Yesterday morning, Saturday, August 8, His Grace the Right Reverend Anba Elia, Bishop of the Diocese of Khartoum and the State of South Sudan and its dependencies, presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Virgin Mary and Saint Anba Abram in the city of Juba, the capital of South Sudan. The service was attended by the priests of the Coptic Church in Juba.In his homily, His Grace congratulated the congregation and the priests on the beginning of the Fast of the Virgin Mary, stressing and encouraging the necessity of fasting and prayer. He also spoke about the place of the Virgin Mary in the Church and the great love bestowed upon her.After the Prayer of Reconciliation, His Grace completed the ordination of 13 new deacons to the rank of “Epsaltis” and elevated 7 other deacons to the rank of “Agnostos,” amid the joy of the congregation and the church’s priests.