On a cool, quiet autumn evening, the ancient traditions of the Coptic Catholic Church met the multicultural heart of the Diocese of Parramatta in a celebration filled with faith, reverence and historical significance.
As incense rose through the church halls and chants echoed in Arabic, Coptic and English, clergy and faithful gathered to witness the enshrinement of a first-class relic of St Mark the Evangelist – the saint who first carried the Gospel to Egypt nearly 2,000 years ago.
The sacred gathering held on 24 April 2026 was led by The Most Reverend Bishop Thomas Habib, Bishop of Sohag, Egypt & Apostolic Visitator, during his pastoral visit to Australia, and Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta.
In his welcoming remarks, Fr Andrawes Zakihennes, Parish Priest of St Marks Coptic Catholic Church warmly greeted the bishops, the visiting clergy, religious sisters and faithful gathered for the celebration.
The Most Reverend Bishop Thomas Habib, Bishop of Sohag, Egypt & Apostolic Visitator holds the first-class relic of St Mark the Evangelist. Image: Alfie Ramirez / Diocese of Parramatta
Reflecting on the sacred significance of Egypt within salvation history, Fr Andrawes recalled God’s words to Moses in the Old Testament: “The place where you stand is holy ground.”
“That land was in Egypt”, he said. He went on to explain that through God’s presence and action, holiness was not limited to Egypt alone but that “The whole world becomes sanctified with these words.”
Legacy of St Mark
During his homily, Bishop Vincent welcomed Bishop Thomas and reflected on the significance of the occasion for both the local community and the Diocese.
“I welcome His Excellency to our Diocese, which has a unique distinction of hosting the only purpose-built Coptic Catholic Church in Australia,” Bishop Vincent said.
Reflecting on the life and witness of St Mark, Bishop Vincent described him as the founder of the Church in Alexandria and the author of the first Gospel.
“The Coptic Catholic church goes back to apostolic times, having been founded by no less than the great St Mark the Evangelist.”
He further explained how St Mark’s Gospel reveals Christ not merely as a miracle worker, but as the suffering servant whose identity can only fully be understood through the cross, death and resurrection.
“Only by following Jesus to the cross can one be His true disciple,” Bishop Vincent said.
Image: Alfie Ramirez / Diocese of Parramatta
Why his relic is so important
Sub-Deacon Michael Khairy explained that “the relic of St Mark originated from relics preserved in Venice during the 1800s, carrying with it a profound connection to the apostolic heritage of the Church”.
“For us as Copts, St Mark is not only our patron, but the one who brought the light of the Gospel to Egypt”, he said.
“Through his preaching, martyrdom, and apostolic witness, the Coptic Church was born.”
Bishoy Gaid, a youth member who has been part of St Mark’s since 2007, reflected on his experience.
“Witnessing the pastoral visit of His Excellency Bishop Thomas, together with the presentation of the relic of St Mark the Evangelist, was a profound experience of ecclesial unity and personal grace.”
Serving during the liturgy as a Reader in the Coptic Catholic diaconate, Bishoy said the chanting of the “Doxology to St Mark” while venerating the relic was especially moving.
“To witness our Patron Saint present in such a physical way varied how I approached worship, as we offer our praise to God in communion with His saints,” he said.
Image: Alfie Ramirez / Diocese of Parramatta
Jonathan Khairy, another youth member who has belonged to the parish since 2002, reflected on why relics continue to hold an important place within the life of the Church.
“I think relics remain important because they remind us that our faith is real,” he said.
“A relic, especially that of a martyr such as St Mark the Apostle, reminds us that living the faith often means dying for the faith.”
Jonathan also noted the powerful unity displayed during the celebration, with clergy and faithful from Latin, Maronite, Syriac and Chaldean traditions gathering together for the occasion.
“It was truly a visible sign of the unity of the Church, of Christ’s body,” he said.
Image: Alfie Ramirez / Diocese of Parramatta
Responding to the Call to Holiness
During his address, Bishop Thomas Habib also reflected on the meaning of sainthood and the role of saints within the Church.
“We do not believe in the saints merely as individuals rather, we take them as role models,” he said.
“They upheld the faith, lived a true Christian life with all their strength, and sacrificed their lives for the sake of the Church. That is why we take them as examples and ask for their intercession as one body in Christ.”
Image: Alfie Ramirez / Diocese of Parramatta
Speaking further on holiness, Bishop Thomas reminded the faithful that sanctity is found not simply in outward acts of piety, but in a life transformed by love of God and neighbour.
“What is sanctity?” he asked.
“It is not being overly pious. Sanctity is a pure heart, a person who can forgive and absolve, who knows God and walks in His ways, and who loves God with all their heart.”
As the evening drew to a close, there remained a quiet but profound sense that the faithful had witnessed something deeply sacred – not simply the reception of a relic, but a living connection to the apostolic faith first planted in Egypt by St Mark himself.
For the Coptic Catholic community in Australia, the celebration became a reminder that even far from their ancestral homeland, their faith continues to flourish – ancient in its roots, yet alive and growing within the life of the Church today.
This celebration aligns with the Diocesan Pastoral Plan priorities of Prayer, Mission, and Community. Visit Synodality to learn more.
For more photos from the Enshrinement of the Relic of St Mark the Evangelist click here.
