Last Thursday, the representatives of the Orthodox, Evangelical and Catholic Churches have submitted the Egyptian Personal Status Family Law in its final form that was agreed upon by all churches, which was submitted to the cabinet. The law is to be applied on all Egyptians, with specific articles for each church, which reflects Article Three of the Constitution that states: The principles of the canons of Egyptians, both Christians and Jews, are the main source of legislation governing concerning their personal status, religious affairs and choosing their spiritual leaders. We hope that the draft will be passed by the Parliament to fulfill the legislative requirement of the Constitution through a law that governs family and personal status affairs of all Christians, and which would be the basis for Egyptian court rulings in family cases. We hope that this law would settle a long, complicated legacy relating to unresolved family and personal status affairs of Christians, including issues of inheritance, that have gone on for decades on end. We also hope that this law alleviates current and future Christian family difficulties. I have written previously about the file of the personal status of Christians and looking forward to achieving the constitutional entitlement in this regard. For years, I have wondered about its delay, but now I am happy that the law will be referred to Parliament followed hopefully by approval to solve many waiting cases of Egyptian families.

On Tuesday morning, October 26, 2010, the great scientist Dr. Samir Fawzy Gerges left our mortal world. He is one of the loyal Coptic Orthodox Church members who have done much to serve the Church in general and the Coptic Orthodox Church in Switzerland in particular. I have known the honorable Reverend Doctor Samir Gerges personally since His Holiness Pope Shenouda III chose me to serve the Coptic Church in Switzerland in 1983, and my relationship with him continued throughout the past years until his departure. Dr. Samir Fawzy Gerges was entrusted by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III to carry out the necessary procedures for the travel of the Coptic monk, who had been chosen to establish a permanent service for the Copts in Switzerland. During the crisis between President Sadat and Pope Shenouda in September 1981, Dr. Samir visited Pope Shenouda and several times did he show the Pope his researches and books in the area of Coptic history. His honorable wife, Madame Root, had an active role in the ministry, especially in the field of translation. In this article, I would like to present a glimpse into the life of Dr. Samir Gerges, then turn to his contributions to the service of the Coptic Orthodox Church. Dr. Samir Fawzi Gerges was born in Ashmoun, Al-Moufia Governorate, on April 8, 1934. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts from the Department of History, Ain Shams University in 1956. He traveled to Switzerland in 1958 for higher studies. He obtained a doctorate in history from the University of Zurich in May 1966 and taught history in several Swiss universities and then became head of the history department at the Buchmann Institute in Zurich. He won the Scientific Research Prize in Switzerland as well as an award from the Supreme Council of the University of Zurich in 1962. Dr. Samir put his knowledge in the service of the Church, so he took an interest in Coptic history and His Holiness Pope Shenouda III entrusted him with teaching the subject of ecclesiastical history at the Pope Shenouda III Theological College in Germany. Dr. Samir Gerges has done several researches and studies in the field of Coptic history. He is particularly interested in the history of the Theban Legion and its leader, Saint Maurice, and is interested in presenting a historical study documented in ancient manuscripts of the history of the Theban Legion and proving the Coptic origin of its members. His studies in the field of the history of the Theban Legion are considered the first Coptic studies of these Coptic saints. His scientific studies helped to commemorate these saints among the scientific circles in Switzerland and among the Coptic people in Egypt and abroad. His efforts gave great attention to the Theban Legion, Saint Morris and Saint Verina by many people including myself. The very first Church on their names was built in the Bishopric of Services building in 1994 and His Holiness the Pope inaugurated it. Churches were also established on their names outside Egypt, especially in the diocese of Los Angeles. Dr. Samir Gerges has many books on Coptic history. He has 9 articles in the Coptic Encyclopedia on the Theban Legion, Saint Maurice, Saint Verena, Saints Felix, Regula, Xoyertthios and Saint Boktor in English. He was the editor-in-chief of the Encyclopedia of "Coptic Heritage", which is an encyclopedia in the Arabic language that includes 6 volumes. The first volume: From the history of Copts. The second volume: Faith, worship, and ascetic life. Volume Three: Coptic Archeology, Arts, and Architecture. Volume Four: Science, Education, Social Life, and Coptic Press. Volume V: Canon Law and Church Relations. Sixth volume: Coptic language, Coptic literary heritage, Coptic music and melodies. 