Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and patriarch of st. Mark see, congratulated the Cops on the Feast of the Holy Cross. This came during his weekly sermon where Pope Tawadros said that the church celebrates the Feast twice a year.

As the Egyptian presidential elections are approaching, Coptic Orthodox Church issued a statement in which it said that it doesn t direct the Copts to vote for a particular candidate. He explained that the church only encourages the citizens to participate in the elections and cast their vote.

Coptic Orthodox Church organized a conference for priests of Torino and Rome for two days which was attended by Abba Pernaba, Bishop of Torino and Rome, and Abba Abakir, Bishop of Scandinavian countries. The conference discuses topics related to priests service and problems they face.

4 new monks were ordained at St. Bishoy Monastery in Wadil Natroun. The four monks are: Fathers Tawadros, Abram, Mark and Serapion of St. Bishoy.

Abba Pernapa, Bishop of Torino and Rome, and Abba Abakir, Bishop of the Scandinavian countries ordained three new deacons at St. George Church in Rome. The first deacon is Deacon Kyrilious and two other deacons are Medhat Boshra and Abdul Massieh Farouk, and were ordained in the rank of Ebideacon.

Abba Paula, bishop of Tanta and supervisor of Brighton church in England, received a new church on Monday, which will be prepared for inauguration on Easter. The church was called the church of St. Demiana and Pope Kyrilous in Brighton, England.

Coptic Church called on its congregation to participate in the upcoming presidential elections describing it as a national duty. A number of dioceses and bishops held conferences to invite young people and the congregation to cast their votes in the elections.

Egypt s ministry of foreign affairs published a report about the Egyptian Grand Museum and described it as the largest archaeological artifacts museum in the world. The museum is located near the Giza Pyramids on an area of 117 acres, and will include in its corridors about 100.000 pieces of antiquities from various historical periods of Egypt.

The United States announced a donation of 2.2 million Egyptian pounds to the Egyptian Red Crescent to provide psychosocial counseling, vocational training, and help families of those who suffered because of the terrorist attack at Al-Rawdah mosque. The Egyptian government, represented by Minister of investment Sahar Naser, accepted the donation in order to help the children who lost their fathers in the attack.

The Apostolic Church in the village of Bakhum of Sahel Salim Center hosted a conference to support President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, to run for the presidency for a second term. The conference was attended by several clergy and officials of the village.

Dr. Shawki Allam, Egypt’s Mufti, said that female circumcision is a matter of caroms and traditions rather than religion. He added that Fatwa House had announced that female circumcision is not mandatory in Islam, but it is forbidden because of its medical and physiological damage.

Abba Morkos, Bishop of Shubra al-Khaima, inaugurated a new alter on the name of St. Pope Kyrious IV at St. Mary church in Mostorod. Two new alters were also inaugurated on the name of St. Mark and St. Mina. The inauguration was made during the celebration of the departure anniversary of St. Pope Kyrilous IV.

Lawyer of the families of the 21 Coptic martyrs of Libya, said that an official celebration is being prepared for the opening of the 21 Coptic martyrs of Libya church. The prosecution of Samalut informed the families of the martyrs that they are going to receive the bodies of the martyrs in few days.

Alaa Abed, head of the Human Rights Committee of the Egyptian Parliament, commented on the formation of a British parliamentary Committee to investigate the conditions of the former president Mohamed Morsi who is currently in jail saying: Britain hosts more than 10 thousand fugitives from Egypt s judicial authorities and is refusing to extradite them. He added that Britain aims to distort the presidential election and topple the Egyptian state and called British tourists to support Egypt by visiting its wonderful touristic places.

Dr. Mohamed el-Baradei, Former adviser of Egyptian president, called Arabs to visit Jerusalem in order to confront the Judaization movement carried out by Israel and to show solidarity with the Palestinian people. He explained that visiting Jerusalem with a large numbers is crucial to show the world how important it is for the Muslim and Arab people.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, assured the historical evidence of coexistence and compassion between Muslims and Copts in Egypt. He added that Muslims should know the national role of the Copts and that the Church has suffered from harm to perform such role. Bin Salman said that Copts have not responded by violence to what they suffered from after attacking their churches.

Spokesman of the Coptic Orthodox Church described visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the Cathedral of St. Mark in Abbasiyah as a message of peace for the whole world and a new chapter in the relationship between the Kingdom and the Church. He added that the visit is a sign of steady growth in the relationship between Saudi Arabia and the Church.

A delegation of Copts abroad has visited the New Cathedral of the Administrative Capital. The delegation is participating in the Citizen conference to support President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in the upcoming presidential elections.

After Egyptian president Abdul Fattah al-Sisi issued a presidential decree to build a church in New Obour city, the government handed the dedicated church to priest of Obour city. For his part, Eng. Harbi Nazeer, owner of a construction company, offered to build the church at his expense.

Pope Tawadros of Alexandria published an article at Keraza Magazine in which he talked about the characteristics of the fasting person s behavior. He explained that the fasting person must strive and grow in virtue But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. (2 Peter 1: 5-7)

Abba Ermia, head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center, received heads of Coptic communities and associations of Egyptians abroad in Europe, America and the Arab countries who are members of the ‘Citizen’ campaign to support President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in the upcoming presidential elections. During the meeting, they praised efforts excreted by al-Sisi to develop Egypt and counter terrorism.