Coptic Orthodox Churches reopens its doors before worshippers after 5 months of closure due to the spread of Corona virus. All churches have been sterilized and rules of social distancing and precautionary measures have been set for the worshippers. The worshippers have to book their attendance through the church and the holy masses will be held daily except on Fridays and Sundays.

The social distancing rules and measures to prevent the spread of Corona virus prevented the diocese of Beni Suef from holding the annual celebration of the 19th anniversary of Bishop Ghobrial enthronement. For their part, hundreds of the congregation celebrated the occasion and offered their spiritual leader their best wishes. On that occasion, Copts United congratulates His Eminence Bishop Ghobrial on that occasion.

Bishop Ghobrial of Beni Suef told Copts United that he decided to cancel the celebration of the Virgin Mary in Bayad due to the spread of Corona virus. He added that such decision comes to support the decisions and procedures taken by the Egyptian state and the Coptic Church to save the people and prevent the spread of the epidemic.

Churches of Beni Suef decided to hold 3 masses 4 days per week in order to enable as much as possible of the congregation to celebrate the Holy Mass. Maximum number of 100 worshipers are allowed inside the churches and each of them has to bring is personal supplies to avoid infection as possible.

Bishop Gabriel of Beni Suef and offered his sincere condolences to Bishop Theophilus of Manfalut for the departure of his father. The diocese of Manfalut has mourned Mr. Shaker Silvanus, father of bishop of the diocese.

His Eminence Bishop Gabriel of Beni Suef and member of the Secretariat Committee of the Holy Synod said that the next meeting of the permanent committee of the Holy Synod will be held next Saturday online through a video conference meeting. The meeting will be chaired by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II to discuss the decision to reopen churches following the decision of the government to reopen houses of worship.

Diocese of Beni Suef offered its sincere condolences to Bishop Stephenos of Beba, Al-Fashn, and Simasta on the departure of his mother. The funeral of the late mother was held without public participation due to the spread of Corona virus.

Bishop Stephanos of Baba, Al-Fashn, and Samasta, announced that the diocese started a new service for COVID-19 patients in the diocese through the service of saints Kazman and Damian. The service provides health consultancy, medications and ventilators, in addition to nurses and doctors to help the patients at home when needed. It is wroth mentioning that such services are offered for free.

Bishop Gobrial of Beni Suef and member of the Secretariat Committee of the Holy Synod said that the permanent committee of the Holy Synod decided in a meeting this morning chaired by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, at the Pontifical Headquarters, to keep the Churches closed and services suspended till June 27. Another meeting will be held by the end of June to decide when Churches will be reopened.

Father Ermia Abdo, head of Archangel organization for accidents and crises In the Diocese of Beni Suef, said that the disappeared Coptic minor girl, Justina Magdi Attia, was found and will return to her family as soon as possible. The Coptic child Justina is less than 16 years old and was reported missing last month, before police found her today.

Family of the disappeared Coptic minor girl Youstina Majdy demanded the return of their daughter who is only 15 years old. The girl was reported missing on April 28 from Bayad village in Beni Suef, and her mother became very sick after her daughter disappeared.

St. Paul and St. Anthony monasteries in Bosh distributed 350 foodstuffs boxes on Muslim families in the town to celebrate the holy month of Ramadan. Deputy of the monasteries said they are used to present these gifts of love to the neighbors through a breakfast banquet and this year they replaced it by foodstuffs boxes due to the special measures taken to prevent the spread of Corona virus.

Majdy Atia, father of Justina, the disappeared Coptic minor girl in Beni Suef, called on President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi to intervene and return his daughter, as her mother is suffering from serious illness and deteriorating health conditions after Justina’s disappearance. Police were reported about the disappearance of the girl about one week ago, and the matter is currently under investigation.

Family of Justina Magdy Attia, the disappeared Coptic minor girl in Beni Suef demanded police to return her after one week of disappearance. Father Ermia Abdu, the official of the Angel’s Family for Accidents and Crises, said that Police were reported and the matter is currently under investigation.

Father Ermia Abdo, head of the Accidents and Crises Committee of Beni Suef diocese, said that a Coptic minor girl disappeared today in Beni Suef. He added that the girl is engaged and was wearing some jewelry. Police were reported and the matter is under investigation.

His Eminence Bishop Gabriel of Beni Suef told Copts United that new decisions have been taken by the church due to the Corona virus. Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, has decided to postpone the session of the Holy Synod and the ordination of new bishops until next November and to cancel the current seminar

Copts celebrated Palm Sunday without buying palm or attending churches and without holding any celebrations except watching the prayers on TV. This comes as the Coptic Orthodox church decided to close all churches and monasteries before the visitors and worshipers and suspend all churches activities to prevent the spread of the Corona virus.

Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, will hold an important meeting of the Secretariat Committee of the Holy Synod next Thursday. Bishop Ghobrial of Beni Suef told Copts United that the meetings comes to discuss the current situation and procedures taken by the church to face the spread of Coronavirus.

Sources in the Coptic Orthodox Church denied rumored about holding a meeting today for the Standing Committee of the Holy Synod headed by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II to assess the position of the closure of churches and the form of prayers for the Holy Week. The news were published on several websites and social media, before they are denied by the Church.

For the first time in hundreds of years, Coptic churches suspends Holy Masses on Sunday. Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church announced it is shutting down all churches nationwide and suspended all its services due to Coronavirus in order to prevent the spread of the pandemic.

Bishop Ghobrial of Beni Suef ordained a new priest at the Cathedral of the Virgin in Beni Suef. The new priest Father Rimon Toma headed to the monastery to spend 40 days of spiritual retreat according to the Coptic rituals.