3- A Chronology of St. Mark. Mark is a very valuable book and is distinguished by its scientific and historical accuracy in tracing the life of Saint Mark. This book was issued in English by the Mark Coptic History Foundation. He also published a book on Mark, issued by the Egyptian House of Knowledge. 4- A collection of books on the Theban Legion and its saints issued in English and German by the Saint Pachom Publishing Foundation, which was founded by Dr. Samir Gerges to publish his books. We mention from these books: “The Theban Legion in Switzerland” published in 1985, “Saint Maurice, commander of the Theban Legion,” published in 1993, and “The Coptic Origin of the Theban Legion,” published in 1990 on the occasion of the celebration of the 1700th anniversary of the martyrdom of Saint Maurice, as well as the 700th anniversary of the Swiss Federal Federation. The book "Saint Verena and the Theban Legion" in Arabic, which includes a translation of the original references of the biography of Saint Verena in the oldest Latin manuscripts found in Switzerland. This book was published in 2009, and it is considered the last book issued by Dr. Samir Gerges. It was prepared by his wife, Root Gerges. 5- In 1987 he published a book entitled “The Egyptians and Western Civilization” and a book to introduce the Coptic Church, titled “What is the Alexandria Coptic Orthodox Church”. These two books were published in English and German. 6- He issued a volume of tourist guides about Egypt, which consists of 800 pages in German, and is considered a reference for German tourists who visit Egypt. 7- Participated with the late Dr. Aziz Attia Sourial in many Coptic historical researches. The late Dr. Samir Gerges was an active member of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Switzerland. I have witnessed his activities and service since I went as a monk priest to start a permanent service for Copts in Switzerland in 1983, and my visits to Switzerland continued after my ordination as a general bishop of the bishop of public and social services, before I started serving Los Angeles Bishopric. I ordained Dr. Samir Gerges as a deacon in the rank of Absalatus in 1985, which was the first ordination that I performed after my ordination as a bishop. He was an active deacon, who was keen to attend Holy Liturgies, and had an important role in translation. In the beginning of my service in Switzerland at St. Mark s Church in Zurich, he helped me a lot in learning the German language and he used to translate sermons during the Holy Mass. When I was invited to give a lecture in German in a Swiss monastery or church, he used to help me prepare the lecture in German and trained me to deliver it properly. He is indeed one of the founders of the Coptic Church in Switzerland. He played an active role in all necessary procedures with the Swiss authorities to allow a Coptic priest to take care of Copts in 1983. He is also credited with building good relations with the Swiss churches, especially the Catholic monastery of Einsiedeln in which I stayed during my service In Switzerland, it became a residence for the monks who came to serve the German sector. And as a result of his contacts and relations, the Coptic Church in the emerging Switzerland was given a prominent role during the visit of Pope John Paul II to Switzerland in 1984. He played an active and effective role in negotiations with the Geneva government until we got a church to pray there in 1985, before buying the current Church of the Virgin in Geneva. Dr. Samir Gerges had an unannounced service to help newcomers, especially in the German sector. He also helped the late honorable engineer, Adly Abader, in a program to provide study aid for many Coptic students who were studying in European universities. Dr. Samir Gerges also had a pioneering role in registering the Coptic Orthodox Church in Switzerland and establishing Bylaws for it. It is very hard to record all the virtues and contributions of Dr. Samir Gerges in the service of his church, which he loved with all his heart and was an example of great, yet humble and spiritual scientist. We pray that God will depart his soul in the paradise of joy and grant heavenly consolation to all members of his family and all his disciples and loved ones. May the Lord receive him saying: Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord. (Matthew 25:21)

When you hear the name messi you mean the most talented soccer player on earth, however, is it enough for his team to win a game? The answer is no because soccer is about the team not about a player. The same in any work or organization, no organization can succeed by having one talented person in the organization but all has to do his role in his position.

