The Egyptian mobile networks started operating inside the monastery of St. Samuel the Confessor in Minya. The monastery had witnessed two terrorist attacks in which more than 35 people were killed in the isolated road leading to the monastery and such service is one way to prevent similar attacks or at least allows people to contact security services in case of emergency.

Police dismantled an explosive device installed next to St. Mary Church in Alexandria. Spokesman of the Coptic Orthodox Church said that the device was put in a box at nearby supermarket and police were reported before explosives experts dismantle it.

The church of St. Bishoy and St. Paula in Ezbet Shahin in Minya to hold the 40 days memorial service of the two Copts killed by a policeman to be held on January 17. The public prosecution accused the policeman of murder and sent the case to the Criminal Court.

The Egyptian Sheikh Dr. Omar Salem visited last week the religious Jewish institute "Or Torah Mahanaim" in Israel. He discussed with the students the peace process in the Middle East and coexistence between Jews, Christians and Muslims. Salem added that nothing prevents us from living together in peace.

In his first message in the New Year, Archishop Abraam of Fayoum, invited his followers to start a new convenient with God at this year to please Him and rejoice by His salvation. He quoted a saying by Pope Tawadros II that man should repent since God hates sin as much as He loves man.

Father Poulos Halim, spokesman of the Coptic Orthodox Church, said that the government s decision to regulate the status of 80 churches and service buildings is a very important measure to ensure freedom of worship. He added that the Cathedral of the New Administrative Capital as well as the formation of the Supreme Council to Encounter Sectarian Attacks are good steps towards equal citizenship.

Rev. Andrea Zaki, head of the Evangelical community in Egypt said that President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi was able to turn the slogans of patriotism into reality during the unprecedented process of financial reforms. He added that the relations of the Christian communities in Egypt are very good, and attributed the differences in the festivals of the communities to the difference between the Western and Eastern calendar.

Tunisian footballer Hatem Tarabulsi said that it is not permissible for Muslims to exchange greetings on the occasion of New Year s Day, and they should not celebrate this feast with the infidels. He added that congratulating Christians on their feast is worse than killing and other great sins.

In his first message in the New Year, Archishop Abraam of Fayoum, invited his followers to start a new convenient with God at this year to please Him and rejoice by His salvation. He quoted a saying by Pope Tawadros II that man should repent since God hates sin as much as He loves man.

Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi issued a Decree to form the Supreme Committee for Confronting the Sectarian Incidents. The Committee is formed by senior officials of the state and representatives of the Armed Forces Operations Committee, the Military Intelligence, Administrative surveillance, and national security police. The Committee will be responsible for developing a general strategy to prevent and confront sectarian events.

Catholic Church in Austria praised the Iraqi Cabinet decision this week that December 25-26 is declared an official holiday every year. On December 9, Patriarch Louis Raphael Sacco, the Chaldean Patriarch of Iraq, submitted a request to the Iraqi government to approve a Christmas holiday on the 25th of December.

Abba Youannis, bishop of Assiut, celebrated Koiak praises at hospital after his serious injury during a car accident while he was heading to St. Mary Church in Ard El-Golf, Cairo. His leg was broken and thus he was not able to fly to UAE to celebrate the Koiak praises.

The Great Cathedral of St. Mark in the Abbasia is adorned with lights and decorations in perpetration for Christmas. It is worth mentioning that Christmas is celebrated in Egypt January 7th, following the eastern calendar.

Iraqi Cabinet announced this week that December 25-26 is declared an official holiday every year. On December 9, Patriarch Louis Raphael Sacco, the Chaldean Patriarch of Iraq, submitted a request to the Iraqi government to approve a Christmas holiday on the 25th of December.

Abba Ibrahim Ishaq, Patriarch of the Coptic Catholic Church of Egypt, presides today over the Christmas Mass at the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary in Nasr City, in the presence of leaders of the Catholic Church in Egypt. The celebration will be attended by a number of officials and will be covered by local and international media. In a related context, the Pope of Alexandria and the rest of Africa of the Greek Orthodox, Abba Thodoros II, will hold the Christmas Mass on Tuesday at the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Hamzawi.

Abba Moussa, Bishop of youth, traveled yesterday to London to undergo medical tests. He had visited London in 2015 after suffering from a heart attack.

Pope Tawasdros, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, received in the papal headquarter of St. Bishoy monastery the family of martyrs Imad and David who have been recently killed by policeman in Minya. Pope offered his sincere condolences in the death of the father and his son assuring that God is in control and will make everything work for the good.

Pope Francis called on Sunday all international groups to treat refugees well. He added that the "Global Compact on Migration", which took place this week in Marrakech, Morocco should help providing more secure migration and called the international groups to provide refugees with all kindness and compassion.

Abba Yoannis, Bishop of Assiut, published a video on social media networks to reassure his children on his health conditions after he had a car accident. He said that he will return to Assiut within 5 days

Social media activists shared a video for the first choir for the elderly in Mallawy, Minya. People commented on the video saying that praising the Lord shouldn t stop at certain age, but it simply comes out of the heart to reach the heart as well.

Abba Pachom, Bishop of Suhag, ordained two new priests for the ministry in the diocese. The ordination ceremony was attended by HG Bishop Ologious, Bishop of St. Shenouda monastery in Suhag.