Built according to the Coptic Architectural style, the Church adds to the splendid character of the National Capital.
In March 1989 with the blessing of His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, work started to establish a church dedicated to St Mark in Canberra. On November 20, 1989, His Holiness laid the foundation stone of the church and within only fifteen months the church was fully completed and officially opened by Pope Shenouda on Friday, February 8, 1991 in an impressive ceremony attended by several heads of Churches and Civic leaders including the Speaker of the Federal Parliament, Mr Leo McLeay representing the then Prime Minister, Mr Hawke; the former NSW Premier Mr Barrie Unsworth and the Egyptian Ambassador to Australia, Mr Adel El Khodary.
On the following day, Pope Shenouda III, accompanied by nine Bishops consecrated the Altar and Icons of the Church; concelebrating with His Holiness were nineteen priests from Australia, America and England.
To find us on Google Maps, visit http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=st+mark+coptic+orthodox+church&near=Canberra+ACT,+Australia
Our Pope & Father Abba Shenouda III
Born on 3 August 1923, His Holiness is the 117 Pope of an unbroken succession extending back to the time of St Mark the Apostle. Pope Shenouda is the Pope and Patriarch of the Holy Apostolic See of St Mark. For more information, visit the official site of His Holiness www.copticpope.org
Our Bishop & Father His Grace Abba Suriel
Born on 9 May 1963, His Grace became the first Coptic Australian Bishop in 1999 for the newly established Diocese of Melbourne and affliated regions which includes the Coptic Churches in Victoria, Australian Capital Territory (ACT) , Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia and New Zealand. For more info, visit http://melbcopts.org/bishop.html
- Tags:
- Religion, Faith, Church
- Category:
- Church, Religious Organization