INTRO

KUMI TAGUCHI

Thanks for joining me. I'm Kumi Taguchi.

The Copts are one of the oldest forms of Christianity, and their religious practice is significantly different to other Christian denominations. Compass follows two newly minted Coptic priests whose old lives must make way for the new as they take on this important role in their community.

STORY: Out of Egypt - the Copts

DR MINA ISKANDER

(TO PATIENT) OK, just relax your arm for me...

How can I say no to God? Who am I for God to ask me... Let alone have the audacity to say, "Oh, let me get back to you. Let me think about it"? Or even, "No"? Who am I?

DR MICHAEL SHEHATA

It's God's will, and you can see that God definitely is pushing you in that direction, and it's, you know, in accordance with the Bible and teachings and everything that we'd been brought up with - it's something that you can't say no to.

KUMI TAGUCHI

Mina Iskander and Michael Shehata are about to take on a commitment that will change their lives forever.

SFX: MEN SING, WOMAN ULULATES

KUMI TAGUCHI

About 100,000 Copts live in Australia. Orthodox Christians, mainly from Egypt, they are served by close to 100 priests and are always on the lookout for more. These are recruited from within their community.

Mina and Michael were chosen to be priests by their congregation and church hierarchy. It was a big decision with major ramifications for their families.

MANDY ISKANDER, MINA'S WIFE

When we heard, I just liked to know what was gonna happen, so I asked a lot of questions. It was more just fear of the unknown, just because I think that's natural.

MARIAM SHEHATA, MICHAEL'S WIFE

Coffee or tea?

HALA ISKANDER, MINA'S MOTHER

Tea.

MARIAM SHEHATA

Tea?

I was quite anxious when I first heard about it. I think, like any change... Whenever there's a change in life, it can be a bit scary at first, because you don't really know what to expect.

HALA ISKANDER

I remember one day, when he was very young - he was year two or year three - I wanted to take blessing from one of our holy priest, and he just telling me, "Look after him. He is ours." And I scared, because he didn't say it like, "Oh, yes, he's a good boy, and one day, we want him." No, he say it as a statement - "Look after him. He is ours."

FR AUGUSTINOS NADA, COPTIC PRIEST

So, they start to think, "Well, who's suitable?" You know, they may have an eye on somebody in particular because of his mannerism, his closeness to the church. He's coming to attend and he's serving well. So, he may be, like, somebody that shines a little bit.

MINA ISKANDER

OK, just relax your arm for me.

KUMI TAGUCHI

Nine months ago, the two men were busy in their chosen professions. Mina was a Sydney-based general practitioner.

MINA ISKANDER

(TO PATIENT) So, I'm just gonna have a listen to your chest. I'll just lift up your shirt.

Being a GP, I deal with two kinds of illnesses - an illness that's gonna get better and an illness that won't. But as a priest, it's something far deeper and far longer-lasting, and so it's not just a matter of helping them until the next time that they come in, but it's life with Christ is life... you know, that is full of joy and that is very peaceful and that is very fulfilling, and it will continue to eternity as well.

KUMI TAGUCHI

Michael had been running his own dental practice in Sydney for six years when he was asked to consider the priesthood by his church fathers.

MARIAM SHEHATA

We'd find that he would always run late as a dentist. We weren't sure why, and a lot of times, you know, we'd interrupt and knock on the door and we'd find patients just... sort of, talking to him about life, you know, nothing to do with the dentistry, and he'd kind of be their personal counsellor. He's really easy to talk to. People find it really easy to open up to him.

FR AUGUSTINOS NADA

If we all agree that this is a good person to lead the community, and they will ask him, "Would you accept the honour of being a priest in the Coptic Church?" And it's up to him to decide whether he wants to or not.

KUMI TAGUCHI

Becoming a priest means giving up a lot, as Father Augustinos knows well.

