Abba Mikhail, Bishop of Assiut, was born in Rahmaniyah village, Nag Hammadi, Qena, in 1921 in a Coptic family. He was ordained a monk on February 19, 1941 at the monastery of St. Macarius at Wadil Natroun. He was named Matthias of St. Macarius. On August 25, 1946, he was ordained a bishop of the Diocese of Assiut and its affiliates by HH Abba Yousab II, Pope of Alexandria who named him Mikhail. He suffered from many elders as he was so young.

We hear bad news everyday. A tragedy, something violent, or some sad news. I would like to talk about whether or not the events that are happening in Egypt are being exaggerated by the media. Yes, nobody can deny that tragic events happen every day, but I feel as though the media is only focusing on the negatives happening rather than having a well-rounded news portrayal. In my experience, with witnessing how the media plays into an issue, or an event, at most times I believe the media can often make a situation worse.

Egyptian media presents many kinds of anchors including those who raise their voices loud instead of presenting accurate information. This kind is most popular among the illiterate people. They receive huge salary giving many commercials aired during their shows. For instance, Ahmed Moussa, anchor at Sada El Balad private TV, has interviewed Dalia Ziada who suddenly decided to resign from Ibn Khaldoun Center for Development Studies. She disagreed with her master Saad El Din Ibrahim. Moussa was so excited during the interview.

I think that we, adults, have lost confidence in one another, as we lost confidence in our political parties, words, and activities. Now, we doubt we’re able to achieve something good and inspiring. We don’t see something useful in one another anymore. Therefore, we can only find hope in children. They have the ability to spread happiness everywhere when they play or smile. They don’t realize they are the hope of this nation to eliminate illiteracy and provide food and happiness as well. Yet, they are being killed every now and then by our hands!

They call themselves “The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.” On the other hand, clerics prefer to call them “Da’ish,” while the Western world and international press call them “ISIS,” which is the initials of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. They are a group of barbaric ferocious people who have submitted themselves to a terrorist religious ideology. They rejoice over slaughtering people and cheer when they see their victims bleed to death. They believe they are the followers of God, while in fact they are the followers of the most violent demons. They have the features of human beings and the souls of devils. They slaughter people while they chant “Allah is the greatest” and kill their victims in the name of religion. Ironically they think that they are the soldiers of God, while their deeds prove that they are the soldiers of the ruthless Satan. They believe that they are righteous, while their acts reflect who they really are. They rape women and girls in the name of God! They brutally assault girls who are still virgins as long as they are Shiites, Yazidis or Christians. They are doing all these things as if it were a rehearsal for how they will behave in their promised paradise.

Of the most famous words of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, during his electoral platform that Egypt doesn’t only need “Steps of development ", but rather an economic leap forward." Of course, everyone knows that such economic leap forward represented and supported by development projects, such as the Suez Canal project, should benefit everyone in areas like health, education and transportation.

Yesterday, the Devils Brotherhood - My new synonym for Muslim Brotherhood in brief DB- I repeat the DB and their allies or affiliates or subdivisions published on the net a clip showing the massacre occurred 3-4 weeks ago at Karm Kawadis in Sinai massive explosions filmed from far away then when the second fatal explosion occurred they got the guts -knowing the explosion killed almost everyone- to continue killing the bleeding victims that were still alive! Is this heroism? We did not see a man to man combat, all we see coward traps bombs planned here or there killing innocent people sabotages on electricity supply towers, doctors deliberative attempts to let sick people die just because they are not members of the DB!

There is too much sadness, too much tragedy, too much violence, and too much heartache in Egypt right now. I feel like every opinionated article I’ve written recently has been in regards to the most recent tragedy, or killing, or threats, or even destruction. Let’s talk about some positives! So, since 1934 it has been pretty much impossible to construct a new church in Egypt. However, as of recently, there was a new draft law in consideration for being passed, which would allow more ease for constructing churches. Apparently, representatives from three different denominations drafted this law, and felt passionately about this.

According to unofficial statistics, more than four million Egyptians have become atheists since the revolution of January 25. Such horrible numbers should be taken into consideration since our community tends to believe in God. We should think about the reasons that lead so many people to disbelief in God and religions. Indeed, we care for appearances more than anything else. This is very dangerous as it separates between the practices and invisible true believing. Such balance was meant by God since the beginning. For instance, the Coptic Orthodox Church applies many rituals and links them to heaven.

One of the most crucial decisions in the history of Egypt and the region was the decision of Sadat to travel to Israel 37 years ago. On that day, Sadat expressed his readiness to travel even to the Israeli Knesset. It was clear that Sadat has prepared for the visit with his friend Carter who sent a message to Sadat asking him to take a move and salvage the situation.