For the first time, a woman from Qusiya and Assiut took the oath in the Senate. Hind Joseph reminds me that she is a great successor to Dr. Hikmat Abu Zeid from the same city. Hikmat was the first Minister of Social Affairs during the era of Gamal Abdel Nasser, therefore it is not surprising that Mrs. Hind was a political and social leader in Qusiya who broke the thorn of masculinity and backwardness since nearly a century ago. Five years ago, I got to know Mrs. Hind Joseph Amin, who works hard but quietly. She was a young leader who had a great CV starting from Universtiy Student Union till her graduation form college Law, Assiut University, and its membership in student and youth unions, then political parties, up to the public relations secretary of the Nation Future Party. She established the Qusiya Cultural Salon five years ago that hosted a group of elite notables and intellectuals of al-Qusiya in various fields. Her success was supported by a great man, Mr. Rommel Seddik, whom I salute with their children, Hind and Hiti, whom are not less patriot than their mother. Despite many challenges, Mrs. Hind Cultural Salon has not stopped and always held several events at the same time including the annual exhibition. The activity of Hind Joseph and the Public Relations Committee did not stop at exhibitions, but rather conducting blood donation campaigns and offered reduced medical loans in Sadfa, Manfalut and Dairout centers. In 2016, Hind organized an exhibition in the Sports Club for Clothes and the revenue of the exhibition was donated for Oncology Hospital in Assiut, and in 2017, the cloths exhibition earnings were donated for the benefit of the blood bank preservation refrigerator in the Qusiya Hospital. Since 2018, Hind Joseph has been in charge of the Public Relations Committee of the Future of the Homeland Party in Assiut. This is how Hind Joseph is working, effectively but quietly. She was able to collect several intellectuals in her Saloon and enrich the cultural life in her country for the benefit of her people.

What we witness lately is that democracy around the world is deteriorating and that is not because there is no election around the world or because people cant elect their leader, but because the pillars of democracy are gradually vanishing. When I see for example President Trump doesnt care or trust US institutions and never listens to their advice, that means Democracy is eating itself.

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10: 10) The Lord Jesus came for the salvation of mankind and education was his way to show us the way. Therefore, the people called him the good teacher, and his teachings have become a treasure for mankind till today. Father Poulos Halim in his article "The Teacher of the World" explained to us that the divine teachings have changed all of humanity and is still making great change. These are the teachings that the Apostles received from the mouth of the Lord Jesus and transferred to the entire world. Saint Mark the Apostle established the Theological School of Alexandria in order to spread the teachings of the Lord Jesus. The patriarchs and heroes of the Ecumenical Councils, such as Saints Athanasius, Cyril, Dioscorus, and many famous bishops such as Saint Gregory. It s students were leaders of the world such as Saints Basil the Great, Gregory the Great, and John Chrysostom. Thus, the Patriarchs of Alexandria were called as the Magistrates of the World. St. Athanasius the Apostle said to Arius: As for my teaching, it is from the teaching of my fathers. This is how the church received its teachings and established the Coptic monasticism Asceticism, a strong spiritual life, a system of worship, and even martyrdom. This is how we should go on.

Most of us believe that clerics are opposed to religious reform, but we do not take into account another possibility that they are mentally incapable of doing it. Reforming and developing any thought, ideology or religion requires a more sophisticated, open, deep and aware mentality of the religious text and of the reality at the same time. So that it can come up with new interpretations of the text that are compatible with today s life. However, we have mentalities that depend on memorization and retrieval and not thinking. Thus, it is very hard for the clerics to overcome the old ideas and stop being so lazy to think. This is a hypothesis that we must take into account, which is the mental inability of the clergy to develop what was presented by their predecessors. Therefore, we shouldn t wait for those clerics to reform the religious discourse since they are not able to and they prefer to live Medieval and Dark Ages.

