St Mark Coptic Orthodox Church, Canberra - Australia 4.3

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.