Over the past month, more than 700 restaurants have received the health safety certificate required for reoperation after verifying they have followed the health guidelines laid out by the Egyptian government and the World Health Organization (WHO), Egypt’s tourism and antiquities minister said yesterday. Mr. Abdel-Fattah Al-Assi, Assistant Minister for Control of Tourist and Hotel Establishments, indicated that the inspection committees have so far inspected 1000 restaurants and cafeterias in the various governorates, 700 of them obtained the certificate, and the rest will be passed on to them again after they have completed all the procedures required to obtain the certificate.

Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced that three Coptic monasteries were reopened in Naqada after restoration city in Qena governorate after completing their restoration works assuring they represent a distinct model of the architecture of the Coptic monasteries in southern Upper Egypt. Dr. Osama Talaat Head of the Islamic, Coptic and Jewish Antiquities Sector in the Supreme Council of Antiquities, and Bishop Beman of Naqada and Qus, opened the Monastery of the Archangel Michael, the Monastery of Anba Basantos and the Monastery of St. George in Naqada.

His Eminence Bishop Abraam of Fayoum, headed today the ordination ceremony of two new monks in the Monastery of Archangel Gabriel in Mount El-Nakhloun in Fayoum and eight other monks for the monastery of St. Macarius of Alexandria in the wilderness of Al-Rayyan in Fayoum. The ordination came after passing the prescribed period of monastic probation, and the new monks are: monk Ibsakhairoun al-Naqluni, monk Agathon al-Naqluni, monk Tobia of Saint Macarius, monk Theophilus of Saint Macarius, monk Ezekiel of Saint Macarius, monk Sila of Saint Macarius, Monk Paula of Saint Macarius, Monk Sharobim of Saint Macarius, Monk Damian of Saint Makarios, and Monk Bishoy of Saint Macarius.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of Saint Mark See, will celebrate the Mass of the feast of the Virgin Mary next Friday at the monastery of St. Bishoy in the desert of Wadil Natrun. The Egyptian Orthodox Church announced that it will conclude the fast of the Virgin Mary, Friday, August 22.

Bishop Gawargious of Matay inaugurated the baptism of the Church of St. George in Matay after it was rebuilt. The baptism was destroyed in fire erupted couple of years ago on the night of the Resurrection Feas

The diocese of October 6 started a spiritual renaissance of the fasting of the Virgin Mary. Bishop Joseph of Texas will deliver an online sermon at the spiritual renaissance. The event is held online due to the spread of Corona virus.

Coptic Orthodox Church signed a cooperation protocol with the Federation of Navigation Sports of the Ministry of Youth and Sports aiming at reviving the navigation route of the Holy Family in Egypt. Father Poulos Halim, spokesman for the Coptic Orthodox Church, said that the text of the protocol contains a number of provisions, most notably the inclusion of sports navigation in the competitions of the Saint Mark Evangelism Festival.

Archbishop Markus of the Diocese of Shubra Al-Khaimah announced the reopening of the historic Church of the Virgin Mary in Mostorod, Cairo, while maintaining the precautionary measures to prevent the spread of Corona virus. The Coptic Orthodox Church had reopened its doors and held the holy masses after nearly 5 months of closure.

Dishna diocese invites people to vote in upcoming Senate elections, which is a political right and duty at the same time. Bihsop Takla of Dishna said that such participation is curtail for a better future for our children. It is worth mentioning that the elections will be held in Egypt next Tuesday and Wednesday.

Under the title "Inside the Grand Egyptian Museum", the CNN global network launched an advertising film about the Grand Egyptian Museum, within the framework of the partnership of Egypt s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, represented by the Egyptian General Authority for Tourism Promotion, with the network to promote Egyptian tourism through its television channels, websites and social media platforms. For his part, Engineer Ahmed Youssef, head of the Egyptian General Authority for Tourism Promotion, explained that the film is a review of the museum s features, as it began with an introduction explaining the distinguished location of the museum overlooking the pyramids of Giza, describing it as a great edifice that will attract a huge number of visitors. CNN commented about the museum saying: Billed as Egypt s gift to the world, the Grand Egyptian Museum is the biggest archeological museum ever created and will house the greatest collection of artifacts from ancient Egypt.

