Repose of Tasoni Tafida Nematalla

With deep sorrow and hearts full of faith in the Resurrection, the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Melbourne mourns the passing of Tasoni Tafida Nematalla, beloved wife of the late Very Reverend Fr Mina Nematalla OAM, nephew of His Holiness Pope Kyrillos VI and the first Coptic Orthodox Priest in Australia.

In 1969, Tasoni Tafida and Fr Mina Nematalla journeyed by boat from Egypt, arriving first in Melbourne, where on 21 January 1969, the first Coptic Orthodox Divine Liturgy on Australian soil was celebrated - marking the beginning of the Coptic Church’s presence in this blessed land.

Shortly thereafter, they moved to Sydney, where they established St Mary & St Mina's Coptic Orthodox Church in Sydenham, the first Coptic parish in New South Wales. Fr Mina continued to serve with dedication, regularly travelling between Melbourne and Sydney to minister to the spiritual needs of the faithful, pray the Divine Liturgy and nurture the early Coptic communities in both cities.

We fondly remember Tasoni Tafida’s presence at the Golden Jubilee Gala, held in Melbourne on Sunday 3 November 2019, commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Australia. Her presence at this historic celebration was a living testament to the foundations she and Fr Mina helped lay and the generations of faithful that have since flourished.

Our Diocese expresses its eternal gratitude for the pioneering legacy of Tasoni Tafida and Fr Mina. Through their sacrifices, faith and unwavering commitment to the Church, they helped shape the strong and vibrant Coptic communities we are blessed with today.

We offer our heartfelt condolences to the family of Tasoni Tafida Nematalla and to our brethren in the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Sydney.

May our gracious Lord repose her soul in the paradise of joy and may her memory remain eternal in the life of the Church she helped build.

Image: The Late Very Reverend Fr Mina Nematalla OAM and The Late Tasoni Tafida Nematalla with Melbourne's first Copts.