Copts celebrated the new Coptic year next Wednesday with eating special food, namely: Red dates and guava, which refers to the blood of the martyrs and their strong faith. Vendors of dates and guava sold their goods in front of the churches as Copts celebrate Nayrouz by eating those fruits. Nayrouz or Neyrouz is a feast when martyrs and confessors are commemorated within the Coptic Orthodox Church. Celebrated on September 11, the day is also the start of the Coptic new year and its first month, Thout.

Bani Mazar diocese announced that Abba Athanasius, Bishop of the diocese, will inaugurate on Monday the alters of the Church of St. Mary in the village of Sinarya in Beni Mazar, Minya. A number of monks, clergy and the congregation will participate in the inauguration ceremony.

Abba Eklimidus, general bishop of Almaza and Al-Haganah and East Nasr City Churches, ordained a group of new deacons at the church of St. George in Alamaza. The new deacons were ordained in the ranks of Ebsaltus ( chanter) and Oghnostos (reader).

In the presence of HG Bishop Jeremiah, head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center, the first ceremony of Sama kids English Sunday School was held in the Great Cathedral of St. Mark, Abbassia. The English Sunday School is held every Friday at 3 pm at the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center and teaches children in English.

Beheira diocese announced that Archbishop Pachomious is fine after he was involved in a car accident while he was returning from the monastery of St. Makarios in Galali Mount. In a statement, the diocese said that he returned to the monastery of the Syrian in Wadil Natroun.

A Coptic young man called Youssef Gerges invented an electromagnetic washing machine. The 25 years old inventor said that he has other inventions, but he decided to do something interesting and this was the electromagnetic washing machine that impressed a number Chinese companies.

Pope Tawadros II honored Dr. Mirna Hosni, a student of pharmacy at the British University in Egypt who achieved first place over 45 teams, while she stood alone in the competition. Mirna took only quarter of the time since she started late, which proves her achievement. Yet, this shows disrespect and recklessness of some officials concerning those who represent Egypt abroad. Those responsible didn t read the conditions carefully since the didn t notice that a team should consists of 5 members and not only one.

Beni Suef Diocese concluded the 13th conference for youth entitled ‘Discover Yourself’ held at the Monastery of Our Lady in Bayad for three days. The conference was held under the auspices of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of Saint Mark See, and Bishop Gabriel of Beni Suef.

A delegation of Middle Eastern churches, headed by Dr. Soraya Beshaalani Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches, visited His Holiness Pope Francis. The delegation discussed the history of the council and its ecumenical mission in a meeting lasted for 40 minutes, and thanked the Pope for the extraordinary initiatives he launched in order to strengthen ecumenical work.

Coptic Orthodox Church decided to lift penalties for monk Yoel of St. Makarious monastery as he was prevented from holding holy masses after his voice recording accusing the late Pope Shenouda of ruining the monastic life. The monk received the punishment after a complaint by Bishop Serapion of Los Angeles to the monk committee of the Holy Synod.

Bishops Abram of Fayoum and Salib of Mit Ghamr presided over the celebration of Martyrs of Fayoum. During the celebration, the remains of the martyrs were perfumed and their bravery was praised. The relics of the martyrs were found 1991 with marks of torture and blood on their clothes and ever since the monastery celebrates them on September 1st.

Coptic Bishop of Northern France Abba Marcos visited Monsieur Michel Bonsoir, Bishop of Essonne, in his headquarters. They both expressed their happiness to meet one another. This came after the Coptic Orthodox Church celebrated the feast of our Lady.

Bishop Timothaous Zagazig perfumed the remains of St. Tekle Haimanot the Ethiopian in his church in Zagaizg. The celebration was attended by hundreds of the Ethiopian community in Egypt who hail the saint.

Boko Haram terrorist group killed eight Nigerian farmers in the northeast of Nigeria, eyewitnesses said. The terrorists attacked the village of Palomari, 15 km from Maiduguri, the provincial capital of Borno state, slaughtering four men and capturing two others. On Saturday, "terrorists seized and beheaded four farmers working on their farms" in Jidan and Aya, on the outskirts of Maiduguri, according to local militia leader Babakura Kolo. For his part, Al-Azhar Observatory condemned these recurring incidents assuring they don’t belong to teaching of Islam.

Bishop Hermina of the Churches of East Alexandria will participate in the monthly meeting of the Orthodox Center for Patriarchal Studies, which will be held on Monday evening at the headquarters of the Center. The bishop will deliver a lecture about the Eucharist in the thought of St. Cyril of Alexandria.

Coptic Churches celebrated the martyrdom anniversary of St. Agapeus the Soldier and his sister Tekle. They both lived under the reign of Emperor Julian and were killed for their Christian faith.

Father Poulos Halim, Spokesman of the Coptic Church, said there are two types of monasticism: devotional and servant. The devotional is related to worship and staying away from social relationships, but the service requires meeting with the served people. He added in his interview with Bawaba News that the essence of monasticism is virginity, obedience, and poverty.

Abba Moussa, Bishop of Youth, met with Monk Ental Antonios at St. Paul s Coptic Monastery in Budapest. This came during the Bishop s pastoral care visit to Hungary.

The Egyptian Orthodox Church celebrated the monthly commemoration of Our Lady today. The Coptic Chruch celebrates a special day for the Virgin Mary on 21 of the Coptic month, in which the Virgin in praised and honored.

The joy team of the Virgin Mary Church in Warraq organized entertainment shows for the children receiving treatment at the church. The shows were attended by families of the children as well who expressed their happiness to see their suffering children happy.

The Church of St. Anthony in Minsafis village, Minya, has organized a medical convoy for Muslims and Christinas of the village. The doctors checked on 200 patients in different specialties and gave them the medicine for free.