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Orthodox monastery opens to visitors after restoration
Publication Date: 12/9/2021
Source: Hurriyet Daily News
Panagia Keramesta, also known as Kızlar (Girls) Monastery in Turkey, is believed to be constructed during the reign of then-Byzantine Emperor Alexios III. It took its final shape in the 19th century after several renovations over the centuries.
The monastery comprises a rock church on the south side, a chapel near the entrance and a few cells.
Istanbul’s iconic Greek Orthodox orphanage set for restoration
Publication Date: 29/8/2021
Source: Daily Sabah
An event at Istanbul's historic Büyükada Greek Orthodox Orphanage, which has been closed since 1964, called for cooperation to launch a massive restoration project for the iconic building.
Speaking at the event Friday, Patriarch Bartholomew I, the Istanbul-based leader of many of the world's Orthodox Christians, said that the Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarchate is working to restore the building, also known as Pringipos Greek Orthodox Orphanage, despite all the technical and economic difficulties.
Turkish Imperialism: Erdoğan’s ‘Second Conquest’ Of The Christians – Analysis
Author: Anne-Christine Hoff
Publication Date: 9/9/2021
Source: Eurasia Review
On July 10, 2020, Turkey’s high administrative court annulled a 1934 cabinet decision that had turned Istanbul’s famous Hagia Sophia mosque into a museum, dealing a further blow to the secularist legacy of modern Turkey’s founding father Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Shortly afterward, a presidential decree transferred the site’s ownership from the ministry of culture to the directorate of religious affairs (diyanet), and two weeks later, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a nationally televised speech where he lauded the move as the “second conquest of Istanbul” and a major step to the “liberation” of the al-Aqsa mosque.[1]
Building bridges with other faiths: Muslims with courage are more aware
Author: Heba Yosry
Publication Date: 4/9/2021
Source: Al-Arabiya
Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi spoke recently about issues relating to religious awareness. In a brave and clear demeanor, he further explained that “we are born Muslims and Non-Muslims through our ID cards, by inheritance.”
The president added that when all of us were younger we didn’t know whether we were following the right path or not, concluding that to do this successfully everyone needs to have the courage to question our beliefs until we reach the truth.
Former culture minister supports removing religion from Egyptian national IDs
Author: Al-Masry Al-Youm
Publication Date: 12/9/2021
Source: Egypt Independent
Former Culture Minister Gaber Asfour expressed his support for removing the religion field on Egypt’s national ID cards.
Asfour stated on Thursday that future generations will be lost if the religion field continues to be present on the card, with regard to determining their identity.
On the “Rai Aam” (Public Opinion) program, presented by journalist Amr Abdel Hamid, the former minister asked: “Do you have to specify in the card that you are a civilian Muslim or a Salafi Muslim? This no longer happens, we are not in the time of Taliban.”
The number of churches and ecclesiastical buildings "approved" by the Egyptian government rises to 1958
Publication Date: 24/8/2021
Source: Agenzia Fides
In July and August 2021, the Egyptian government confirmed that a further 76 churches and buildings owned by the church comply with the regulations for the construction of Christian houses of worship and the associated service buildings. This time the declaration concerned 27 Christian houses of worship and 49 associated buildings. The new list of retrospectively "approved" churches and church buildings was published in the Official Gazette and was approved by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly on the basis of the review by the relevant government committee, which was used on an ad hoc basis to implement the retrospective building permits for Christian places of worship and associated buildings, which had been built in the past few decades without the necessary government and administrative permits.
After 19 months of Pre-trial Detention, Patrick Zaki’s Trial Begins Tomorrow before Emergency Court
Publication Date: 13/9/2021
Source: Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights
The undersigned organisations condemn the decision of the State Security Supreme Prosecution (SSSP) to indict Patrick Zaki, the researcher at the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), on charges of “spreading false news inside and outside of the country”, based on an opinion article published two years ago.
The first trial session will be held tomorrow, Tuesday September 14 2021, before the Mansoura II State Security Misdemeanors (emergency) Court. Zaki was indicted based on articles 80 (D), and 102 (bis) of the penal code.
Egyptian Christians Celebrate Coptic New Year Nayrouz Today
Publication Date: 11/9/2021
Source: Egyptian Streets
Today, the Coptic Orthodox community -one of several minorities in Egypt- celebrates the beginning of the year 1738 on the Coptic calendar, anno martyrum or AM (Latin for Era of the Martyrs). The Coptic New Year, Nayrouz, is celebrated on September 11 on the Gregorian calendar, except for the year preceding a leap year when it’s celebrated on September 12.
