Bishop Makarious of Minya and Abu Qurqas held the semi-annual meeting with servants of the diocese yesterday through video conference. The meeting discussed how to visit the congregation at the time of the epidemic. The comes after the Coptic Orthodox Church decided to shut down all crèches and suspend its activities to reduce the spread of the Corona virus.

The Coptic engineer Nagy Labib from Sharkia governorate has been used for 25 years to make a breakfast banquet to the Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan. This year, due to the Corona virus, he decided to distribute the meals on the Muslims in his neighborhood after preparing them in his house following the instructions of Ministry of health.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, decided to allow holding marriage ceremonies under certain conditions and with the participation of only 8 persons: the couple, their deputies and two witnesses in addition to one priest and deacon. The statement issued by the spokesman of the church also stated that the pride can’t wear a wedding dress and no celebrations will be allowed. It added that the newlyweds have to conduct the medical examination and it is preferable they have got the counseling course.

The Coptic Orthodox Church announced that Bishop Makarios of Minya and Abu Qurqas will preside next Saturday the semi-annual meeting of servants in the diocese under the title visiting the people during the Epidemic . The meeting will be held online since the churches are closed and its activates are suspended due to the spread of the Corona virus.

Melbourne Diocese announced that Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, has accepted the resignation of Father Gerges Antony, Under-Secretary of the Diocese of Melbourne after two years of taking office. The Archdiocese added in a statement that Father Daniel Gabriel was appointed in the office of Under-Secretary of the Diocese of Melbourne.

The Coptic Orthodox Media Center announced that the Youth Bishopric of America and Canada has held extensive meetings through the application of the virtual zoom meeting for young people and some servants from different states of America, to cover their spiritual and psychological needs during this current period and reduce the negative effects caused by the pandemic of the Corona virus. It announced that the meetings were widely welcomed by the youth, and thus, will continue on a weekly basis. The meetings are led by specialized ministers from America, Canada, London and Egypt.

Father Poulos Halim, official spokesman for the Coptic Orthodox Church, said that the church permitted holding marriage ceremonies under certain conditions and with the participation of only 8 persons: the couple, their deputies and two witnesses. The statement of the church also stated that the pride can’t wear a wedding dress and no celebrations will be allowed. It added that the newlyweds have to conduct the medical examination and it is preferable they have got the counseling course.

Egypt’s Minister of Social Solidarity decided to include priests, deacons and consecrated nuns and monks to the Social Insurance Law. This comes for the first time in history through a formal decree No. 101 of 2020, and they should be able to receive insurance and services according to the law.

The media office of the Coptic Orthodox Church reported that the Pontifical Office for Projects is offering a number of scholarships to obtain bachelor s, master s and doctoral degrees in all academic disciplines in a number of Russian universities. The scholarships are offered in cooperation with Russian Ministry of Education, which will be fully responsible for the tuition fees prescribed for the students, while the students will bear the cost of travel tickets, subsistence and accommodation in the university, in addition to health insurance.

His Holiness, Pope Tawadros II, Pope Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, received Bishop Makarious of Minya and Abu Qurqas at the Pontifical headquarters of the Great Cathedral of St. Mark in Cairo. His Eminence Bishop Makarios congratulated the Pope on the occasion of the glorious Resurrection Day, and offered a report about the ministry in the diocese to the Pope.

Council of Churches of Egypt sent a congratulatory telegram to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the government and the Egyptian people for the start of the Holy Month of Ramadan. The council said all churches are praying for God to put an end to the Corona virus pandemic. and to preserve security, stability and safety in Egypt.

Patriarch Ignatius III offers condolences to His Holiness Pope Tawadros II at the departure of Monk Rouis of Jerusalem, minister of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Beirut. The Coptic Orthodox Church had mourned the departure of the monk Rouis of Jerusalem, priest of the Church of the Virgin Mary and St. Mark in the suburb of Sin el-Fil inBeirut. The monk died at the age of 58 years after years of monastic and pastoral service that spanned for more than 20 years, where he served in Jerusalem, Iraq and Lebanon

Bishop Moussa of Youth introduced the book The Joys of Resurrection as the Coptic Church is celebrating the glorious feast of Resurrection. In the book, HE Bishop Moussa calls the ministers to visit youth and to be reassured on them during the exceptional time experienced by the world.

St. George Monastery in Khattabah announced it continues to close its doors before visitors following the decisions of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church. This comes after the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church decided to shut down all churches and monasteries and to suspend all church activities due to the spread of the Corona virus.

Bishop Abakir of the Orthodox Church in Scandinavia participated in the Diaries of Joy campaign organized by the media center of the Coptic Orthodox Church. This campaign comes to celebrate the joy of the Resurrection feast celebrated for 50 days in the Church and is considered the most joyous period for the Copts when they refrain from fasting.

The Coptic Orthodox Church mourned the departure of the monk Rouis of Jerusalem, priest of the Church of the Virgin Mary and St. Mark in the suburb of Sin el-Fil inBeirut. The monk died at the age of 58 years after years of monastic and pastoral service that spanned for more than 20 years, where he served in Jerusalem, Iraq and Lebanon

Spokesman for the General Command of the Libyan National Army announced the arrest of an Egyptian terrorist named Muhammad al-Sayyid, who is considered a very dangerous element. The terrorists is accused of planning and participating in several terrorist attacks including church bombings

Anba Rafael, the general bishop of the central Cairo churches, said that Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ gives us hope that after death we should expect resurrection and there is solution for every problem. He added that with pain, wars, and even death we should pray with hope that resurrection is coming.

Bishop Isaac of Tima sent an official apology to His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, and to the members of the Holy Synod, for allowing the consecrated nuns participate in the glorious Mass of the Resurrection feast, which violates the decision of the Holy Synod. Bishop Isaac added that he didn t mean to violate the decision, but to bring joy to the hearts of the nuns on the glorious feast, and that he will never do that again

Dr. Hussam Hosni, Chairman of the Higher Scientific Committee to Combat Corona virus at the Ministry of Health, appealed to citizens to follow the procedures of social distancing during the Holy Month of Ramadan to prevent the spread of Corona virus. He added in a television interview that most of the deaths of the virus were in the elderly who suffer from chronic diseases, especially kidney diseases, tumors and high blood pressure.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation in coordination with the ministries of foreign affairs, immigration, and tourism, organized 22 exceptional flights to return the stranded Egyptians abroad. The flights of EgyptAir are scheduled to operate to Beirut, Riyadh, Washington, Morocco, Amsterdam, Moscow, Bahrain, Johannesburg, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Bombay and Guangzhou in China. All flights will take off from Cairo International Airport, with all flights returning to Marsa Alam International Airport, the compulsory quarantine headquarters set by the Ministry of Health to check on the health of Egyptians returning from abroad. Other flights will be organized next week to Frankfurt, Maldives, Algeria, Athens, Kiev, Belgrade and Barcelona.