After it was closed for 4 month, the church of St. Mary in Sheikh Alaa village, Minya, was opened to celebrate Christmas among joy of its congregations. The church has applied for legalization process according to the new law of building churches.

Egyptian president issued a presidential decree to officially appoint Youssef Absi the patriarch of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church in Egypt. The Patriarch who was born in Syria in 1946 was also granted the Egyptian citizenship by president Abudl Fattah al-Sisi.

Al-Azhar institute condemned the terrorist attack on the Church of Nigeria that killed and wounded 21 Christians. Statement of Al-Azhar denounced all sorts of violence assuring its rejected by Islam. It also called the international society to face these extremist groups and spread the culture of peaceful coexistence.

After the murder of two Copt by unknown gunmen next to a liquor store, police took extra security measures to secure churches of Omrania. Police moved extra security forces to secure the churches and opened investigation in the attack.

A delegation of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Luxor donated 10 tons of cement to contribute to the reconstruction and development of Sheikh Hashim Mosque in Luxor. The delegation emphasized the feelings of co-existence, love and brotherhood between Muslims and Christians in Egypt.

The Library of Alexandria organizes a lecture on the journey of the Holy Family to Egypt and the associated antiquates. The seminar is delivered by Dr. Mary Magdy, Assistant Professor, Department of Tourism Guidance, Faculty of Tourism and Hotels, Alexandria University. According to a statement by the Library, the lecture comes announce the acknowledgement of the Vatican to the trip of the Holy Family to Egypt as pilgrimage route.

The trial of 15 people accused of attacking in Atfih church started. A Coptic man was also charged with building a house without permit without referring to the building as a church. The church has applied to legalize the church according to the law of building churches, but all these facts were ignored.

Eid Attia, Coptic Christian man from Atfih village was arrested on charges of holding prayers without a permit in Atfih. Said Monir, lawyer of the Coptic man, said that the building belongs to the diocese of Atfih not the Coptic man. Moreover, the diocese has applied to legalize the church among other unlicensed churches in Atfih.

The prosecutor decided to detain 16 defendants in the attack of St. Tadrus Coptic Orthodox church in Atfih village. The defendants were accused of demolishing the church and attacking 3 Copts who were injured.

A large group of militants attacked a Coptic Orthodox church in the village of Kafr El-Wasalin, south Cairo, after performing their Friday prayers. The unlicensed church was built 10 years ago and Copts have been praying in it ever since. A rumor about intentions to put a bill in the church aroused the anger of the mobs, which was incited by the fanatics.

Social media activists shared a new video showing attacking of Coptic church by mob shouting: ‘we will demolish the church in all cases’. Hundreds of Muslim demonstrators attacked an unlicensed church in Atfih, south of Cairo, wounding three people.

The Supreme State Security Prosecution investigated 11 terrorists who are members in a terrorist cell that planned to target and carry out a series of attacks against churches and important installations. They were arrested as they were hiding in the Qalyubia and Alexandria governorates. Investigations revealed that a number of these elements received financial support from terrorist fugitives in North Sinai to finance their attacks.

Funeral of Tharwat Basili, the Coptic businessman, was held in the Church of the Virgin and St. Athnasius in Nasr City on Saturday. The prayers were headed by Pope Tawadros II and members of the Holy Synod in addition to thousands of the Coptic people. The body was laid in a cemetery at the church of St. Mary in Cairo next to CTV channel that he founded 10 years ago.

Copts in Nekhaila complained against intolerance of city council as it hinders rebuilding the church after its demolition. They said the church has obtained a permit to demolish a 400 square meter church and build 1200 new church on the same land, but the city council now hinders building the church after demolishing the old building.

Following the path of the Holy Family in Egypt, a delegation from the Vatican visited a number of places that were visited by the Holy Family in Cairo. The delegation was accompanied by Abba Youlious, Bishop of Old Cairo, and several officials as they visited St. Bishoy monastery.

A Facebook page called underground published new threats to Copts especially at churches and monasteries on the name of St. George and St. Demiana. The same page had published threats prior to the terrorist attacks at St. Mark in Alexandria and St. George in Tanta. Police have taken extra security measures to secure churches at the upcoming Christmas celebrations.

Egyptian government assigned 30 million EGP to pave the road of St. Samuel monastery. The new road is about 30 kilometers and will help securing the way after the bloody terrorist attack that targeted a bus backed with Copts.

Police in Minya prevented Abba Pasilious, head of St. Samuel monastery, and Abba Tadrus, Bishop of Port Said, from visiting the monastery. The Bishops were accompanying dozens of Copts who intended to visit the monastery when the police told them that they can t secure the trip and they should return back.

A Coptic man was accused of attacking public properties with members of the Muslim Brotherhood after the dispersal of Rabaa Adawia and Nahda sit-ins. Badawy Makram, the Coptic defendant, said that he doesn t belong to the Muslim Brotherhood and a policeman had put his name in the case to take avenge from him for previous disagreement.

Abba Anthonios Morkos, Bishop of African Affairs of the Coptic Orthodox Church, held blessing prayers in the piece of land on which the first Coptic church in Malawi will be built. The foundation stone of the Coptic church will be laid next February. The blessing prayers were attended by several officials and clergy.

Abba Makarious, Bishop of Minya, condemned the terrorist incident that killed 305 martyrs during prayer on Friday. The bishop canceled a celebration to ordain new priests and rang sad bell melodies in all churches of the diocese in mourn for mosque attack.