On November 4th, Egypt celebrates Valentine's Day, which was invented by Egyptian writer Mustafa Amin after he saw a funeral of a man, which very few people cared to attend. At the Valentine's Day I decided to do something unusual by contacting all my friends, men and women, to wish them happy Valentine's Day. Yet, their reaction was but shocking to me. Women said that we should wish each other a happy Valentine's Day since men have ignored to celebrate the day or show their love on such occasion. Men received my call by just wondering what the special event was at that day!

The Muslims are suffering from Parliament terrorist attack in Ottawa more than any others. They suffer also by acts of ISIS and other Islamic organization that led many people to describe the Muslims as terrorists which is not true. Why should the Muslims rejoice and cheer because someone was converted to Islam? I'm not talking here about the fanatics who kidnap Christian girls and force them to convert into Islam, as they are but criminals. Those are indeed criminals. I also met with some people who had to embrace Islam because they work in an Arab country or for other reasons. Those don’t consider themselves Muslims, but other Muslims count them among their congregation. Another man decided to seize money of a Muslim woman. So, he converted into Islam and married her! However, catechumens pass through many tests before they are accepted in Christian churches.

Taxi Driver argues and starts to fight back not only in words but physicality too meaning fighting with an officer upon his duty and soon all neighbours, store keepers or passers by join to fight to protect the aggressor who is none but the taxi driver! Few days ago a whole family was grilled to death in their own car, over 17 child going school among their mates in a school bus found their death roasted in the flames of that school bus! Amazingly the school bus driver survived, he jumped off the bus knowing he is about to make an accident, leaving behind the children in the bus to their destiny! And worst, the driver caused this mayhem escaped without a scratch!

I think we can all agree that times right now are ridiculous. We are hearing about bombs going off, LITERALLY every day. We hear about protests, we hear about abductions, we hear about violence and killing and chaos. It leaves me with the question, which I yell quite loudly, EGYPT, WHAT IS GOING ON? What happened to the common decency of people these days? Since when is it ok to hurt the people around you? Since when is it ok to attempt murder? Since when is violence the answer? I honestly could keep asking one hundred million questions, but the more I think about what is going on in Egypt right now, the more crazy I become.

Day after another, Sheikh Yasser Borhamy issues fatwa after another about Christians showing his great interest in his partners in homeland and in particular their inevitable destiny in hell as infidels! He didn’t forget to repeat that even when blood of Christians and Muslims were mixed up in Sinai in the recent terrorist attack. As Egypt was mourning the victims of that very attack, Borhamy was bringing the bad news that Christian victims will never enter heaven.

The recent terrorist attack against Egyptian soldiers in Sinai proved that our army is waging a war against countries and international organizations that do their best to destroy Egypt. Such counties and organizations like Daash, al-Qaeda and Hamas who are still advocating the former president Dr. Mohamed Morsy as he promised to give them the land of Sinai before they sell them to the Palestinians. Countries like America, Qatar, Turkey and Iran are wishing no good for Egypt.Had it not been for the divine care as well as the great Egyptian army, Egypt would have been waste with so many enemies. Yet, the friends have played an important role in supporting Egypt like Russia, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Jordan and Bahrain. Without them, we may have faced the destiny of countries like Iraq, Syria and Somalia.

Monastery of St. Makarios of Alexandria did not exist at all until 1960. Its monastic life was founded by Father Matta El Meskeen who abandoned Cairo following the orders of the late Pope Kyrillos VI. Matta El Meskeen then chose this area that he knows very well. With the help of one of the Bedouins, he found the big cave where he established the monastery. He suffered a lot with his monks to establish this monastery and live in it with very few food and transportation.

Last week I discussed (from my point of view) the word “external” aid and funds on the attack that took place on our armed forces, last Friday the 24th October 2014. Here my point of view means I did not relay on any official resources or public opinions, I just assumed and built my own private scenario and created my own story, based on well known facts or portions of information to build my story. I might with it had touched some true facts or future plans of Egypt’s real enemies, I might as well had gave ideas to those enemies, but for sure this as well should had been true vital warning of future risks our army and police force should seriously take in concentration and open our eyes for more atrocities towards Egyptians who fight for the survival of Egypt.

I look at recent news and see headlines such as, “73 referred to trial for burning church” or, “56 judges suspended from court” or even, “No agreements reached in Egypt.” All I see is Egyptian Authorities judging the guilty, but what I don’t seem to catch are actual decisions being made. How long will it take for these 73 church-burners to actually go to jail? Will these 56 judges eventually be allowed to practice their profession again?

Everyone is concerned about ISIS’ news in Iraq and Syria. ISIS is the abbreviation of the “Islamic State in Iraq and Syria”. The name is taken from a group founded by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in Iraq in 2004 to resist the US occupation. ISIS, is also known as Daash and developed significantly, especially after the establishment of the so-called Front victory in Syria, formed in militias under the name of the Free Syrian Army to fight against Bashar Assad's regime, They soon grew more and more powerful to become one of the most powerful factions within the FSA. Later, they announced the integration of al-Qaeda branch in Syria (Al-Nusra Front) to establish ISIS in April 2013, which increased its strength and population.