Canal Authority announced on Wednesday that traffic passing through Egypt s Suez Canal reached an all-time record, marking the highest tonnage per day in the waterway s history, with 5.5 million tons, and 71 ships crossing from both sides. Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority Mohab Mamish said 35 ships passed through the canal coming from the north with a total load of 2.2 million tons, while 36 ships coming from the south crossed with a total load of 3.3 million tons. He added that the unprecedented records in the canal s traffic in terms of the number and tonnage of transit vessels give a clear indication of the success of the New Suez Canal project supported by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and the Egyptian people.

The Coptic Church Media Center announced that the Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches held its periodic meeting on 22 and 23 January in the Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate in Al-Atashana Municipality in Lebanon. Statement added that the Coptic Orthodox Church participated in the meeting with the presence of HG Bishop Benjamin of Mantoufia, and Bishop Thomas of Qusiya and Mir as well as Mr. Gerges Saleh, Honorary Secretary General of the Council of Churches of the Middle East. They watched a documentary film about the late Bishop Bishoy of Damietta and Kafr El Sheikh who has been a member of the Council of Middle East Churches since 1985 until his departure in October 2018.

Bishop Michale of Hadayek Qubba, Abbasia, and Waily, has celebrated the feast of the wedding of Cana of Galilee, which coincides with the feast of the martyrdom of St. Demiana in her church at Waily. He perfumed the remains of St. Demiana in a celebration held last Monday at her church.

The Ministry of Interior announced in a statement the arrest of a terrorist cell in the province of Qalioubia. Five terrorist were killed in exchange of fire with police and several weapons and bombs were found in their possession. The cell had planned to attack vital installations and members of the armed forces and the police.

Bishop Peter of North and South Carolina, USA, ordained a new priest for the ministry at the diocese. The ordination ceremony was carried out at the church of Archangel Michel at Greenville, South Carolina, in the presence of Abba Bezel and Abba Gregory, general bishops of the United States of America.

Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, attended the celebration of photography competition called Egypt is Beautiful at the Great Cathedral of St. Mark. The competition was organized by the Media Center of the Coptic Orthodox Church, and aims to show the beauty of Egypt and its great history and its spectacular sightseeing.

Mohammad Anwar Esmat Sadat, former MP, called the Supreme Committee to confront sectarian events to play its role in the recent events that took place at Zafarana village in Minya. He added that this is the first real test on the ground to remove feelings of tension, anger and distress.

A number of Muslim activists called to boycott products of Amazon website in rejection of products that insult Islam. They said the farce is not accepted by Amazon and is in violation of the terms and conditions of the product offer since Amazon code of ethics does not allow products that promote, incite racial and religious intolerance or promote organizations with such views.

President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi and Pope Tawadros II will open today the Nativity of Christ Cathedral at the new Administrative Capital. Special buses will transport people from Cairo to the new Cathedral, which is considered the biggest in Egypt and the Middle East, and will return them back after the holy mass.

Dr. Jaber Asfour , the former Minister of Culture, denounced the cultural situation in Egypt since 1972, as Egypt moved from liberalism and openness to retardation and Theocracy. He added that the second article states that Islamic law is the main source of legislation, and Article 6 protects the sheikh of al-Azhar and forbids the president from isolating him until his death, stressing that the two articles are against the modern civil state.

Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, announced today that the weekly sermon will stop until January 23, after the glorious epiphany. The last sermon of the Pope was delivered at the Great Cathddral of St. Mark last Wednesday about the first Psalm, Blessed is the man who did not follow the counsel of the wicked

His Holiness Pope Twadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, delivered a speech today at the first conference of priests of Jerusalem. The conference was held at the Logos Centre at St. Bishoy monastery in Wadil Natroun.

The Coptic Orthodox Church Information Office said that A committee for the songs and the Coptic language at the Archdiocese of Youth organized the 28th Conference of the Melodies of the Fathers, with the participation of more than 100 Fathers from different diocesan dioceses. The press office pointed out that the conference was held from December 2 to 6 of this month, at the Monastery of Martyr Marmina Mariout, and included lectures on the care, service and rites delivered by His Holiness Abba Karas, the General Bishop of the Mahalla and Father Joseph Al-Houmi. Kamal and Paula Mounir handed over parts of the Basile, Gregorian and Quirly churches in Coptic.

Pope Tawadros II participated at the 14th annual conference of the Committee of the Community Mental Health and the fight against addiction, which began its activities yesterday at St. Mark s House in Khatatba. The conference this year will discuss the problem of pornography addiction between prevention and treatment. The Pope delivered a speech at the conference entitled Self-satisfiedness.

During his very first visit to the monastery of St. Barsoum in Maasara, Pope Tawadros II opened the new conference hall. Pope has inaugurated 6 alters and many icons in the Cathedral of the monastery.

Bishop Makarious of Minya presided over the funeral of Father Samuel Markos, priest of St. Mary Church in Tawa village. The priest has served the church for more than 50 years and died at the age of 76.

Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, inaugurated the Cathedral of St. Parsoum in Maasara, Helwan. 6 alters were inaugurated as well as many icons. It is worth mentioning that this is the first visit of the Pope to Helwan diocese.

Pope Tawadros II participated at the 14th annual conference of the Committee of the Community Mental Health and the fight against addiction, which began its activities yesterday at St. Mark s House in Khatatba. The conference this year will discuss the problem of pornography addiction between prevention and treatment. The Pope delivered a speech at the conference entitled Self-satisfiedness.

Major General Mohammed Al-Asar, Egypt s Minister of Military Production, said that the exhibition "Edex 2018" puts Egypt on the map of the countries organizing the arms exhibitions in the world, and emphasizes the leading role of Egypt in the region. He pointed out that we announce to the world that we have military industries in Egypt such as a modern armored vehicle and a 100 % Egyptian radar.

Abba Bisada, Archbishop of Akhmim and Sakalta, ordained 3 new priests at the church of St. Peter and St. Paul in Akhmim. He also ordained 23 deacons and inaugurated a number of icons and holy vessels. The new priests are Father Georgious Nasr, Suriel Naim, and Raphael Samir.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, received the Danish ambassador to Egypt, for the purpose of acquaintance after taking office as ambassador to his country in Cairo. A statement issued by the Church s Media Center said: His Holiness Pope Twadros II received today at the papal headquarters at the Cathedral of St. Mark in Abbasia, Thomas Anker Christensen, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark in Egypt.