On a pilgrimage to Egypt and the Levant in 1985, Suriel met Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria, which had an inspiring impact on the youth.[1] On returning to Australia he began leading youth meetings and conventions in the church and translated one of the Pope's books into English, "The Life of Repentance and Purity".[2] In 1990 Suriel was the youth representative on the NSW Board of Deacons and the following year at the 7th Assembly of the World Council of Churches in Canberra, he once again met the Pope. At this audience Suriel shared his desire for a religious life and the Pope invited him to the Monastery of Saint Pishoy, Egypt, where he was consecrated a monk on 6 July 1991.