The Monastery of the Virgin Mary in Muharraq announced in a press release that the monastery is closed before visitors until further notice. This comes following the decision of the Holy Synod to prevent the spread of Corona virus and to protect the congregation.

Egyptian special forces exchanged fire with terrorist fighters near the al-Amireya neighborhood in Cairo who were creating bombs in their hideout location. An officer as well as 7 terrorists were killed and two other policemen were injured in the attack . The terrorist elements were planning to carry out bomb attacks against churches on Easter.

CNN published Monday a 60-second video reviewing Egypt’s economy, in which it stated that Egypt’s economy grew 5.6 percent in 2019, making it one of the world’s fastest growing economies. It added that Egypt is upgrading its economic infrastructure, expanding the strategic Suez Canal, creating free zones, boosting tourism, and investing in green energy. CNN referred to Benban project in Egypt as one of the world’s largest solar complexes and added it is expected to be capable of powering 1 million homes. The project is considered the largest solar power project in the world and was funded by the World Bank with a total value of $653 million. The total value of the project is $2 billion for a total power generation of up to 1600 megawatts. The project is carried out with the participation of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and a large number of major international companies.

Mustafa Madbouly, Egypt s Prime Minister, said that Egypt will impose a two-week nightly curfew in an effort to stop the spread of the new coronavirus. Madbouly added that the state trusts the people s awareness and commitment to face the crisis. During a press conference, he explained that the banning hours will start from eight o clock in the evening instead of seven in the evening to reduce the traffic before the curfew starts.

Pope Tawadros II said in a daily message aired on Coptic Christian TV that God wants us to repent and live. He delivered a sermon about God who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2: 4) He explained that God opened his arms for us on the cross to embrace all mankind.

St. George Church in Suhag held several online meetings with its congregation and offered several online services on its official page on Facebook to compensate the congregation for church gatherings. Bishop Bachom of the diocese has delivered an online sermon last Sunday and Sunday school was held online as well. This comes after worship houses including churches and monasteries were closed and all services were suspended due to Coronavirus.

Egyptian national TV and radio broadcast today speech of Pope Tawadros II on the occasion of celebrating the Healing Week of the Paralyzed Man. The speech was aired on On TV, DMC, CBC, Al-Hayat channels after the Churches and all activities were stopped were closed due to Coronavirus.

The Egyptian government headed by the Prime Minister Dr. Mustafa Madbouly held its first video conference meeting in order to implement decisions to reduce gatherings and social distancing using the infrastructure for digital transformation. He stressed that the government is keen to follow up the implementation of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s decisions regarding confronting the new Corona virus. It is worth mentioning that a paid leave was given to employees and workers who move from one governorate to another. The Prime Minister instructed the Minister of Transport to organize the transportation movement, whether trains or the subway, so that the severe crowding witnessed in the first day of the implementation of the curfew will not be repeated.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II received monk Luke al-Maqari, father Samuel Milad and Father Jeremiah Fahmy, representatives of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the Vatican, upon their return to Egypt. The three fathers were among the delegation of the Eastern Orthodox Churches in the visit of the Vatican in response to an official invitation.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II mourned the late bishop Abba Saramoun, head of St. Bishoy monastery in Wadil Natrun during his weekly sermon. Pope said that the late bishop was a great monk who discipled many monks and presented more than 50 bishops to the Coptic church.

A group of young immigrants to Canada attended the weekly meeting of Pope Tawadros II yesterday at the church of the Virgin and St. Ruice in the great Cathedral of St. Mark in Cairo. Pope welcomed the congregation who was accompanied by two priests of the Coptic Church in Canada.

Bishops of the Coptic Orthodox Church bid farewell to the late Bishop Sarabamon of the Saint Bishoy the Great monastery in Wadil Natroun. The funeral was headed by Pope Tawadros II and several bishops of the Coptic church including: Bishop Tadros of Port Said, Bishop Youstos of St. Anthony monastery, Bishop Daniel of Sideny, Bishop Pachomious of Behera and Bishop Ermia of the Coptic Culture Center.

Egypt s Coptic Pope Tawadros II led Tuesday funeral prayers for Bishop Sarabamon, the late head of the Saint Bishoy the Great monastery in Wadil Natroun. The bishop died on Sunday at the age of 83, of which he spent more than 60 years in monasticism. His body was buried next to the body of the late Pope Shenouda III, according to his will.

His Eminence Bishop Hadra of Aswan has ordained two new priests for the ministry in the diocese. The ordination of Father Antonius Magdy and Shenouda Narouz was completed at the church of St. George in Kom Ombo.

The media center of the Coptic Orthodox Church mourned the departure of Father John Badi Soliman, priest of the Church of Our Lady in Fayoum who spent 21years in priesthood. Pope Tawadros II had offered his sincere condones to Bishop Abraam of Fayoum and to the Coptic congregation. The funeral was attended by several bishops, monks, priests and the congregation of the diocese.

Bishop Gabriel of Beni Suef ordained a new priest in the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary in the diocese. Father Hidra Toma was ordained a priest in the church of Koum Abu Rady village and moved to Muharraq monastery to depend 40 days of spiritual retreat following the ordination.

Bishop Salib of Mit Ghamr ordained 3 new priests at the Church of St. Geroge in the diocese. The new priests are Fathers Youssef Samir, Abdul Masieh Samy and Flimon Reda.

The Monastery of Archangel Michael in Naqada started the training activities for the first group of the project (1000 Christian Religion Teachers) sponsored by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II. The project aims at developing ecclesiastical education for Aswan, Luxor, Qena and the Red Sea governorates. The training sessions are offered by the training team of the Media Center of the Coptic Orthodox Church, and comes within the framework of the protocol signed between the Ministry of Education and the Coptic Church to train teachers of the Christian religion to enhance their performance in teaching the subject of Christian religious education.

Bishop Isaac of Tima ordained 7 new priests at the Cathedral of St. Fam in Tima in the presence of Bishops Pachom of Suhag, and Ologious of St. Shenouda monastery in Suhag, and Methaous of the Virgin Monastery in Akhmim mount. The new priests are Fathers Ezra Nasif, Maximus Aziz, Athanasious Nabil, Mina Milad, Fam Lamie, Dawood Makram, and Ruise Khairy.

The Council of Christian Churches in the Netherlands held its periodic meeting in the Coptic Cultural Center Yesterday in Amsterdam for the first time.The meeting was entitled ‘Christ is the Light of the World". The meeting was attended by representatives of several churches in Amsterdam and several keynote speeches were delivered before His Eminence Bishop Arsany distributed gifts to the attendees.

Bishops Daniel of Maadi and Mikhail of Qubba sector, have ordained 7 new deacons in perpetration for their ordination as priests next Monday. It is worth mentioning that the Coptic church is starting the Great Lent fasting on Monday.