Unfortunately, backwardness and religious extremism are among the most marketable goods in the Middle East. Extremism is found in social traditions and impoverished economic policies that crush the citizen without mercy. Religion should have remained between man and God to lead only to more tolerance and love among people, but extremism was produced by terrorists and extremists as if they belong to a semi-union allowing them to seek selective material, social and political benefits through religion. This is a good reason for them to easily move to bear arms and kill unarmed peaceful people and even wage wars in the name of God. Extremists seek such authority in all religion that you may find a Christian minister fighting to take control of a spatula meeting or service. Ignorant people may thing that God permits his servants to take selective material benefits from his service. In fact, such control may lead honorable people to abandon ministry and let the extremists rule. Attempting to benefit from religion is an ancient guaranteed practice by people belonging to what I call syndicate of religion dealers whom easily find many customers cheated by religious slogans

The most disease hit people right now is not Covi10 but the stress and depression that people face right now from losing Jobs or being locked for a long time with no hope on the site to finish. Many companies around the world started already to increase their budget to support their employees to face stress, depression and isolation. While all over the world doing this, we have not heard anything about what private companies did for their employees to face such challenges.

I was shocked to receive news about the decision of Father Paula Foad, priest of St. George Coptic Orthodox Church in Al-Mataria to run for the elections of the House of Representatives. I see this as a catastrophe that threatens all our efforts to establish a modern secular democratic state, and also threatens the image of the national church and prove its involvement in politics. This clumsy act of this priest represents a stab at the Egyptian secular trend, which demands the exit of official and unofficial Muslim clerics from the Egyptian political scene. Now, we have to struggle on two fronts instead of one. He also gave the sheikhs a weapon to fight the secular current by saying that a priest ran for elections, which is a direct and explicit political act, so do not blame the sheikhs. This clumsy act will not only be borne by his subordinates, but the church will also bear his responsibility, because this is a citizen who follows the Orthodox priesthood, and therefore he cannot do this act without the permission of the church, and even if he does this reckless act without the permission of the church, what is the Church s response? I am surprised how there is no ecclesiastical law that prevents men of the priesthood from engaging in politics as the Catholic Church does, as its law prohibits the practice of politics, and whoever wishes to do so must resign and take off his priestly uniform, so how is there no such law in the Orthodox Church? Such act will not only have negative effects on the secular current, but also on the church, because this priest will inevitably lose, because he will not get the votes of Muslims or the voices of true secular Christians, unless he is supported by other influencers in the elections. The Coptic Church now will be exposed to all kinds of criticism like Al-Azhar, since you have fallen into the mud of politics and proved you belong to the Authority. It is not too late yet, and you can announce the church’s rejection of this candidacy and make this priest choose between the priesthood and Parliament openly and explicitly.

His leadership of a military battalion did not prevent him from declaring his faith courageously before the emperor of the West. He was not intimidate by Machines of torture and killing, but encouraged his soldiers to stand steady and adhere to their faith in God till they obtained the crown of martyrdom HG Anba Serbion, Archbishop of Los Angeles, in his article Saint Maurice , told us about the great saint who was born in Luxor to a Christian family that was walking in the fear of God, and so did the saint. He joined the Roman army and became the commander of a battalion that numbered 6,660 soldiers, all from Thebes, so it was known as the Theban Legion and all of them were Christians. He was sent to conduct a mission in the West, but the Emperor ordered him and the legion to pray to their idols and offer incense before them. He refused and so did the soldiers. They were tortured and killed through Northern Italy in the south, passing through Switzerland, until southern Germany in the north, and their martyrdom accompanied many miracles, which led to the faith of many, while saint Maurice and the rest of his soldiers were martyred near the Swiss city of Lausanne. In the place of the martyrdom of the saint, a church was built in his name in the fourth century, next to which a large monastery was established and a large celebration is held for him annually.