Bishop Karas of Pennsylvania Coptic Diocese mourned the victims of the Beirut bombing killing hundreds of people and injuring thousands. HG Bishop Karas said that the Coptic Church is praying for Lebanon and its people to overcome the crisis and for speedy recovery for the injured.

The first Divine Liturgy celebrated in almost 5 months in Fayoum diocese was celebrated at the Cathedral of St. George today after teh diocese decided to reopen. The Churches were closed last March due to the spread of Corona virus and services and holy masses were suspended. A number of members of the church scouting team and church officials organized the event to make sure the rules of social distancing and other precautionary measures are taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The Monastery of the Virgin Mary in Dornkah announced it will be opened before visitors during the fasting of the virgin which starts Tomorrow. Limited numbers of visitors will be allowed this year and all precautionary measures will be taken due to the spread of Corona virus.

Egypt’s Ministry of Youth and Sports launched (Ready to 30 days challenge) campaign from 1 to 30 August aiming to spread the culture of playing sports among citizens to maintain better health. The challenges of the campaign vary from walking, walking with wheelchairs, running, riding bicycles, kayaks, and riding motorcycles.

The Monastery of the Virgin Mary at Jabal al-Tair in Samalut decided to open its doors to visitors during the fasting of the Blessed Virgin Mary starting on August 7th till August 22nd. The church pledged to impose the precautionary measures on the visitors after 5 months of closure due to the spread of Corona virus.

The Archdiocese of the Coptic Orthodox in Fayoum Governorate decided to increase the attendance numbers in weddings and funerals and baptism ceremonies. The church allowed 5 people to attend the baptism ceremony, 15 people to attend weddings and funerals in addition to a priest and a deacon.

Bishop Bfnotious of Samalout held a meeting with priest sod the diocese for the first time in 5 months after the suspension of meetings and church activities due to the Corona virus. In the meeting, they decided to return the masses and following the social distancing and preventive measures. Another meeting will be held on September 5 to assess the situation.

Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, congratulated President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, Dr. Mostafa Madbouly Egypt’s Prime Minister and Dr. Ali Abdul Aal, head of Parliament on the occasion of celebrating the feast of Eid El-Adha. Pope wished Egypt safety and prosperity and victory over the surrounding challenges.

The American Magazine The Wake said that converting the Hagia Sophia Museum into a mosque is one of the most important signs of the decline in Turkey s secular character. It added that such conversion came as announcement of Erdogan telling the world that Turkey is no longer secular. It added that the Turkish government is trading on religion to achieve political benefits and to fight the secular parties in Turkey.

The official spokesman of the Egyptian Orthodox Church revealed that the church has played a remarkable role in caring for and serving its children and the surrounding community in Indonesia through spiritual, health and social services that were provided to those affected by the emerging crisis of the Corona virus. In order to keep pace with the growth of the service, the resident servant of Indonesia, Amir Ramzi, was ordained a priest and called Father Petros. It is worth mentioning that there are five Coptic Churches in Indonesia: the Church of St. Pope Kyrillos VI and St. Simeon in Bekasi, the Church of the Ascension in Manado, the Church of Our Lady and Saint Mark the Apostle in Surabaya, the Church of Archangel Michael and St. Moses in Malang, and the Church of St. George and St Abu Nafir in Central Kalimantan.

The Diocese of Beheira, Matrouh and the five western cities held the forty-fifth annual day of the Diocese s servants, entitled "Rejoicing in the hope, persevere in the tribulation” via video conferencing technology. The Conference was held with the participation of Archbishop Pachomius of Behira and Bishop Michael of Qubba and nearly 219 of the parish servants.