The Church of the Saints in Alexandria organized a spiritual renaissance marking the passage of 10 years after the terrorist attack on New Year s Eve killing twenty-two martyrs in addition to dozens of injured. Under the title "We Are Not Forgotten", the Church of the Saints began yesterday, the spiritual celebration, which was broadcast online, but limited to church priests and deacons without the physical presence of the people, due to the precautionary measures to limit the spread of the Corona virus.

Abba Atallah Hanna, Archbishop of Sebastia of the Greek Orthodox Jerusalem, denounced the burning of the Christmas tree once again in Palestine. Hanna said in a statement: We are witnessing an unprecedented case of suspicious attempts and plots targeting civil peace in our society and in our Holy Land.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of Saint Mark See, will celebrate today the midnight prayers and praise of New Year’s eve in the monastery of Saint Bishoy in Wadi El-Natroun. The praises will be followed by the Divine Liturgy that ends at the beginning of the first day of the New Year 2021, and the prayers will be broadcast on the air by Christian satellite channels.

Anba Arsanyus, Bishop of the Diocese of New Valley, decided to cancel the New Year s celebration and the praise of the Holy Month of Kiahk in all parish churches. He explained in a statement, in the Church s concern for the safety of its people from the Corona virus. He added that prayers of Christmas and Epiphany Masses will be limited to priests and deacons.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II offers his sincere condolences to HG Bishop Benjamin of the Diocese of Menoufia, and to the family and congregation of Father Moussa Aziz, priest of St. George Church in Ezbet Al-Copts in Monufia Diocese who died at the age of 63 after being infected with Corona virus. The late priest spend nearly 29 years of priestly service after he was ordained a priest by His Eminence Anba Binyamin Archbishop of the Diocese, on January 17, 1992.

The Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Akhmim decided today to cancel all celebrations of the New Year and Christmas in the context of confronting the Corona virus. Christmas Liturgy will be limited to priests and a few deacons without the participation of the congregation.

Major General Mahmoud Sharawi, Minister of Local Development, followed up with Dr. Mamdouh Ghorab, Governor of Sharkia, the steps of implementing the project of reviving the Holy Family Path in the Tel Basta Archeology area in Zagazig city, through video conference. During the meeting, Sharawi assured that Egyptian government is very interested in the project with its great heritage, historical and religious importance.

Dr. Ashraf Sobhi, Egypt’s Minister of Youth and Sports, announced today the start of the third phase of Your Bike Your Health initiative, which offers 7200 bikes at low prices to encourage youth to ride bicycles. He added that the website will be opened on January 5th and the Egyptian Post will deliver the bikes to each governorate.

As part of the precautionary and preventive measures taken by the Coptic Church to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Beni Suef churches decided they won’t receive Christmas Well-Wishers on January 7th. Statement of the diocese said that messages and phone calls are welcomed, but physical visits are not allowed in all churches and monasteries.