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Here is a picture of our beloved father, Bishop Karas.

Bishop Karas- The Saint Who Lived Among Us

Biography & Life Details

Sorial Ayad Sorial was born on January 17, 1955.Ever since his early youth, Sorial (Bishop Karas) loved the pure life with Christ. We have all heard of his miracles in his childhood, when I read about saints and martyrs I was surprised at their courage and devotion they had. Yet, there was something about Bishop Karas that was different, I never had the opportunity to know him well, yet it was as though I had a relationship with him, without seeing him. When Sorial was 11 years old in Comboni High School, the dean of the school (a Catholic Monk) wanted him to go to Italy to study and become a monk. Yet, the parents of Sayedna were firm in the Orthodox faith, and refused. As you can see, Sorial was a child who was loved by everybody. Even from the young age, he had his life devoted to Our Lord Jesus Christ. It was said by Fr. Sorial Sorial that Bishop Karas had a secret life with Christ. Even when Sorial was a young child, he desired to become a monk and live with Christ. Even when he was a young child, sometimes he would be found praying for hours!

After Sorial finished his bachelor Degree in Chemical Engineering, he left to France. During this time, he heard a voice callin him three times, and told him to go to St. Bishoy Monastery. He did not stop, yet went to the Saint Bishoy Center in Cairo. He left all his possessions and personal belongings, and only took his passport. Sayedna didn’t want to waste his time in the lusts of this world, and he left to the Monastery of Saint Bishoy. He left without even telling anybody, not even his brother, Elia. (Fr. Sorial)

Bishop Karas struggled during his illness, yet found peace and rest in the Lord. The presence of Sayedna was felt, even if he was not among the people. Also, his love was shown through the monks and novices, and their care for the visitors. Truly, I admire Bishop Karas because he fought through his illness, and still had the power from God to visit other sick people, and stay with the visitors. His love for the monastery was so great, because he so compassionate and caring with everyone. He put his illness in the hands of God, and God gave him the power from above. He accepted visitors even when he was tired and undergoing chemotherapy. From what I have seen, heard, and heard Bishop Karas showed us the true Christian way of ascetism, generosity, purity, righteousness, and keeping the faith. Even before he entered the monastery I was perplexed and confounded when he told the monk on duty at the Monastery of Saint Bishoy. “No one, having put his hand on the plough can look back.” (Luke 9:62) The monk told Sayedna to finish his studies, yet the monk allowed him to enter. From this Bible verse that Anba Karas said, I knew he had desired to live the life with Christ. During his monastic years, people saw Sayedna as a worthy and holy monk. H.H. Pope Shenouda kept him in charge of the Papal Center in St. Bishoy Monastery.

His Love

His love for everyone was great. Thus all the bishops and metroplitans agreed once they heard on hte ordination of Father Karas. Many of the people who knew Bishop Karas, were suprised how He stayed with them during his illness.

Kindness

There was a family who visited the Monastery, yet the father had forgot his medicine. However, Bishop Karas had the same medicine, so he got the medicine for the father. Sayedna fed the tablet to him. Also, he gave the two girls pencils that said "God Bless You - Bishop Karas"

Miracles

Sayedna Meeting an Unkown Monk There was a time when Bishop Karas told a family that before he was sick, he used to walk in the Wilderness. When he was walking, he used to see one of the monks that were at the monastery, and would greet him. However, the monk didn't have any crosses on the Kolonsoa, and the monk hugged him very hard that he couldn't breathe. Sayedna made the sign of the cross on him, and then the monk disapperared out of the Galabeya(Tunic) and Kolonsoa (Head Covering). Bishop Karas also mentioned that he believed this was satan trying to trick him.

The Authority Sayedna Had Over Animals

Before H.G. Bishop Karas departed, Bishop Karas along with some visitors werewalking in the desert. While walking, they saw a snake. Bishop Karas told the snake to go back in his hole, and if he were to see the snake again he would kill it. The snake actually listened, and left their presence. After a short period, the sam snake emerged again. Sayedna told the snake that he had warned him, and that he would kill him. Bishop Karas did the sign of the cross over the snake, and left. One man who was unsure, and did not want Sayedna's words to be in vain, went back to kill the snake. However, he found the snake already dead, after a little while since Bishop Karas did the sign of the cross.

Bakhour That Came to Bishop Karas

There was a family who had a video of Bishop Karas when he had visited them during Thanksgiving. When His Grace was blessing the meal, bakhour started to appear. Yet it was hard to tell where it was coming, but it started to head toward Anba Karas, then it disappeared once it reached him. However, they discovered this miracle after the departure of Bishop Karas.

Woman Who Struggled Driving in Tough Weather

The driving was uneasy, so the family asked Bishop Karas to watch over them. The woman who was driving the car noticed something being dran on the driver's side window. After parking the car, she saw the image of Bishop Karas in his casket and underneath Him was the road she had just driven on.

Quick Facts About Bishop Karas

Bishop Karas was the first Bishop in the Diaspora, and the first Bishop and Abbot of the Coptic Monastery in the U.S.A. and Canada.

Sorial Ayad Sorial was born on March 18th, 1955. He was very attached to church, and loved the praises and hymns, especially the Midnight Praises.(Tasbeha)

He was very loved by all the people, and he loved everyone.

One day, when his maternal grandmother came to visit them, Sorial said, "See, Teta(grandma), Christ the Lord is in the Sky" Whenever his grandmother saw Elia and Sorial, she kissed their hand. Also, the grandmother always told the other kids, that Bishop Karas(Sorial) and Elia (Fr. Sorial) were different from the other kids.

Bishop Karas as a child had wished to become a monk, and live the ascetic life.

When Bishop Karas was a child and his mother was complaining of an illness, he took a glass of water and prayed over it, and asked her to drink from it. His mother smelled a strange odor of incense coming out of the water.

He was well known for his kindness and his gentle and pure smile. Many teased him, yet Sayedna just smiled at them.

He received his Bachelor Degree in Chemical Engineering with honors, from the University of [Khartoum].

He heard a voice 3 times telling him to go to Saint Bishoy Monastery.

The sister of Bishop Karas found him talking to the picture of St. Mary in the living room.

H.E. Metropolitan Daniel, mentioned that Anba Karas was his son, because he had baptized him as a child, and loved him. Also, when Anba Daniel visited him in St. Antony Monastery, he said that St. Mary was always and constantly with him.

External links

Life Biography of H.G. Bishop Karas Website with Biography of his Life
Different stories and miracles from the Honored Bishop Anba Karas Monastery Where Bishop Karas was the Abbot
Yahoo Group Made in Memoir of Bishop Karas A Yahoo Group dedicated to Bishop Karas, with many diffent and various topics.