FR AUGUSTINOS NADA

Before I was a priest, I was working as a scientific technical officer in pathology at Mount Druitt Hospital. It was a quite an interesting career path, but since the calling, I, um, haven't been... Of course, we have to give up our day jobs, yeah.

KUMI TAGUCHI

With over 60 churches in Australia, the Coptic community has grown rapidly over the last 10 years.

SFX: SINGING, CYMBALS RING

FR AUGUSTINOS NADA

The Coptic Church is the Egyptian Orthodox Church. When St Mark went, in the 1st century, to preach after being one of the apostles of Jesus Christ, he went to Egypt and preached in the middle of the 1st century, and Christianity began to spread very, very quickly. And they were the first Christians in Egypt, who have kept the faith till today, even through martyrdom and persecution.

SFX: CROWD CHANTS IN STREET

REPORTER

Some were angry at the government for failing to provide adequate security when the Coptic cathedral was bombed in Cairo in December.

KUMI TAGUCHI

The Copts are a minority in Egypt. They make up about 10% of the population and are under extreme pressure from attacks by Islamic terrorists. Many have sought sanctuary in Australia.

FR AUGUSTINOS NADA

Migration of Coptic Christians started in the '60s. People were finding it a bit difficult to find jobs, to... you know, worrying about the future of their children. So there was an opportunity to migrate to different countries where they can have perhaps the freedom of religion, freedom of expression of their faith and a good future for their children.

KUMI TAGUCHI

Like many migrants to Australia, the Copts are a close-knit community.

SFX: SINGING

KUMI TAGUCHI

Their lives are steeped in the culture and ritual of their church.

FR AUGUSTINOS NADA

You find that the Coptic people, the church is the centre of their life. Everyone that they know comes to the same church, and that's how it's all preserved.

PRIEST

You know, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, what happened is that Jesus conquered them. He conquered this...

KUMI TAGUCHI

Mass is celebrated every day, in English or Arabic. There are special services for children. Sunday is the highlight.

FR AUGUSTINOS NADA

You'll find, like, a child will stay with his family until the day he gets married. And even after they get married, they're very close to their family. So, we have this very close family unit that protect each other and they will preserve that unity. It's very, very important in the Coptic culture.

KUMI TAGUCHI

Fr Augustinos became a priest 21 years ago, shortly after marrying Sylvia. They have three children.

FR AUGUSTINOS NADA

The church has identified the need for married priests, because, of course, the married priest has experience in that how... he understands a family, the idea of a family. And so whenever there is an issue that arises within a family, he'll understand, because he has a wife.

SYLVIA NADA

I think, for my children, because they were born into it, they don't know any different seeing their dad as a priest. They did ask me, however, "What was it like before Dad was a priest?" And, of course, I told them it was just... we were a normal couple.

Being a priest, they're quite flexible during the day, so if anything, I think they'll be able to contribute even more to their family life, and this is the case today, because that's what I have lived.

KUMI TAGUCHI

For Mina and Michael, their induction into the priesthood involves an ordination ceremony where they will leave their civilian lives behind.

MINA ISKANDER

I'm both excited and nervous. I'll have my L-plates on, for sure. But it's just like medicine - you kind of learn a little bit of theory and then you've just got to go and do it, and sometimes under supervision, sometimes not, and then I'm sure it will come with time.

MICHAEL SHEHATA

It's a very big responsibility, and to be dealing with people and having the responsibility of them kind of entrusting you with advice. And it does give an element of anxiety, but to be honest, at the same time, I've got this amazing amount of peace, because our church is filled with a lot of elderly fathers and priests who are more mature, who have years of experience and have golden information that they're more than happy to pass on. Like, I don't feel like I'm on my own.

SFX: SINGING, CYMBALS RING

KUMI TAGUCHI

Unlike other Christian denominations where priests may go through a period of intensive theological study, Michael and Mina will be ordained first. Training comes later.

MINA ISKANDER

The ordination is done during the liturgy. So, there's the usual Sunday mass, but then the mass sort of pauses and then the ordination happens.

