For the first time in its history, a woman took office as Secretary General of the Middle East Church Council. The Council of Churches of the Middle East held a meeting of the Executive Committee at the Antonine University in Baabda, Lebanon, attended by the heads of the Council and representatives of the four ecclesiastical families and members of the Committee were Dr. Thoria Bashalany was appointed as Acting Secretary General of the council following the resignation of former secretary general who was appointed as president of the Antonine University in Lebanon.

Bishop Armia, head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center, announced his full support for the Egyptian armed forces and its efforts to preserve the country. He said on Twitter: the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center with all its members announce their full support for the Egyptian armed forces to preserve the safety of the country.

Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, held a meeting with families of the martyrs of Palm Sunday at St. Mark Patriarchate in Alexandria.

Dr. Khaled Montaser, denounced the TV Salafist channel "Safa" which is owned by a Kuwaiti businessman and is inciting against Copts, police and army of Egypt.

Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, receives yesterday His Excellency Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, secretary general of the World Council of Churches in the papal residence in Cairo.

The Council of Catholic Patriarchs in Egypt visited Pope Twadros II, Pope of Alexandria Patriarch of Saint Mark See to congratulate him on Christmas. The delegation included Abba Ibrahim Isaac, Patriarch of the Catholic Coptic Church, Patriarch Joseph Al Absi, Roman Catholic Patriarch, Archbishop Krikor Cossa, Archbishop of the Armenian Catholics, Archbishop George Sheehan of the Maronites, and Archbishop Gregory Haddad, Archbishop of Caesarea Philippi.

Kogi Coptic children television of the Coptic Orthodox Church visited today the children of the eight victims of the recent terrorist attack that took place in Helwan on Friday. Abba Morkos, bishop of Shubra al-Khaima, and Abba Becenty, Bishop of Masara, joined the crew and held prayers for the children before they gave them presents.

Pope Tawadros II announced on Wednesday to stop his weekly sermon for couple of weeks. He explained that his weekly sermon would return on January 24th after the celebrations of Christians and Epiphany feasts.

Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, commented on recent attack against St. Mina Church in Helwan saying that Egypt will stay powerful and united against evil powers. He offered sincere condolences to families of the victims of the attack and wished the wounded speedy recovery.

Egyptian military spokesman said that Egypt s defense and interior ministers survived an assassination attempt by a missile targeting Al-Arish airport. An officer was killed and two soldiers were injured and there was a partial damage in a helicopter.

Egyptian police announced the arrest of a terrorist cell that planned to attack churches on Christmas. Police exchanged fire with the terrorists and killed 5 of them. Several weapons were seized in the house.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Egypt will get the latest nuclear technology Moscow and Cairo signed an agreement in 2015 for Russia to build a nuclear power plant in Egypt, with Russia extending a loan to Egypt to cover the cost of construction. Putin added during his visit to Cairo that direct flights between Egypt and Moscow will return soon.

A new priest was ordained in Dakhla, New Valley governorate, by Abba Poktor, bishop of the New Valley. Father John Adel was ordained for the ministry at St. George Church in Dakhla.

Abba Arsanious, Archbishop of Minya and Abu Qurqas, and Abba Makarios, the general Bishop of Minya, ordained 8 new priests to serve the villages of Menya and Abu Qurqas. According to a press release issued by the Information Office the new priests are: Father Abakir Roshdy, Bishoy Ibrahim, Youannis adly, Bishoy Nady, Philopatir Hana, Ermia Moussa, Younathan Farok and Aghathon Magdy. The new priests traveled to the Monastery of the Virgin Mary in the valley of Natroun to spend the next forty days in spiritual retreat according to the Coptic rituals.

Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patirarch of St. Mark See, celebrated the feast of St. Mina at his monastery in Mariout, near Alexandria, with the participation of several members of the Holy Synod. Pope perfumed the remains of the saint with Abba Kyrillos, bishop of Ava Mina monasery, Abba Demetrius, Bishop of Mallawi,Abba Marcos, Archbishop of the Gardens of El Kubba, and Abba Illarion, Bishop of Western Alexandria.

Father Polous Halim, spokesman for the Coptic Orthodox Church, said that Coptic diocese for youth in America and Canada CACYB has organized a banquet for youth entitled No roots No fruits The event introduced the concept of identity and roots and its importance in the life of young people.

Abba Youssef, Bishop of Bolivia ordained two new full deacons at St. George and St. Anthony Church in Otawa. Spokesman of the church said that such ordination comes to help in the ministry with the increasing numbers of the people, especially with the Holly Communion.

Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, received on Saturday members of the World Christian Student Union at the great Cathedral of St. Mark. Spokesman of the Coptic Orthodox Church said in a statement that the meeting carried out at the Papal headquarters in Abbasia.

In the presence of 22 Coptic bishops, Abba Begol was enthroned as new bishop of Al Muharraq monastery. The celebration was also attended by Abba Kyrilous Willian, Catholic bishop of Assiut.

In the presence of the representatives of the Christian denominations in London, Bishop Angelos was enthroned on London diocese. The celebration was attended by Coptic and Syrian bishops as well as the congregation of the diocese.

Abba Bakhomius, Bishop of the Beheira, ordained 5 new priests at the chruch of St. Mark in Karmat Damanhor. The ordination was attended by Abba Isak, the general bishop, and Abba Pavly, general bishop of Alexandria.