Coptic civilization is a great civilization that came in Egypt and left great impact on Egypt and other nations. However, this great civilization does not receive the due attention from the Egyptian state. It is surprising and even ironic that many countries are interested in the Coptic civilization and establish sections in their universities to study them, but the Egyptian state ignores it and refuse to include them in the curricula and refuse to establish dedicated sections for Coptic civilization in its universities like Pharonic and Islamic sections. An official said once in television interview that Coptic civilization belongs to Christians and we have nothing to do with it! This showed that many Egyptian officials don t consider Coptic civilization part of their own civilization.

Attacking the Cops and their churches in Egypt is still happening, and the murderer is still acquitted as well. The best way to prove the murderer not guilty is by calling him crazy. This is usually the case in most sectarian attacks. Bing crazy or psychopath is the most known way to acquit murderers of the Copts. This was the case in the very first attack by ISIS in Alexandria in 2006 when a terrorist attacked three different churches in different places and stabbed a man to death, but was acquitted in a crazy way by calling him crazy!

The recent terrorist attack at the monastery of St. Samuel in Minya was indeed a tragedy, but we still have to face it since the Copts have not learned the lesson. I am not talking about security negligence and the role of the state, but rather about the Copts who walk in the way of death ignoring such great danger and get killed at the end. Let s remember here what the holy family did when Herod persecuted the child Jesus and intended to kill the children of Bethlehem. Joseph took the boy and his mother and went to Egypt. However, he had a chance to stay and say God will protect him from being killed instead of staying in Egypt for 3 years till Herod died.

The series of assault on the Copts continue as an extremist stormed into the Church of St. George in Ain Shams holding a white weapon and promising to kill all infidels in the church during the Sunday liturgy. Two people were injured in that attack before the defendant was arrested. I believe the extremist has a sound mind since he chose Sunday to commit his crime and knew the entrance of the church. What if he had a real weapon? We would have a number of dead people counted as martyrs! It is clear that similar attacks on Christians are increasing, but the state makes no move to prevent them except for denial and denouncing as well as offering sincere condolences! This raises questions about ability of the state to protect its citizens and when these attacks will come to an end? The key problem here is that criminals are not usually punished for what they do, and the price is always paid by the Copts, who pay the price of ignorance, illiteracy, retardation and extremism. Therefore, the state has to face such culture of extremism and try to change it.

Christianity has not only faced persecution when it spread all over the world by miracles, but also since its very beginning when Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem. Herod wanted him dead and therefore, he killed all children in Bethlehem. Yet, the Holy Family fled to Egypt in order to keep the child safe. Seizing houses of worship also started since the days of Jesus Christ on earth when He expelled the sellers at the temple saying that it is a place of worship but they made it a cave of thieves. Christians were also persecuted since the very beginning just like Christ was. Such persecution continued till today producing thousands of saints and martyrs and spreading Christianity throughout the world.

The bible says: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. (Matthew 5: 9). But, the world prefers today those who incite wars and hatred. among those who raise such hateful slogan is the Israeli army that prefers to seize Egyptian property from Coptic peaceful monks rather than returning their rights back. Egypt has tried to teach them how to love and accept peace after the war of 1973. However, this is not strange since they refused the master of peace, Jesus Christ. Moreover, they have already seized the Palestinian land among the mysterious silence of the world.

Israeli occupation forces and an Israeli engineering committee broke into the Sultan s monastery Of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Jerusalem under the pretext of its restoration, despite the refusal of His Holiness Bishop Antony, the Coptic Archbishop of Jerusalem. We reject any unilateral decisions which would change the features of the monastery and the situation on the ground. This is a blatant violation of international law, all international conventions and relevant resolutions and is considered as targeting of Christian minorities in East Jerusalem.

We thank God who placed in the heart of Pope Tawadros II the wisdom of improving the ministry as needed for development. Otherwise, huge and historical entities that remained rigid were exposed to fragmentation and refraction. The idea of Youth Bishopric came in certain time to give youth what they need of activities and services. His Grace Bishop Moussa had many achievements in that field. However, the current openness now available makes it important to change the way of service and its objectives.

The murder of Nahaat Rizk Abshkiroun, 65 years old Urologist, in his clinic in Assiut was revealed by police who named the murderer and said he suffers from a psychological condition and that the motivation for the crime it to take revenge from the doctor for what the murderer saw as medical error. The crime is premeditated murder and should be punished according to the law. However, it is regrettable that police pre-empt investigations and issue irresponsible statements for medical condition of the murderer. I wonder if police have examined the murderer to find out about his psychological condition, which is against the law. Prosecution is the one responsible for investigating such issues and examinations. Moreover, such announcements may affect the public opinion and may help the criminal escape the punishment. Once again the law should be applied in that case, which means the murderer should be executed since he intended and planned to commit his crime.

