Archbishop Markos of Shobra al-Khaimah ordained 68 new deacons in the rank of Ebsaltus (chanter) and promoted 52 deacons to the rank of Oghnostos (reader) at St. Antony Church in Basos . Father Oghostinos Helmy, priest of St. Antony Church in Basos was promoted to the rank of Hegumin.

Three new Coptic churches are being registered in the state of Indonesia, bringing the number of Coptic churches there to five. The service of St. Paul the Apostle, under the patronage of Father Dawood Lamie, priest of St. Mark the Apostle in Heliopolis, had registered two churches already in Indonesia: St. Cyril and St. Simon in the capital of Jakarta, and Ascension Church on the island of Sulawesi.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, received on Thursday Mr. Masaki Noke, Ambassador of Japan to Egypt. The visit came at the papal headquarter in St. Mark Cathedral in Abbasiya

Bishop Samuel of Tamouh visited today Hospital 57357, where he prayed the Holy Mass in the church attached to the hospital. After the mass, he inspected the hospital s patients who are receiving treatment from cancer and distributed some souvenirs to the children.

Archbishop Abraam of Fayoum participated in the international conference at Fayoum University entitled Heritage and Coptic Antiquities under the Islamic Civilization organized by the Faculty of Archeology at Fayoum University in cooperation with the Coptic Studies Center at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina from April 8 to 10. The conference was attended by deans of a number of university faculties, researchers and students from Egyptian universities, delegations of scientists and researchers from Russia and Japan, as well as a representative of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation and a representative of the Coptic Studies Center at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.

Spokesman of the Coptic Orthodox Church mourned today the departure of Father Benjamin Metry at the age of 77. Father Benjamin Metry spent around 50 years in priestly service at the chuch of St. Mark in Shubrakhit, Behira governoate.