Diocese of Melbourne

Coptic Orthodox Church Faith

Egyptian civilisation began more than three thousand years before Jesus Christ. God blessed Egypt from early times by saying, ‘‘Blessed is Egypt My people.’’ (Isaiah 19:25) God also said, ‘‘There will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt.’’ (Isaiah 19:19) This prophecy has been fulfilled through Christianity entering Egypt in the first century A.D.. The holy family visited Egypt and blessed places which have become holy sites, including the church of Saint Mary in Zeitoun, Cairo. At this church on the 2nd of April 1968, Saint Mary appeared on top of the domes of the church and many miracles took place. These apparitions lasted for more than two years.
The word ‘‘Copt’’ basically means Egyptian. It is derived from the Greek word ‘‘Aigyptos.’’.

Coptic Orthodox Church Diocese of Melbourne

In September 2000, the Diocese purchased a property in Coburg to establish as a Coptic Centre incorporating the Theological College. Extraordinary support was received both from the congregation and the youth in generous financial support and the theological college students who utilised the facilities to their capacity. Over the following two years the number of meetings, activities and theological college classes being held, exceeded the physical space available and it became clear that this facility would only be sufficient for, and limited to Theological College uses.
In late December of 2001, through God's grace, we were made aware of an exceptional property that had come up for sale. The property was called Whitefriars Park, a Carmelite Monastery established in 1937.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II

His Holiness was born on 4 November 1952 in the City of Mansoura. He graduated from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Alexandria in 1975 and worked as a manager at a pharmaceutical factory in Damanhur. He received the fellowship in world health from England in 1985.
In the same year he received a bachelor degree in theology from the Theological College in Alexandria. He joined St. Bishoy’ monastery in 1986 where he was tonsured a monk in 1988 with the name Theodor El-Anba Bishoy. He was ordained a priest in 1989 where he served in Damanhour from 1990 - 1997 with His Eminence Metropolitan Bakhomious of Al-Beheira. On 15 June 1997 he was ordained General Bishop and was assigned to serve as an Assistant Bishop to His Eminence Metropolitan Bakhomious.

Bishop of Melbourne and Affiliated Regions

In this section you can discover more about His Grace Bishop Suriel. There is a biography covering his life from childhood to his ordination for the first Coptic Bishop of Australia. When His Grace Bishop Suriel was enthroned it was a very joyous event and you can capture this through viewing some of the pictures in our gallery. You will also find H.G. Bishop Suriel's monthly calendar, which has all the dates and times that he will be available.
Bishop Suriel, was born in Port Said, Egypt on 9 May 1963. He migrated with his parents in May of 1967 to Sydney, Australia. It was there that he spent the next twenty-four years of his life. When Bishop Suriel's family migrated to Australia there were no Coptic Orthodox Churches there.

H.H. Pope Shenouda III of good memory

For his orthodoxy, he has been called “Athanasius of the twentieth and twentieth-first centuries”; for his remarkable teaching ability, great writing skills, and clear, effective manner of rhetoric, “John Chrysostom of the twentieth century”; and for his reforms he is compared with Pope Kyrillos (Cyril) IV, “the Father of reformation”, and has been called the greatest reformer.
He has been described as the most knowledgeable pope in history, a living and moving encyclopedia, a great professor, giant scholar and authority on the Bible, theology, dogma, rites, church history, law and patrology. He is the richest patriarch in terms of teaching and preaching, and in composing books and articles in all branches of religion.
He is said to be the most gifted pope in speech, poetry, journalism, literature and administration. Despite all these accolades, he prefers the title “servant”.
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III was born Nazeer Gayed on August 3, 1923

SACOTC - Saint Athanasius Coptic Orthodox Theological College

First Coptic Orthodox Theological College to beaccredited in the modern world!
It is with great delight that we announce St Athanasius Coptic Orthodox Theological college has been accredited as a recognised teaching institution (RTI) of the MCD University of Divinity! The MCD is an established and very well respected academic teaching body having celebrated its centenary in 2010, and from the 1st January 2012 will become the first ‘Specialist University’ in Australia!
This is a wonderful achievement for our theological college which was established by Papal Decree number 21/29 just under 11 years ago and is the culmination of several years of hard work by many dedicated individuals. Through His Grace Bishop Suriel’s leadership and vision, and the tireless work of the SACOTC Academic Board and Council,

Coptic Papal Message for Easter of 2013

Coptic Papal Message for Easter of 2013

5 May 2013

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II

Pope of Alexandria and

Patriarch of the See of St. Mark

Khristos Anesti; Alithos Anesti!

Pi-Ekhrestos Aftonf; Khen O Methmi Aftonf!

Christ is Risen; Truly He is Risen!

Happy Feast of Resurrection

H.G. Bishop Suriel Easter Message 2013

Feast of Resurrection

5 May 2013

His Grace Bishop Suriel

Bishop of Melbourne and Affiliated Regions

Christ’s Resurrection Defeated Death and Opened For Us the Everlasting Doors

“For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”

Introducing Eporo Tower

Located in the heart of Melbourne, Eporo Tower will attract a vibrant new community to our neighbourhood. Designed by acclaimed architects Buchan Group the building will be a stunning, contemporary blade rising towards the clouds. With sweeping curves and a shimmering glass facade the building is a spectacular monument that all in the Church will truly be proud of.

In the base of the building our stunning new Church will be located, combining cutting edge facilities with meticulous, traditional Coptic finishes. In the upper levels modern one and two bedroom apartments will offer a selection of stunning bay, city and garden views.

For a limited time, apartments are being offered exclusively to friends of the Church, ensuring those closest to the development can secure their desired location.

The launch of Eporo Tower Project will take place at 2 pm on Sunday 17 February, 2013.

Place: 279 La Trobe St. Melbourne.

Hope to see you all there for this historic occasion in the life of our Diocese. May God bless this work for the Glory of His Holy Name.

See http://eporotower.com.au/ for more information.