His Grace Bishop Kyriakos of Melbourne participated in the official welcome ceremony of His Grace Bishop Rewis, the newly appointed Diocesan General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Melbourne.
Held on Friday, July 4 at the Church of St Mary in Kensington – the first Coptic Orthodox parish in Melbourne – the ceremony marked a significant milestone for the Coptic community, which had been without a bishop for over seven years.
Bishop Kyriakos attended as the official representative of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia.
“It is a great joy to witness this sacred and historic moment for our Coptic Orthodox brothers and sisters,” Bishop Kyriakos said in his address.
“On behalf of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios, I convey our warmest congratulations to His Grace Bishop Rewis. May his ministry be filled with wisdom, peace, and the guiding light of the Holy Spirit, as he shepherds the people of God in this blessed Diocese.”
In a powerful symbol of solidarity, Bishop Kyriakos presented Bishop Rewis with a pastoral staff, while Bishop Rewis returned the gesture with a hand-carved cross, expressing his gratitude and brotherly love.
“I see Bishop Kyriakos as my brother in Christ. We carry the cross of episcopacy together in Melbourne – not separately, but united in love for our people,” Bishop Rewis said. “The Coptic and Greek Orthodox faithful in this city are not strangers to one another.”
Clergy and faithful from various Oriental Orthodox Churches, including the Armenian, Syriac, Malankara, Ethiopian, and Eritrean communities, were also in attendance.
The evening concluded with a private meeting and dinner between the two bishops, where they discussed ways to deepen ties and collaboration between their communities.
