1. These three deacons became the proposed church's committee
2. Using a map of the city, they located each existing Coptic church in Sydney
3. They listed all the Coptic families living in the Bankstown area
4. They began searching for a site to be rented as a temporary church
5. They wrote a report for H.H Pope Shenouda III seeking permission to establish a new church in Sydney
6. Suggested patron saints of the church were: St. Demiana & St. Athanasius

The meeting concluded at 10pm with prayers.

Finding a Site

The committee agreed to meet again at 8pm on July 27th 1992 to discuss the details of the required documents. At this second meeting, the committee was joined by Fr. Marcos Khella, who was elected as the spiritual father for the project. Mr. Adel Nessim was elected into the committee as he was leaving for Egypt and could present the required documents to H.H Pope Shenouda III for approval. A site was selected at 381 Hume Highway, Yagoona to be rented for $50 weekly. The site could be used for the holy mass on Saturday mornings and Bible studies on Sunday nights. The meeting at 10pm with prayers.

Preparing the Church Files

The committee presented the church file to H.G Anba Tadrous (Bishop of Port Said) during his visit to Australia. His Grace visited the church site and was impressed with the site's facilities; he promised to talk to H.H Pope Shenouda III upon his return to Egypt. At 7:30pm on August 24th 1992, the committee met with new member Mr. Adel Nessim and Fr. Marcos Khella. All reports and documents were checked and handed over to Mr. Adel Nessim, who would present them to H.H Pope Shenouda III during his visit to Egypt. The meeting at 10pm with prayers.

H.H Pope Shenouda III Blesses the Project

At 10pm during prayers (nahda) at St. George's church in Kensington on November 13th 1992 (the 21st anniversary of the enthronement of H.H Pope Shenouda III), H.G Bishop Tadrous phoned Fr. Marcos Khella and gave him the spiritual blessing for the establishment of St. Demiana & St. Athanasius church. The committee sent letters of thanks to H.H Pope Shenouda III and H.G Bishop Tadrous. At 8pm on November 25th 1992, the committee met with Fr. Marcos to discuss the preparations for the opening ceremony for St. Demiana & St. Athanasius church. Sunday December 13th 1992 was the date chosen for this occasion. A general invitation to the event was published in the Spring of Love magazine and individual invitations were sent to all parish priests. The committee also extended the invitation to Fr. Wedenham from the Church of England, who owned the site rented to house the church.

The following responsibilities were assigned:

• Deaconship: Malak Rizkalla
• Sunday School & Youth: Nabil Goubran
• Secretary & Bookshop: Adel Kamel
• Treasurer: Adel Nessim
• Ladies Services: Tehani Goubran

The meeting concluded at 10:30pm with prayers.

The church sign at Yagoona

The Opening Ceremony of St. Demiana & St. Athanasius Coptic Orthodox Church

At 6:20pm on Sunday December 13th 1992, the opening ceremony began with deacons singing the hymn ‘Epouro…’ ('O King of Peace...'), as the procession entered the church bearing icons of patron saints of all the Coptic Churches in Sydney.

Praying before the icons of the Saints.

The following parish priests attended the ceremony: Fr. Marcos Khella, Fr. Samuel Wadie, Fr. Moussa El-Souriani and Fr. Shenouda Mansour

Congregation addressed by Fr. Marocs, Fr. Wedenham and Deacon Amir Hanna.
(Priests from left to right : Fr. Marcos Khella, Fr. Moussa El-Souriani, Fr. Samuel Wadie & Fr. Shenouda Mansour.)

Fr. Marcos thanked the congregation and Fr. Wedenham (Church of England) thanked Fr. Marcos and the congregation and offered any help needed in the future. After the thanksgiving prayer was offered, the procession walked around the perimeter of the church and hung the icons of the saints on the wall.

Praying before the icons of the Saints.

Deacon Amir Hanna then addressed the congregation about the church. The ceremony concluded at 9:15pm after prayers (tamgeed).

Icons of St. Mary & the Patron Saints, St. Demiana & St. Athanasius.

The First Prayers

At 6pm on Sunday December 20th 1992 (Kiahk), St. Demiana & St. Athanasius church started with a vigil and prayer by Fr. Marcos who spoke about incarnation. At 5am on Monday December 21st 1992, Fr. Marcos conducted the first Holy Mass at St. Demiana & St. Athanasius church. St. Demiana & St. Athanasius Church opened a new bank account, and on December 27th 1992, Sunday School started for the first time, with 24 children attending.