BISHOP ANBA DANIEL, ST SHENOUDA MONASTERY

(TO CONGREGATION) It's a beautiful day, because today is Sunday. But today is more than just a holiday. It's a very joyful day - an ordination of two very young, fine men to become priests.

Usually a priest is someone who is very close to the congregation, so the people are expecting a lot from him.

(TO MICHAEL) "I vow before God"...

MICHAEL SHEHATA

I vow before God...

BISHOP ANBA DANIEL

..."the Lord of Lords"...

He's going to become a father, or abouna. 'Abouna' in Arabic means 'my father'. So, a father, by all means, he's gonna look after the person, spiritually, socially and even financially.

MINA ISKANDER

My wife was very joyful, and in fact, the very first thing that she said to me was, "The feeling that I had was the same feeling that I had" when I asked her to marry me.

MANDY ISKANDER

There's not that many changes. Your husband just becomes a priest. He just changes his job.

PRIEST

Dr Michael, he is going to be the first priest in Townsville, our Coptic congregation.

SFX: CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

KUMI TAGUCHI

Part of leaving the old life behind involves Mina and Michael taking on new names based on biblical figures who inspire them. Mina becomes Fr Elijah and Michael becomes Fr David.

MICHAEL, now FR DAVID SHEHATA, COPTIC PRIEST

It was a really beautiful feeling being there and going through the rituals of the ordination. Another moment was when the bishop holds your hand and he says, "Enter into your Father's heavenly embrace."

BISHOP ANBA DANIEL

(TO MICHAEL) "I ask the Lord to grant me strength"...

MICHAEL SHEHATA

I ask the Lord to grant me strength...

So much happened. It is a bit of a blur. It's like a second wedding day, almost, and it was very, very joyous.

MINA, NOW FR ELIJAH ISKANDER

Definitely it's an overwhelming day. Definitely. There are many emotions that go through your mind during something like that. But it's very important to realise that it's not about me personally. And a very simple analogy that we've been hearing all the way through is that on that day, you have to remember Christ entering Jerusalem on Palm Sunday riding on a donkey, and how foolish would that donkey be if he felt that all of that celebration was for Him? So, on that day, although it's so joyful, although everybody's so excited, in the front of our minds, we think, "Lord, you are using me as a tool. I am the donkey on which you are arriving, and it is about you and not about me."

KUMI TAGUCHI

After the ordination, Fr Elijah and Fr David say farewell to family and friends. They're about to begin their formal training at a Coptic monastery three hours' drive away.

SFX: BUS HORN HONKS

FR ELIJAH ISKANDER

Immediately after that, a newly ordained priest spends 40 days in the monastery, and there are spiritual reasons and practical reasons for that. Spiritual in that, just like any other major character in the Bible, whether it was Christ Himself or Moses or Elijah, St John the Baptist, all of them had a time of retreat prior to their ministry, and so the same holds true today as well.

KUMI TAGUCHI

Established in the 1990s, St Shenouda Monastery is in a secluded part of New South Wales. Eight monks and one novice live here in a life of contemplation and worship.

FR AUGUSTINOS NADA

Monasticism is another order of the church, and it's one of the first orders of the church because it was established by St Anthony, who was an Egyptian saint. He established the idea of the monastic life, which is an order in the church where people can choose, if they want to live that life, celibacy.

KUMI TAGUCHI

Monks are distinguished from priests by their distinctive headgear - a hood with 13 crosses, representing Jesus and his 12 disciples.

FR AUGUSTINOS NADA

He tends to have more of a relationship with God because he's not distracted by anything else, whereas the priest has a family he has to look after. And that's why we call upon priests to be in the world, whereas monks don't have to be in the world, so they can dedicate their lives to prayers.

KUMI TAGUCHI

It's the monks' job to train the new priests, who will have to study and absorb the centuries-old ritual and theology of the Coptic Church. Only then can Frs David and Elijah return to lead their congregations.

