His Grace Bishop Anba Daniel, Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Shenouda the Anchorite in New South Wales, presided over the Divine Liturgy on Saturday morning, 12 September, in a large tent at the Melbourne Diocese headquarters in the Donvale neighborhood. The service was held as part of the Church’s Nayrouz celebrations and was attended by Anba Roïs, the papal deputy to the diocese, about 50 priests, and some 2,000 members of the Coptic community who had come from churches across Melbourne.After the Liturgy, the Nayrouz festival continued in the diocese grounds, with children, youth and elders taking part in spiritual and social activities. The church choir performed a number of hymns, and Fr. Bishoy Anthony—from the Church of the Martyr St. Mina and the Great St. Anthony in the Gold Coast, Queensland—delivered a spiritual message in which he offered congratulations and thanks to the bishops, priests and congregation. He spoke about the Coptic martyrs across the ages who suffered persecution, with particular emphasis on modern-era martyrs who remained steadfast in their Christian faith.A number of members of parliament attended the festival to offer their congratulations, including Mr. Evan Mulholland, Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Religious Affairs, and Mr. Richard Welsh, Shadow Minister for Industry, Shadow Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, and Shadow Minister for Artificial Intelligence and the Digital Economy.In the same spirit, Australian Prime Minister Mr. Anthony Albanese sent his greetings to the Coptic community and Church for Nayrouz and the Coptic New Year. In his message he extended his warmest congratulations to everyone celebrating the Coptic New Year, noting that Nayrouz embodies prayer, reflection and joy. He said the celebration honors a proud and exceptional past while looking to the future with hope and optimism, strengthening the bonds of community and identity that lie at the heart of your community. He added that this moment of commitment and renewal recognizes the important place the Coptic Orthodox tradition holds in the story of modern Australia—a story shaped by the faith, hard work, aspiration and love of country of the Coptic people, a story you continue to write and enrich.New South Wales Premier Mr. Chris Minns also congratulated the Church on Nayrouz in a statement saying, “My best wishes to everyone celebrating Nayrouz across New South Wales. This is a very special occasion where the Coptic communities in our state come together in faith to mark the beginning of the Coptic year. It is a chance to remember the strength and sacrifices of forebears and to honor the Coptic martyrs who remained steadfast in their faith through centuries of persecution. New South Wales is proud to be home to a vibrant Coptic community. For generations, Australian Copts have enriched our state through their enduring traditions of service and commitment to the broader community. Nayrouz is an opportunity to recognize and thank our Coptic community for all they have contributed to this state.” Mr. Minns offered his congratulations on behalf of the New South Wales Government and wished everyone a happy, prosperous and healthy new year.