Thousands of Coptic people celebrated the 40 days memorial service of Father Samaan Shehata, who was stabbed to death by a fanatic man. The celebration was held in Beni Suef and was attended by Abba Stephen, Bishop of Beba, Abba Demian, Bishop of Germany, Abba Peter, the general Bishop, and Abba Peter, Bishop of North and South Carolina, USA.

During the forty days memorial service of Father Samaan Shehada, Abba Stephen, bishop of Beba and Fashn, said that ISIS is the greatest preacher for Christianity in the world. He added martyrdom has always given power and strength to the Coptic Orthodox Church and Christianity through ages.

Monk Begol of Muharraq monastery was promoted to the rank of Hegumin before he will be ordained head of the monastery. Pope Tawadros II is going to ordain Monk Begol and 6 other bishops on November 11th.

A young Coptic man was found dead in new Beni Suif city. Said Potros, 30 years old, left his home to work, but never returned home. Police were reported and the matter is currently under investigation.

Abba Estifanous, Bishop of Baba, held a meeting with Dr. Ahemd Gioushi, Education Minister, and a number of education senior officials. A protocol of cooperation was signed between the Bishop of Baba and the Ministry of Education to provide technical and health support to the teachers, students and parents of the schools of special education, especially those suffering from hearing and mental disabilities in Beni Suef.

Mariam Salib, wife of the murdered priest in Cairo said that police had asked him to leave the town in Upper Egypt because he was targeted by extremists. She added that he dedicated his life for the ministry and was so happy to receive the permit to build the church, but he didn t have time to see it completed.

Unknown man tried to stab a Coptic Christian woman in Fashn City, Beni Suef while she was walking in the street. The man failed to stab her while he was calling her you infidel! Police were reported and the matter is currently under investigation.

Abba Ghonrial, Bishop of Beni Suef, said that Courses for newly married couples will be compulsory starting from January 2018. He stressed the importance of such courses to prepare the people for the marriage.

Abba Estiganous, Bishop of Beba, issued a statement concerning the martyrdom of the Coptic priest Semaan Shehata who was slain and stabbed by a fanatic Muslim man. Statement assured that the attacker is a registered criminal called Mohamed Sonbaty.

Abba Ghobrial, Bishop of Beni Suef and supervisor of St. Mary Monastery in Muharraq, said that Pope Tawadros II has asked for a medical report and CV for presidency candidates of the monastery. It’s worth mentioning that three monks won the elections for the presidency of the monastery and Pope will appoint one of them as head of the monastery.

Two gang members were arrested in Beni Suef for their attempt to kidnap a 10 years old Coptic girl in front of her school. The criminals said they were planning to kidnap her for 100.000 LE ransom, but they failed to kidnap her after the child refused to go with them.

Abba Ghobrial, Bishop of Beni Suef, said during his weekly sermon that Tithes is a private relationship between man and God that has nothing to do with poverty and riches. He added that it is important for all believers to pay the Tithes in order to receive God s blessings in our lives.

Sources in the Muharrq monastery told Copts United about the results of the elections at the Muharraq monastery where there monks were elected and Pope Tawadros is going to chose one of them as head of the monastery. The elected monks are Fathers Arsanius, Mina and Begol.

Abba Gabriel, Bishop of Beni Suef, told Copts United that Pope Tawadros II will meet a delegation from the Muharraq monastery next week to choose the new bishop of the monastery. The monks of the monastery will name three nominees to choose one of them to take the office of the bishop and head of the monastery.

Father Yacoub Labib, priest of St. George chruch in Beni Bekhait village, participated in the opening celebration of a new mosque. The celebration was attended by several officials in Beni Suef Governorate.

Abba Ghobrial, Bishop of Beni Suef, said during his weekly sermon that the Coptic Orthodox Church does not accept the baptism of the Catholic Church but recognizes the catholic immersion in baptism, but has to be followed by Coptic Orthodox chrism. He explained that the person is not allowed to take communion or get married in the Orthodox Church until they are anointed with myron, the holy anointing oil.

Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Beni Suef is holding a meeting for prayers and praises after the weekly sermon of H.G. Abba Ghobrial, Bishop of Beni Suef. The prayers will be held today all night from 11 PM to 6 AM and will be concluded by the Holy Mass.

The Coptic Orthodox Church celebrated the feast of Niroz under extra security measures taken by police to secure the celebrations. The Feast of Neyrouz marks the first day of the Coptic year. 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.

Christians in Minya complained that police have prevented them from visiting the monastery of St. Mary in Assiut for security reasons. Police said that they won t be able to secure the buses and forced them to cancel the trip.

Abba Ghobrial, Bishop of Beni Suef praised efforts excreted by police to secure the celebrations of St. Mary festivals at churches and monasteries of the governorate. He added that the church has received several threats that may have led to the cancelation of the celebration, but police managed to secure the celebrations.

The monastery of St. Mary in Bayad, Beni Suef, received thousands of visitors during the celebrations of St. Mary fasting. Police have taken extra security measures to secure the celebrations that will end on August 21st.