FR DAVID SHEHATA

Basically, they'll be teaching you rites of the church, like how to perform the sacraments, things like baptism, liturgy, confession, repentance, all those different sorts of things that are part of the church.

FR ELIJAH ISKANDER

It's a time of prayer, reading, reflection, preparation for what's to come, but also practically as well - what to do, how to do it, how to actually, you know, conduct various services.

Bless us, purify us, make us absolved, and all your people absolved. Fill us with your...

The routine here usually start with 4am praises, then rest, followed by the liturgy of the Eucharist. After we have a meal, then we sort of retreat, myself and Fr David, and, you know, we try to keep away from visitors and that. Because we've got the rest of our lives to spend time with people, but this is...they call it 'the honeymoon for the priest', so, that's when we go back to our room or back into the church and spend some time in seclusion. 5pm, there's a communal prayer with His Grace and all of the monks and priests here.

And then after that, it's usually sort of a little bit more laid-back in the evening. So, we go for a daily walk around the block with the fathers, and then we just do an informal Bible study with the fathers here and any of the young people who, sort of, might be present. There's so much to do, so the days really go quickly.

FR DAVID SHEHATA

Before, my life was, you know, getting up in the morning, going to work, seeing X amount of patients and the colleagues and associates that would work with us and the staff. I'd come home depending on, you know, whenever the last patient, kind of, finishes, and that could be anywhere from 6pm to 8pm or 9pm, even, at night. And then spending whatever remaining time I have with family and the kids, if they're still awake.

It's very different, obviously, here in the monastery. The hours are probably just as long, but I've never been more peaceful and joyful and kind of happy with everything, really.

This is now our third or fourth week now. You lose track of time. (LAUGHS) It's just so peaceful here. You don't know what day it is.

FR ELIJAH ISKANDER

Alright, show me.

FR WISSA EL AL-BABASHOI, ST SHENOUDA MONASTERY

You drop it here...

KUMI TAGUCHI

The Eucharist lies at the heart of Christian worship. Mastering its complexities is vital.

FR WISSA EL AL-BABASHOI

And he will take the cross...the one who is doing the offerings, he will take the cross and go into...

My name is Fr Wissa El Al-Babashoi. One of my duties is to teach the new priests the rules for the mass - what they have to do and the meanings of everything they doing.

FR DAVID SHEHATA

So, this lesson, fortunately we have a very good teacher, Fr Wissa, and, um...

FR ELIJAH ISKANDER

(LAUGHS)

FR DAVID SHEHATA

(LAUGHS) ... and he' s very patient, extremely patient with us. So, we definitely test his tolerance levels. But fortunately, you know, there's no sticks or anything lying around to get hit today.

(READS PRAYER)

Personally, I find it more difficult than dentistry.

The holy body and precious blood of Jesus Christ...

Throughout the week, he has been going through different sections. So, we went through the whole mass, actually, and the biggest focus was on the breaking of the holy bread, which is the body of Christ and the blood of Christ as well.

FR WISSA EL AL-BABASHOI

Yeah. OK. What do you say?

FR ELIJAH ISKANDER

(INTONES) The precious body and the true blood of Jesus Christ, the son of our God, amen.

SFX: BIRDSONG, CHURCH BELL TOLLS

KUMI TAGUCHI

Armed with their new knowledge of the Eucharist, this morning they will join the monks in an actual mass.

FR ELIJAH ISKANDER

It starts with blessing of the vestments that we're wearing, followed by blessing of the bread and the wine that's offered, that becomes the body and blood of Christ. Then some general prayers for the church and for humanity and remembering the saints. And then we conclude with the breaking of the bread and participating and consuming that bread, the body and the blood of Christ, at the end.

KUMI TAGUCHI

Leading the congregation in daily worship is just one part of a priest's duties.

