The Libyan authorities announced the extraction of 34 bodies of Christian Ethiopians who were slain by ISIS in Libya. The terrorist organization had published a video referring to their massacre on April 19, 2015.

Egyptian Police and Army announced they are taking extra security measures to secure Christmas celebrations all over Egypt. Special forces and military police were placed in all vital places in order to deal with all potential threats and situations.

Abba Pernaba, Bishop of Turin and Rome, celebrated the holy mass at eth church of St. Mary in Turin where he ordained 4 new deacons and inaugurated the new baptisms of the church. After the holy mass, he received a delegation form the Catholic church to congratulate him on Christmas.

Minya diocese issued a statement to warn against a deceitful man who contacts people claiming he is delegated by the diocese and asks them to donate for him. The dioceses published the phone number that he uses to contact the people and warned them against dealing with him.

Abba Hedra, Archbishop of Aswan, headed the celebration of the diocese of the feasts of St. Hedra in his monastery in western Aswan. The celebration was also attended by Abba Demetrious, Bishop of Mallay, and a number of the clergy.

Bishop Bemen of Naqada and Qus inaugurated today the altars and icons of the ancient church of the Archangel Michael monastery. The inauguration ceremony was attended by the monks of the monastery and the priests of the diocese.

In a recent television interview, Pope Tawadros II, said that Marriage in the Coptic orthodox Church is a special relationship among God, a man and a woman and this special relationship can not be terminated except by death or committing adultery. He added that marriage can be annulled if there is deceit by one of the parties such as hiding one s sickness.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, inaugurated the church of the Virgin and St. George in Shorouk. 3 alters and baptism were inaugurated at the church as well as a number of Coptic icons. The bishops attended the inauguration ceremony are Bishops Bsada of Akhmim, Daniel of Maadi, Mina of St. George monastery, Ermia the General Bishop, Samuel of Tamwa, Maqar of Sharkia, Eklimindos of Hagana and Almaza, and Mikhail of Hadayek al-Kobba.

Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, visited Bishop of Assiut, Abba Youannis who had an accident last week while he was heading to attend the Koiak midnight praises. The bishop had a car accident and his leg was broken.

His Holiness Pope Twadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, received today Dr. Thoria Bashalani, Secretary-General of the Council of Churches of the Middle East. The meeting carried out at the papal headquarters of St. Mark Great Cathedral in Abbasiyah.

His Holiness Bishop Sarafim of Ismailia ordained two new priests at the church of St. George in Fayed. The ordination was also blessed and attended by Bishop Daniel, Head of the Monastery of St. Paula in the Red Sea, Bishop Joseph of Bolivia and Bishop Bimwa of the Suez. The new priests are Fathers Youstos Fekry and Mathias Alfons.

His Holiness Pope Twadros II ordained 13 new priests to serve in a number of churches in Cairo, Alexandria, Jerusalem, Canada and Hong Kong. This came during the Divine Liturgy, which His Holiness served in the monastery of Anba Bishoy in Wadi El Natroun.

Abba Pachomius, former acting Patriarch and Archbisiop of Behiera and north Africa, celebrated the feast of St. George at his church in Damanhour. During the holy mass, 30 new deacons were ordained and remains of the saints were perfumed.

Abba Makarios, General Bishiop of Minya ordained 120 new deacons at St. George Church in Nazlet Ebid village. The new deacons were ordained in the rank of Ebsaltus and were celebrated by the congregation.

Pope Tawadros II inaugurated on Sunday the great St. Mark cathedral in Abbasia on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the cathedral’s construction in 1968. The cathedral was closed in 2015 for restoration and renovation works implemented by around 50 companies and 300 workers. The cathedral’s new art works include icons of martyrs in the modern age like the 21 Coptic martyrs in Libya.

Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, received today a delegation from the Bundestag at the papal headquarter in St. Mark Cathedral. The delegation was headed by Mrs. Gidi Bensen, Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid of the Bundestag The Bundestag is the German federal parliament. It can be compared to the lower house of parliament along the lines of the United States House of Representatives, the Irish Dáil Éireann or the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, with the Bundesrat, though a separate institution, having a similar role to the upper house of a bicameral parliament.

Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, presided over the 40 days memorial service of the late Metropolitan Bishoy of Damietta and Kafr Elshiekh and former secretary of the Holy Synod. Pope talked in the service that was held at St. Demiana monastery in Belqas about unity of the church mentioned in the bible And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. (John 10: 16)

HG Bishop Yusab of Luxor received yesterday a French delegation headed by His Grace Bishop Athanasius, Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in France and John Maher, head of the French-Egyptian Human Rights Organization in France. The French delegation ended a visit to the Holy Family path as the first French delegation to visit it in Egypt. The delegation was also welcomed by a number of officials in Luxor.

His Holiness Pope Francis issued a message yesterday to dedicate prayers this month to speed the language of love against the language of weapons. He added that having peace in our heart is the first step to have peace in the world. Having compassion and totally rejecting violence is the next step to achieve the Evangelical peace.

After celebrating the third day memorial service of martyrs of St. Samuel monastery terrorist attack, Bishop Makarious of Minya, headed to Sheikh Zayed specialized hospital to visit the injured people of the attack. 11 people are receiving treatment at the hospital since their conditions demanded their transfer to Cairo after the attack.

Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, opened today St. Demiana hospital in Haram Street. The hospital is owned by the diocese of central Giza and serves the people in that area from all religions.