Anba Abraham Isaac, patriarch of Catholics in Egypt, headed a congregation today to visit Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, in order to congratulate him on Christmas.

Guard of St. Mina Church in Beni Mazar made up a story about a finding a bag full of Molotov Cocktails next to the church hoping he will get a promotion. Police found out he made up the story and arrested the man pending investigation.

Father Pernapa Fawzy, Priest of St. George Church in Nazlet Hanna village, said that the reconstruction work started at the church after receiving the building license. It’s worth mentioning that the church that serves 2000 Coptic Christians was refused to be given a license of reconstruction after demolishing the old building.

3 new monks were ordained today at the monastery of St. Paul in the Red Sea governorate. The celebration was headed by Abba Daniel, Bishop of the monastery. The monks are called Gebrael, Poktor and Angelos of St. Paul.

ISIS in northern Iraq, put explosives in old bridges and prominent churches in order to explode them in case of receiving any attacks.

Dr. Andrea Zaki, head of the Anglican Communion, said that the personal status law for non-Muslims did not arrive until now to the Ministry of State for Parliamentary Affairs.

Isaac Ibrahim, Coptic activist, denounced statement of Al-Azhar that accuses Coptic church of being responsible for a satellite channel called al-Hayat that attacks Islam in its programs.

Nabil Anwar, lawyer of the church of St. George in Nazlet Hanna village, said that church has already received the building license.

Security services in Qena arrested a gang specialized in kidnapping Copts in Qena. The gang planned to kidnap another Coptic merchant on Christmas eve for huge ransom. The gang was arrested with weapons in their possession. The matter is currently under investigation.

A bag full of Molotov cocktails was found today next to the church of St. Mina in Minya. Police were reported and the matter is currently under investigation.

European Union of Coptic Organization for Human Rights EUCOHR denounced the arrest of writer and researcher Islam Buhairi who was sent to jail after he was convicted according to contempt of religion law.

Egypt’s Interior Ministry says it has arrested three people who are running 23 Facebook pages, accusing them of using the website to incite against state institutions.

Egypt’s Court of Cassation rejected Saturday appeals from 61 pro-Muslim Brotherhood (MB) defendants against earlier court rulings of 15 years in prison each over charges of protesting and sabotaging public properties in Cairo downtown’s Ramses Square in 2013, Youm7 reported.

A Cairo misdemeanor court acquitted on Saturday writer Ahmed Nagy for charges of “violating general morals and encouraging indecent sexual behavior.”

Extra security measures have been taken in all Egyptian governorates to secure New Year's celebrations. This comes as several terrorist organizations announced to carry out terrorist attacks against Coptic Churches.

Egyptian newspaper said that the Egyptian Parliament is going to assemble after the Christian feasts including Christmas and the New Year.

Pope Tawadros II, celebrated on Thursday the Holy Mass at the monastery of St. Mina in Mariout in memory of the martyrs who were killed in the church on New Year’s eve in 2010.

Nabil Anwar, lawyer of the church of St. George in Nazlet Hanna village, said that church is going to receive its new license in few hours.

Coptic Catholic Diocese of Minya celebrated the 150th anniversary of the foundation of St. Henna monastery for nuns Minya.

The Salafist call continued to publish fatwas prohibiting congratulating Copts on their feasts including Christmas. Naser Radwan, member of the Salafist Call, said that Christmas is feast of cursing God, and therefore, Muslims can’t congratulate the infidels on such feast.

Fire extinguishing unit in Mallawi could hardly extinguish fire at the Christian example church services building. Investigations said that the fire may have been caused by electricity and not a criminal act.