The Coptic community in Fiji now boasts a new church and child home housed on a sprawling 12-feddan farmland in Nadi, as well as a diabetes and wellness clinic.
Last Monday, 11 June, saw the arrival of the Coptic Orthodox Bishop of Melbourne, Anba Suriel, to Fiji to officially open the Coptic establishments. Fiji is affiliated to the Diocese of Melbourne. Bishop Suriel was accompanied by Fr Mark Attallah; they were received in Fiji by Fr Raphail Bassali, the Coptic priest there. The following day they were joined by Anba Youssef, Bishop of South US.
Bishop Suriel and Bishop Youssef laid the foundation stone for the new, small church and the St Mina child home which lies close to the church and which will cater to the needs of 100 Fijian children. The home is expected to be completed in two months.
The bishops then headed to Nadi hospital where they opened the diabetes and wellness clinic. The clinic is named after Losana, a 36 year old Fijian Coptic woman who lost her life to diabetes. Fiji’s Minister of Health and Medical Services, Rosy Sofia Akbar, attended the opening and commended the Coptic Church for the health, social, and spiritual services it offers the community.
On Wednesday 13 June, the bishops prayed Mass in the church of Anba Rweiss in Fiji.
