The prosecution in Zagazig renewed the imprisonment for 4 students on charges of defamation of Chrsitanity after publishing a video on YouTube ridiculing Christian believes and prayers. It is worth mentioning that 4 Coptic children had been sentenced to 5 years in prison after publishing a video ridiculing ISIS after slain of 21 Copts in Libya.

A delegation from UNICEF visited Tal Basta archeological area in the framework of reviving the journey of the Holy Family project, after the inclusion of Sharqia province in the course of the journey of the Holy Family. Father Matias Yaacoub, priest of the Church of Our Lady and St. John the Apostle, said that Sharqia is the first major point where the Holy Family settled in Egypt and witnessed the most important 3 miracles in the journey of the Holy Family in Egypt.

Metropolitan Tadros of Portsaid visited today Pope Shenouda III Center in Long Point, west of Sydney after celebrating the holy mass at the church of St. Abraam in the center. He sermonized about avoiding the sin of hypocrisy and urged the sons of the Church to embrace the teachings of Christ in that account.

Bishop Markos of Shubra al-Khaymah said that the birth of Christ is a birth of the whole world, but the celebration this year was different since the president Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has opened the biggest Cathedral in the Middle East and offered to the Copts. He added that we thank the president for fulfilling his promise to open the Cathedral in January 2019.

Bishop Markos of Shubra al-Khaimah and supervisor of St. George monastery in Rizigat, Luxor, headed the delegation of the monastery to congratulate Pope on Christmas. They met with Pope at the papal headquarter of St. Bishoy in Wadil Natroun.

Former Culture Minister Dr. Jaber Asfour confirmed that those who resist the renewal of religious discourse are trying to destroy the religion. He added that Egypt will be a civil democratic state, and that we have to search for the roots of terrorism and remove them.

Under the title "God, what do you want me to do? A spiritual renaissance was held at the church of the two saints in Alexandria at the 8th anniversary of the terrorist bomb attack that targeted the church in which dozens were killed and injured. The memorial service of the martyrs will be held in St. Mina monastery in Mariout on January 1st, 2019.

His Grace Abba Hedra, Archbishop of Aswan and the head of the monastery of Abba Bakhmius in Edfu, received the families of the priests of Edfu and Kom Ombo who came to wish him speedy recovery. Bishop Hedra has undergone a surgery in the United States to change the left and right knee joints.

His Holiness Bishop Kyrillos of Nag Hammadi ordained 65 new deacons at the old church of St. Bedaba monastery in Nag Hammadi. 17 deacons were ordained at the basic rank of Ebsaltus ( chanter) and 48 deacons were ordained at the rank of Oghnostus (reader). The new deacons were assigned to minister at the church of St. John the belonged and the church of ST. Mary in Nag Hammadi.

Bishop Raphael of Central Cairo Churches returned to Egypt after a pastoral care visit for nine days in Melbourne Diocese. During the visit, he answered the questions of the congregation and prepared reports about their problems. This comes after the sudden resignation of Bishop Suriel of Melbourne.

At the end of his pastoral care visit to the Coptic congregation in Saudi Arabia, Metropolitan Markos received an invitation frin Dr. Hazem Ramadan, Consul General of Egypt in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to have dinner in honor of the Coptic Metropolitan of Shubra al-Khaimah. The banquet was held in honor of Abba Markos and a number of Coptic members of the community in Saudi Arabia were invited as well.

Bishop Raphael, former secretary of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church held several meetings with priests and congregation of the Coptic Church in Australia to study the problems of the diocese after the resignation of Bishop of the diocese. Abba Raphael has also met with Bishop Suriel and reassured the congregation on his health conditions.

The official spokesman of the Coptic Orthodox Church said that Bishop Eklimidus of Almaza, El-Haghana and East Nasr City, has ordained 44 new deacons at the rank of Ebsaltus. The ordination ceremony was carried out at the church of St. Mina and St. Kirilus in Hagana.

The official spokesman of the Coptic Orthodox Church said Bishop Bvnotius of Samalot ordained 90 new deacons at the rank of Oghnostos (reader). The new deacons were assigned to the ministry in 3 villages in Samalot. The ordination ceremony was conducted at the Cathedral of the Savior of the World.

A delegation of the French International Association of Christian Religious sites around the world visited the Cathedral of St. Mark in Alexandria, where they were received by Father Abbam Emil, the Patriarchal Vicar General in Alexandria. The visit comes within the framework of including the Church as part of the important religious tourist attractions in the course of the Holy Familys journey to Egypt.

Bishop Sharubim or Esna and Armant ordained 3 new priests to serve in Qena. The new priests rate Father Bsentaus, Zosima and Athanasius.

An eyewitness told Copts united that police in Omrania, Cairo, was reported about two bombs planted near the Church of the Virgin and Angel Michael on Thalathini Street in Omrania. A member of the security team assigned to the church discovered two boxes of wood with a copper wire and immediately informed the authorities whom sent bomb squat teams to investigate the matter and find out who put the boxes.

Father Armanios Farid, Priest of the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Luxor, perfumed today the remains of St. Wannas. Martyr Wannas have been martyred in Upper Egypt and his body is buried in the down town Luxor city.

Melbourne Coptic Priests’ Synod decided that a committee of Melbourne priests are going to manage the diocese after the resignation of Bishop Suriel. They declared that the committee will be working under Pope Tawadros II and will concentrate mainly on the services to keep the peace of the church, and will issue a weekly report to inform the congregation on all updates.