Copts in Esna, Luxor, celebrated today the anniversary of the martyrdom of 160 thousand Christians at the hands of the Roman emperor Diocletian.

Christians in Hamedya neighborhood in Syria decided to celebrate Christmas among the wreckage of their city.

PopeTawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, accompanied by a church delegation that included a number of bishops, visited Patriarch Gregory III Laham, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East for the Melkite Catholics, at his residence in Egypt to congratulate him on Christmas on Thursday morning,.

Egyptian embassy in Libya refused to intervene after Coptic doctor and his wife were murdered in Libya.

Egyptian state television announced it will broadcast Coptic Catholic celebrations of Christmas on air. The television announced in a statement yesterday it will air the mass prayers live on Wednesday evening.

Abba Serafim, bishop of Ismailia, opened St. Mina orphanage in Fayed. Coptic Orthodox Church in Ismailia said the new orphanage receives male children and is well-prepared to accommodate them.

Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of Saint Mark See, told the Spanish newspaper El Mundo that ISIS is a Western plot to divide the region, as most Muslims are moderate and refuse such extremism.

Major General Tariq Gazar, Director of Suez security, has been visiting churches and other places where Christmas services are going to be held in order to be secured.

Major General Ibrahim Saber, chief director of Sohag security, told Copts United that there are no threats for the Copts or church leaders in the governorate, especially during the Christmas celebrations.

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, known as ISIS, prevented shaving the beard or wearing marriage rings considering wearing them imitation of Christians and infidelity.

Refat Badr, priest of the Latin Church in Naour, Jordon, welcomed the displaced Iraqis in Christmas assuring they have the right to celebrate and enjoy the feast.

Abba Pfnotios, Bishop of Samalot, ordained three nuns dedicated for the ministry in the diocese. The new nuns were named sister Theiodora, sister Verena, and sister Barthenaa.

"Protectors of Faith" association filed law suit against Rosalyousef newspaper accusing it of insulting the church and spreading false information.

Leftist parties in Austria, in cooperation with the Muslim initiative liberals, widely criticized European and American governments for not facing the great danger of the growing phenomenon of radical jihadists and the increasing extremist terrorist organizations in the world.

Police are currently investigating the burn of a bus owned by St. Mary Church at Dakados, Mit Ghamr, Dakahlia governorate, which has also affected parts of the building.

Abba Athanasius, Bishop of Bani Mazar and Bahnasa, ordained a new priest yesterday at the church of St. Mary and St. Abanoub, Nazlet Galf, Beni Mazar.

Security services in Sohag governorate have managed to arrest one member of a gang that killed a Copt and tried to kidnap other Copts.

A group of extremists have burned a bus owned by St. Mary Chruch at Dakados, Mit Ghamr, Dakahlia governorate.

The official spokesman of the Coptic Orthodox Church announced today that the church is going to organize a competition under the auspices of Pope Tawadros II for Coptic icons’ artists.

Magdi Alaptaty, governor of Beni Suef, charged mayor of Fashn city with visiting the family of Coptic child Abdel Massih Ezzat who was accused of stealing five loaves of bread. The boy was sentenced in absentia to a prison sentence without his family knowing.

Father Paul Fahmi, Agent of Coptic Catholics Bishopric in Beni Suef, said the Church will hold a Mass for the Feast of Christmas at the night of December 24th, but will not celebrate the feast or receive official congratulations until January 7th.