BISHOP ANBA DANIEL

A priest, there's no limit for his job. He is 24/7 and he has to be available. People expect a lot from him, expect a lot of love from him, care and concern and sacrifice from him.

FR ELIJAH ISKANDER

At times, we feel anxious, but it looks like priesthood can be a burden - there are long hours and there's a lot of responsibility and, you know, we're called to an extremely high standard of living, and under the microscope. So, that can be seen as a burden. But the burden is light, and honestly, in very, very simple terms, God has put a five-kilo load on my shoulders but he's carrying 25 kilos.

KUMI TAGUCHI

The experience Father Augustinos brings to his community has been established over 20 years.

FR AUGUSTINOS NADA

The cycle of the priest is usually you wake up in the morning, you do your morning prayers, and then followed by you attend the church liturgies, and then usually after that, we do a service of visiting the sick or giving them communion in hospitals or in houses.

This is how the normal day-to-day things, but sometimes they differ depending on the occasion, depending on what's happening. There might be a funeral, there may be some family issues you need to attend. So, we're really 24 hours on call.

SFX: CHANTING

KUMI TAGUCHI

With the formal part of their training complete, the priests are welcomed back into their community.

SFX: WOMAN ULULATES

KUMI TAGUCHI

As with all things Coptic, it will be a long and elaborate service.

FR ELIJAH ISKANDER

There's a beautiful ceremony when a priest returns from their 40 days and goes to their church for the first time and the church celebrates the priest coming back.

FR DAVID SHEHATA

I think what excites me the most is spending time with people, and it's time where, as a priest, you have no vested interest other than to see the person in front of you smile and be happier and more joyful.

KUMI TAGUCHI

Once the ceremony has ended, everyone moves next door for a communal meal.

FR ELIJAH ISKANDER

You know, you might think from a worldly point of view that this is like a big banquet in honour of the person. But actually what happens is the priest, the newly ordained priest who has just returned, they are the ones that serve in the kitchen and they ladle out the food to everybody, because we're called to be like Christ, who washed the feet of his disciples, who led by serving, you know? So it's a banquet in honour of Christ, and the priest comes and serves the people.

MANDY ISKANDER

He loves people and he loves to serve people, and this allows him to do that. Even when he was a GP and he would have patients come in, that's what he loved to do - just guide people and help them.

MARIAM SHEHATA

It's great. You know, we're treated really well, we're loved by everybody, which is really nice, and we get to serve and, like, our husbands get to serve.

FR DAVID SHEHATA

The way I look at it is, you know, I'm goinna do my absolute best, and God is basically using me as a tool to make sure that what I do is good and according to, you know, the Bible's teachings, and whatever happens after that is in his hands.

KUMI TAGUCHI

After eight months, both priests are immersed in their new roles. Father Elijah has just returned from a trip to Jerusalem with Father Augustinos and their church youth group. Father David is based in Arncliffe and commutes regularly to congregations in Townsville and Cairns.

FR ELIJAH ISKANDER

There was one very famous priest. His name is Fr Tetraspolati. He's been a priest for decades. And I asked him, "What's your least favourite thing about priesthood?" And his answer was, "Nothing, full stop."

TEASER: Cold Hands - Warm Hearts

KUMI TAGUCHI

Next time on Compass...

WOMAN

With losing my job, I just wasn't, sort of, holding it together and paying my mortgage.

MAN 1

We have an open-door policy - everone can come in. The way we define it is, you know, it could be someone that's sleeping rough, it could be someone that's couch-surfing. So homelessness to us is... you know, it's a very broad definition.

MAN 2

I'm here to get my teeth done and to see about my housing.

MAN 3

I love the event. I love the idea that all these services are provided in the one spot. It's just wonderful to know that we can provide a connection, you know, a really positive connection for these people that, you know, really lifts their self-esteem.

GROUP

# I want to be in that number... #

KUMI TAGUCHI

Cold Hands - Warm Hearts, next time on Compass.

END