The call to service in the church is not offered to a particular group of believers but to all believers. Everyone who becomes a member of the body of the Lord should have a mission and work in the vineyard of the Lord. Abba Bakhomius, Archbishop of the Beheira, Matrouh and North Africa, said in his article the Service that the service may be different from one person to another according to the message that the Lord gives to every member of the Church. Yet, all calls should work for the glory of God and the spread of His kingdom.

The rising up of enemies, hidden and manifest, take them away from us. this is part of Thanksgiving prayers that we say in all ritual prayers and liturgies. This shows us that we have two kinds of enemies. What are the hidden enemies? Pope Shenouda III in his article on The hidden and manifest enemies talked about the hidden enemies. The first and most dangerous enemy is the devil who wanders in the earth like a lion looking for prey to swallow it. Satan was the cause of the destruction of the house of Job and his illness. Satan envies the righteous people like Joseph the righteous and incited his brothers to sell him.

From one time to another, people discuss the importance of General Congregation Council of the Coptic Orthodox Church (the Milli Council). The current Council ended its term in April 2011, and was not re-elected and then the Council is not currently in place, and any decisions or statements issued on behalf of the Council only represents personal decisions and statements. The first formation of the General Congregation Council was issued by the Higher Order of Khedive Tawfiq in 1874 and the adoption of Boutros Ghali who had conflict with Pope Cyril V, who was a reformist and a saint, but he rejected the idea of the Milli Council but was forced to accept it.

Chastity, obedience, obligatory poverty are three vows that form the core of monasticism that lwads to spiritual depth and the dedication of the heart and life to Jesus Christ. Father Youhanna Nasif, priest of the Blessed Virgin Mary Coptic Orthodox Church in Chicago, said in his article about Monasticism that it has been a great support of the church by offering the life of the bible and leaders of the church have been chosen among the monks.

I was shocked, like many Copts, after the painful and tragic incident that led to the death of Bishop Epiphanius, head of the Monastery of St. Makkar. Several incidents added to such pain including the death of Father Zinoun and the severe attack against the church and its leaders. For centuries, the Church is often surrounded by threats from outside and inside, but the dangers of this era are increased through social networks as well as television channels that have no rules or credibility. However, it should be known that the world cannot defeat the church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (Matthew 16:18)

Everlasting life is the purpose for which was the incarnation of Jesus Christ on earth. It was a sacred invitation that showed us the appearance of our Savior Jesus Christ, who said of Himself, I am life. Bishop Bishoy of Kafr El-Sheikh and Damietta explained in his article Eternal Life that the Lord Jesus meant by the eternal life the one granted by the Lord Jesus to mankind. Thus, he said that who eats Him will live by Him.

In the 16th century, Azhar students noticed that their colleagues from Yemen drink a strong smell dark beverage with a bitter taste. The Yamani students were used to do this before exams and prayers. Soon, coffee spread inside Al-Azhar, and most of the students drank it. As usual, sheikhs started to interfere in all aspects of our life. One of them called Ahmed Abdul-Haq al-Sunbati forbade drinking coffee in any form assuring that everything that works to influence the mind is haraam. His fatwa was supported by many sheikhs and were discussed even in religious speeches and led to the destruction of several coffee shops.

The Lord Jesus taught us that words that come out of the mouth either justify and save him or destroy man and lead him to hell. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned. (Matthew 12: 37). Fahter John Nassif, priest of the Church of Our Lady in Chicago, said in his article about speech that it reveals the inner goodness of man or his evil. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.

The Holy Sacraments of our beloved church are a gift from God to his children, through which he pours a flood of unseen blessings, which make them reach they destination without losing the way. Abba Moussa, Bishop of Youth, in his article The unity of the Holy Sacraments assured us that the sacraments are divine grants by which we receive many unseen graces. They are seven Sacraments: namely: Baptism, Holy Chrism, Holy Eucharist, Confession, Sanction of the sick, Matrimony, and Priesthood.

On September 9, 1981, President Sadat launched a war against Pope Shenouda and the Copts as he was calling himself a Muslim president of a Muslim country. He accused the late Pope Shenouda III of planning to separate from Egypt and establishing a Christina state in Assiut. Soon, he returned the Pope to his monastery and allowed the terrorists to attack the Copts everywhere promising that a threat of a civil war was at hand. We, the Copts, had fears about the reaction of our Muslim colleagues and neighbor. We were surprised to hear them condemning Sadat for his sectarian speech that was full of hatred, especially against Pope Shenouda III who was admired by all Egyptians.

Copts at Kasr Haidar village in Assiut had to hold a funeral of a deceased man in the streets in front of the church o St. Moses after the fanatics have forced them to shut down the church. I find such closure of the church in violation of the law is both shameful and disgraceful especially as the church was opened to prayer several years ago and before the draft of current law of houses of worship was passed in the parliament. Thus, the church can t be closed while it is waiting for legalization decision. Under the absence of law enforcement, Copts suffering is increasing and holding their prayers in several churches is getting harder. Their right to pray for God is being taken away by those who should be punished. I demand the reopening of the church immediately and empowering the Copts to pray freely and the person who issued a decision to close the church should be punished with the fanatics who attacked the church.