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==Biography==
Sorial Ayad Sorial was born on [[January 17]], 1955, in the [[Sudan]]. At a young age Sorial showed great love for God and this is because of his Orthodox upbringing. After Sorial finished his bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Khartoum, he left to France to pursue a doctorate at the University of Toulouse.
On [[January 18]], 1981, he attempted to enter [[St. Bishoy Monastery]] but was stopped by the [[Abbot]], His Grace Bishop Sarabamoun, who told him to return to France to continue his education. Sorial replied, “No one, having put his hand on the plough can look back.” ([[Gospel of Luke|Luke]] 9:62) The Abbot then allowed him to enter. On [[November 14]], 1981, Sorial was tonsure]]d a [[monk]] and given the name Father Karas. [[Shenouda III (Gayyid) of Alexandria|Pope Shenouda III]] [[ordination|ordained]] him as a [[priest]] on [[February 14]], 1984, and assigned him to head the Papal Center in St. Bishoy Monastery. On [[May 23]], 1989 Pope Shenouda elevated Father Karas to [[Hegumen]].
Hegumen Karas was appointed to head the new Monastery of St. Antony the Great in Newberry Springs, California (near Barstow, California) on [[September 26]], 1989.
In 1998, Bishop Karas was diagnosed with lung cancer and was given nine months to live. The bishop continued to celebrate the [[Divine Liturgy]], followed the regular [[fasting|fast]] schedule and lived a strict ascetic life. He met daily with visitors, even though he was receiving a chemotherapy treatment. On [[January 10]], 2002, Bishop Karas suffered a stroke and fell into a coma; he died in the early morning of [[January 17]], the day before what would have been his 47th birthday.
==See also==
*[[Coptic Orthodox Church in the United States]]
*[[w:Copt]]s*[[w:Coptic alphabet]]
*[[Coptic calendar]]
*[[Coptic iconography]]
*[[List of Patriarchs of Alexandria]] – prior to Chalcedon
*[[List of Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria]] - after Chalcedon
*[[Patriarch of Alexandria]]
*[[Shenouda III (Gayyid) of Alexandria|Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria]]
*[[The Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria]]
*[[Oriental Orthodoxy]]
*[http://www.bishopkaras.com Life Biography of H.G. Bishop Karas] Website with Biography of his Life
*[http://www.stantonymonastery.org/bishopkaras/index.asp Different stories and miracles from the Honored Bishop Anba Karas] Monastery Where Bishop Karas was the Abbot
[[Category:Non-Chalcedonian Bishops]]