Diocese of Melbourne

MONKS

Fr Titus El-Baramousy – Mobile:- 0418-143-391

Fr Matta El-Baramousy

Fr Dawood El-Baramousy

Fr Maximos El-Baramousy

BRIEF HISTORY

History In August 1983, a 62 acre parcel of land was purchased in Heathcote, Victoria to establish a Monastery dedicated to St. Anthony, the Father of all monks. The first liturgy was celebrated on Monastery grounds in September 1986 under marquees. In November 1989, the Retreat House consisting of sixteen dormitories and a large hall was completed and officially opened by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III. His Holiness also laid the foundation stone of the Church to be named after St. Anthony. On September 4, 1993, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III officially opened Australia’s first Coptic Monastery named after St. Anthony the Great. His Holiness consecrated the Church and delegated three monks to inhabit the monastery: Fr. Titus El Baramousy, Fr Polycarpos El Baramousy and Fr. Youakim El Baramousy. Since then Fr. Polycarpos has been delegated to serve the congregation of St. Mark and St. George Church in Perth, assisted by Fr. Titus El Baramousy, and Fr. Youakim El Baramousy is now serving St. Demyana Church in Tasmania. Two new monks, Fr. Matta El Baramousy and Fr. Daoud El Baramousy have arrived and now live there.

 SERVICES

A wonderful place for retreat and spiritual benefit, St. Anthony’s Monastery provides the chance to experience the famous Coptic Monastic life established by Saint Anthony in the fourth century. With a retreat house on site and accommodation nearby, it is an excellent place for the faithful to spend a spiritual day ad a great opportunity for youth to spend a few days in spiritual reflection.

RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS/ FUTURE PLANS

Recently, the Monastery completed the building of three new monk cells and a Bishops resident on site. In addition to this, a new Residents Hall is currently under construction.