The historical circumstance in which we live now holds the Egyptian media the most difficult and dangerous responsibility in our modern history in facing groups of interests that cooperated with former regimes for 50 years. Those groups are like cancer cells spreading in the Egyptian body with all its economic, scientific, educational, social and cultural institutions. Yet, they only agree on trading on religious slogans to deceive the simple. I agree with President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi when saying that Egypt is waging a war of existence against such dark forces. Indeed, in our previous wars, we had to face the enemy in the field, but today our enemy is hiding and targeting the Egyptian identity. In the end, our identity remains a sign of stability in our historical, human, cultural presence on this great land. In his article published more than 85 years ago in "Kawkab Al Sharq" newspaper, Dr. Taha Hussein, the Dean of Arabic Literature, referred to the dialogue that took place between him and a French employee working in the department responsible for the residence of foreigners in France on the issue of identity. Our late writer was an envoy from the Ahlia University to complete his studies In the Sorbonne, France in 1914, this employee asked him about his nationality when Taha Hussein answered: I am Egyptian! However, the French employee returns to him the question again: I ask you about your nationality, not about the country in which you were born, as Egypt has no nationality, because it is not an independent state, but rather a state affiliated with the Ottoman Sultanate. Taha Hussein insisted: I am an Egyptian. Now, Egypt, our dear homeland, is free and independent country, but the Muslim Brotherhood thinker and leader Sayyid Qutb stated in the book "Milestones on the Way" described the homeland as nothing but a handful of rotten dirt . The former general guide of the MB said that during an interview with the journalist “Saeed Shuaib” that he doesn t care about Egypt at all. The leader who defected from the Brotherhood, Tariq Abu Al-Saad, said that the Brotherhood does not believe in any of the principles of patriotism, land, sovereignty and national independence. Therefore, I invite our religious institutions to do their best to renew the religious discourse, and all media, cultural and enlightenment institutions have to unite to support the state in its war of existence.

Mayar Sherif is the first Egyptian tennis player to qualify for the main role in one of the four major tournaments in the world. Mayar played against the Czech Karolina Pliskova, ranked fourth in the world, while Mayar ranked 172nd in the world. However she was defeated by two groups for one, Mayar did her best and presented a very honorable performance that amazed the world. Mayar made outstanding records as she became the first Egyptian player in the main role of the Grand Slam tournament, and became the first Egyptian player to be listed among the 200 best tennis players in the world.

There is no doubt that Egyptians are angry which was clear after the last demonstrations that erupted in many governorates. Egyptian dont see Sisi as a president who can listen or try to do anything to relieve their suffering. Everyyear Egyptians are hoping to have something that can make them happy or help them to adapt to the challenges they face everyday, however, Egyptians find that president Sisi keeps making decisions only adds to their suffering.

God s love for every human being has no limits, so He is very patient with the sinners until they return and repent. It is written: All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people, who walk in ways not good, pursuing their own imaginations (Isaiah 65:2). Father Antonious Fahmy, priest of St. George and St. Anthony in Alexandria said in his article servant and acceptance that God is willing to accept the sinners and praise them and forgive them at the time other people may not accept them like what happened with the sinful woman and Simon the Pharisee. Many Prophets and holy fathers have committed mistakes and sinned before God, but He have always forgiven them. For instance, Our father Abraham when he lied, our father Jacob when he deceived, Jonah when he fled, we find him also prolonging his distress to the people of Israel when they worshiped the calf, and they complained about the manna and refused to submit to and obey the commandments. We find Jesus Christ touching the leper who was rejected by everyone before He cured his illness. He accepted Zacchaeus, a publican who was rejected by society and asked him to enter his house. He also saved the sinful woman saying: Who among you is without sin, let him throw the first stone at her. There are many examples of God s acceptance of sinners, the weak and the rejected, so that we could learn from them, and he still accepts the whole world and every weak and sinner. Indeed, God s acceptance is marvelous to man despite all his weaknesses and sins, and this is a great blessing for us to learn from it not to reject anyone or to despise anyone.

As Egypt is getting ready to launch the ECO Egypt campaign to promote ecotourism, Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment, and Osama Heikal, Minister of State for Information, visited the Migratory Bird Watching Center in Sharm El Sheikh in the presence of tourism and environmental experts and representatives of international news agencies. It is worth mentioning that Ecotourism has a broad concept that includes a variety of activities and not only marine activities like viewing of marine organisms, coral reefs and fish, but also many other activities in Egypt, including viewing fossils in Fayoum reserves and learning about the cultures and activities of local communities through safari trips. In fact, Egypt is one of the most important ecotourism activities in the world for activates on which the economies of some countries are based, like bird watching tourism. Therefore, it is important to shed light on natural reserves and ecotourism attractions, including the migratory bird monitoring site in Sharm El-Sheikh. Egypt is the second most important pathway in the world for bird migration, which makes it a pathway for 700 species of migratory birds. It passes through Egypt twice a year during the migration and return journeys from Europe to Africa in the spring and autumn seasons. Greetings to those in charge of this center and to supporters of this type of ecotourism in general and bird watching in particular.