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Coptic Christians singing on Cairo Metro spark controversy
Author: Mina Nader
Publication Date: 27/8/2021
Source: Jerusalem Post
Religion is a perilous subject in Egypt. A video of the Aghapy Coptic Choir singing on the Cairo Metro has gone viral and raised controversy over public expressions of faith and religious intolerance in Egypt.
The sight of the Coptic youth singing hymns has sparked a debate around public expression of faith even within the Coptic community and among secular Egyptians. Nabila Makram, the minister for emigration and Egyptian expatriates’ affairs, and a member of the Coptic Church, shared the video on her personal Facebook page to commemorate the Feast of the Ascension of the Virgin Mary.
Armenian church in Malatya hosts first religious service since 1915 as a culture center
Author: Alin Ozinian
Publication Date: 2/9/2021
Source: Turkish Minute
The Surp Yerrortutyun (Holy Trinity) Armenian Church in Malatya, in east-central Turkey, on August 29 hosted its first religious service since the Armenian genocide of 1915.
Holy Trinity Church – built in the second half of the 18th century — was renovated by the Malatya Metropolitan Municipality and reopened as the Taşhoran Culture and Art Center. According to a statement released by the municipality, “From now on, the Armenian sanctuary will serve as a cultural center and the Armenian community will be allowed to hold liturgical, baptism and wedding ceremonies.”
Turkey’s Armenian Christian Minority Is Safeguarding Ancient Liturgy
Author: Christopher Sheklian
Publication Date: 14/9/2021
Source: Religion Unplugged
Every year for the Feast of the Ascension, all of the Armenian Apostolic Church clergy in Istanbul gather on the plaza outside the small brick chapel of Surp Pırgiç, Holy Savior, within the compound of the associated hospital. There, they conduct the ancient Armenian Antasdan rite, the Blessing of the Fields.
How is Covid-19 affecting Christians in Syria?
Publication Date: 3/9/2021
Source: Open Doors Phillipines
The impact of Covid-19 and lockdown has particularly affected the church in Syria and Iraq. After a decade of conflict and persecution, as well as ongoing poverty, Christians in the Middle East are now disproportionately vulnerable to the effects of the pandemic. Though the official figures suggest that Syria has seen a relatively small number of cases and fatalities, this number is likely to be much higher than has been reported.
Not Russia’s fault that settlement process in Syria slackening
Publication Date: 30/8/2021
Source: TASS News Agency
According to Sergey Lavrov, Russia has helped Syria to preserve its statehood and to preserve Christianity in Syria
Fuel dispute triggers sectarian clash in Lebanon's south
Author: Maha El Dahan; Editing by Tom Perry and Nick Macfie
Publication Date: 30/8/2021
Source: Reuters
A dispute over scarce fuel supplies ignited sectarian tensions between neighbouring Shi'ite Muslim and Christian villages in southern Lebanon over the weekend, forcing the army to intervene, a security source said.
Christian residents of two northern Israeli ghost towns renew bid to go home
Author: Botrus Mansour
Publication Date: 31/8/2021
Source: Religion News Service (RNS)
With a new coalition government in power in Israel, descendants of the residents of Iqrit and Biram have hopes of rebuilding the towns.
France’s Macron visits Iraq’s Mosul destroyed by IS war
Author: Hadi Mizban and Qassim Abdul-Zahra
Publication Date: 29/8/2021
Source: Associated Press
French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday visited Iraq’s northern city of Mosul, which suffered widespread destruction during the war to defeat the Islamic State group in 2017. He vowed to fight alongside regional governments against terrorism. Macron said IS carried out deadly attacks throughout the world from its self-declared caliphate in parts of Syria and Iraq. He said IS did not differentiate between people’s religion and nationality when it came to killing, noting that the extremists killed many Muslims.
