Egyptian writer Khaled Montaser commented on the harassment incident in Mansoura city on Christmas eve saying that extremists sheikhs justify simlar attacks and only blame the girl. Monaser published a video on his Facebook account showing Sheikh Mohamed Metwally Al-Shaarawi at one of his old sermons saying that woman s makeup is insistence of her to attract man. He also quoted another sheikh who said that wearing sexy cloths provokes his manhood! He added that most of the harasses are conducted by people who claim to be religious and their Facebook pages are full of sermons!

Archbishop Abraam of Fayoum ordained 96 new deacons at the basic rank of Ebsaluts and promoted 63 new deacons during the New Year’s Mass. The ordination ceremony was held at St. George Church in Fayoum.

The Coptic Orthodox Church announced that His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, will lead the New Year s Eve prayers and celebrations at the Cathedral of St. Mark in Alexandria. Pope will also celebrate the Holy Mass at the church in the presence of Bishops Illarion and Hermina of Alexandria.

Ambassador Juma Mubarak Al Junaibi, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates in Egypt, visited the Cathedral of St. Mark in Cairo accompanied by a diplomatic delegation to congratulate His Holiness Pope Tawadros II on New Year’s and Christmas. In a related context, the Church has announced that Pope Tawadros II will preside over the Christmas Mass on January 6, 2020 in the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ in the new administrative capital.

The Russian Orthodox Church has decided to cut ties with Patriarch Theodore II, head of the Eastern Orthodox Patriarchate in Alexandria, following his decision to recognize Ukraine s new independent Orthodox Church. The Russian church s Holy Synod ruled late Thursday to rupture all links with Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa. It noted, however, that it will remain in communion with those clerics of his church who didn t support the decision. Father Poulos Halim, spokesman of the Coptic Orthodox Church, said that there is a good relations between the Coptic and Russian churches and that the similar names of Pope Tawadros II and Patriarch Theodore II confused people to think the problem is with the Coptic church, which is not true.

Bishop Makarious of Minya opened the Church of St. Moses the Black that was destroyed by supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood after the dispersal of Rabaa Adawia and Nahda sit-ins. The church is the last one to be restored of 84 churches that were restored by the Egyptian armed forces. Bishop of Minya offered his thanks to president Abdul Fattah al-Sisi and the Army for their role in restoring the church that was completely destroyed.

The Coptic Orthodox Churches celebrated today the feast of Pope Mark VIII’s departure. The Pope was born in Tima and called John before he longed for monastic life and joined the Monastery of St. Antony. He was ordained Pope in the year 1796.

Coptic Orthodox Church in Suez sent a delegation to visit several Catholic churches in order to congratulate them on Christmas. The delegation visited the Church of the Good Shepherd, and the Latin Church of the Franciscan Fathers that celebrate Christmas according to the Western calendar.

Bishop Thomas of the Parish of Qusia and Mir inaugurated today the Church of the Archangel Raphael in Qusia. The new icon holder (Iconstasis) and icons were inaugurated in the new church that was expanded from 100 to 1000 meters and was opened in a great festival.

Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, appointed Father Hanna Gad, priest of the Church of the Martyr Demiana and Saint Athanasius the Apostle as acting Under-Secretary-General of the Archdiocese of Sydney. According to Al-Dustour newspaper, the Egyptian Orthodox Church sent a message of thanks to Father Tadros Samaan, General Secretary of the Diocese of Sydney, and Father Rafael Iskander, New South Wales state agent, for their efforts and service over the decades in the diocese.

Bishop Pavly of the Montazah Churches in Alexandria arrived on Friday in Kuwait Airport in a pastoral care visit to the country. He visited the Coptic Orthodox congregation in Kuwait and held several masses in a vista that will continue until December 27.

The Bonita Center for the Arts in the neighborhood of San Dimas in Los Angeles, witnessed the celebration of the Coptic Orthodox Church for Christmas. The celebration entitled He was born was attended by Bishops Sorial and Abraham as well as a group of clergy and congregation of the churches of Los Angeles.

Bishop Karas of Pennsylvania ordained 7 new deacons at the basic rank of Ebsaltus (chanter) at the church of Archangel Michael in Yourk. HE celebrated the holy mass and baptized 2 children and promoted 3 deacons to the rank of Oghnostos translated (reader).

Louis Rafael, the Patriarch of Babylon for the Chaldeans Catholics, decided to cancel the manifestations of Christmas and New Year celebrations in Iraq for security reasons. This comes to coincide with the political crises and street clashes in Iraq. The church holds prayer to solve the political and economic problem.

Coptic Churches in Egypt is getting prepared for Christmas, which is celebrated on December 24-25 according to the Western Calendar, and on January 7th according to the Coptic calendar. Several officials are invited to the Christmas masses, and it is decided that president Abdul Fattah al-Sisi will attend the Christmas Mass in the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ in the New Administrative Capital.

Bishop Pfnotious of Samalut inaugurated the Church of the Virgin Mary in Izbt Abdullah Al-Khawaja, Samalut, after its revocation. The church was rebuilt on an area of 800 meters after it was only 200 meters. A new icon holder was inaugurated and a new social club and football field were opened.

Bishop Karas of Pennsylvania ordained 14 new deacons at the church of the Virgin Mary and Martyr Philopatre in Conshohocken. 4 deacons were ordained in the basic rank of Ebsaltus (chanter) and 10 in the rank of Oghnostos, which is translated reader

In a press interview, Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, said that Coptic Church spent more than 43 million EGP on charity in Cairo during the last 10 months. He explained that 11 millions were spent on helping young poor girls to get married, 12 million on medication and 20 million on medical operations

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II said during his weekly sermon that women have great role in our Church. He gave example of St. Mary who was an entrance to our salvation and many other women whose role was critical in the church. He added that many women offered their souls as martyrs during the sucide bomb attack at the Church of St. Peter in Abassia and became our intercessors.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, said yesterday on the occasion of celebrating the 3rd anniversary of attacking the Church of St. Peter in Abassia that the martyrs have became our intercessors. He explained that they were killed during celebrating the holy mass and during the nativity fasting.

Anba Pachomius, Bishop of Behira and former Acting Patriarch, praised the role of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi in developing the citizenship rights in Egypt. He thanked the president during the inauguration ceremony of the Virgin Mary Church and St. Poktor in Helmy Potros village assuring that the law of building churches was such a great move in equal citizenship.