Thousands of Copts have traveled to Jerusalem as pilgrims which were considered by several journalists as ignoring the decision of Coptic church to prevent such visit.

Egyptian newspaper said that Coptic pilgrims celebrated Palm Sunday and the Holy Week in Jerusalem. The pilgrims visit Christian monuments and monasteries in Jerusalem.

Tahrir newspaper said that Coptic visitors of Jerusalem have increased by 1270 person from last year. This year 5700 Copts visit Jerusalem where 4430 people visited Jerusalem at this time of the year.

Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, announced yesterday that he is going to stop his weekly sermon for two month.

Abba Moussa starts new pastoral care visit in Britain. Abba Moussa started his visit to by visiting st. Mary and St. Abraam Church in Brighton where he delivered a speech at Youth gathering.

Spokesperson for the Coptic Orthodox Church said that the Church rejects travel of Copts to Jerusalem, and only permits such visit for certain people in certain circumstances.

Sabri Winnie, a member of the general assembly of the Chamber of tourism companies, said that the flights of Copts to Jerusalem start on Friday and continues until 28 April.

Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, said that the Copts complete the Egyptian House of representatives and without them it’s distorted.

Congregation of St. Mark Church in Pennsylvania celebrated the silver jubilee of the ordination of Father Jawargios Fahmi, priest of the church.

Sabry Ragheb, owner of a tourism company, said that less Copts are traveling to Jerusalem at pilgrimage season in Easter. He explained that less than 5 thousand Copts have traveled last year, while 10 thousands have traveled the previous year.

Adviser Monsif Suleiman, Legal Advisor to the Coptic Orthodox Church, said that there is no text in the Gospel that contrary to Islamic law on inheritance.

Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, said that restoration of the great cathedral of St. Mark would take a long time.

The kidnapped child Antonious Nawar returned after his family paid 300.000 LE ransom. This came after the kidnappers negotiated the price for 8 days. The child was kidnapped in front of his school in Minbal village.

Father Estifanous Shehata, Deputy of Samalout Diocese, said that Minya has three closed churches that are waiting for the parliament to decide about.

Spokesperson of the Coptic Orthodox Church announced that Pope Tawadros II received the Togolese President in the Papal residence in the Great Cathedral of St. Mark.

Abba Arsani, Bishop of the Netherlands, opened this week a new church in "Velsen Noord". The church was called Pope Cyril VI Church.

The Norwegian Lutheran Church voted yesterday in favor of gay marriage inside the churches. The churches will allow same-sex couples to marry in the country's churches.

Dr. Ahmed Karima, a professor of Islamic law and a member of the senior scholars at Al-Azhar, said that Muslims are targeted by campaigns to prevent niqab. He added that if Muslim women are prevented from wearing niqab, Christen women should be prevented from wearing the cross as well.

Keraza magazine announced names of bishops who are going to celebrate the Easter in churches of the Diaspora.

Pope Tawadros is going to deliver his weekly sermon tomorrow at St. Mary Church in Golf City. Pope has starting moving in several churches around Egypt to deliver his weekly sermon after the restoration work of the Great Cathedral of St. Mark started.

Tariq Nasr, governor of Minya, rescheduled the exams for primary and preparatory schools to allow Christians to celebrate Easter.