Alexander (Mufarrij) of Ottawa

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His Grace Most Reverend Bishop Alexander (Mufarrij) of Ottawa is the first Bishop of the Diocese of Ottawa, Eastern Canada, and Upstate New York of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America.

Life

Bishop Alexander was born in Lebanon in 1956. He attended Tripoli Boys’ School in Tripoli, Lebanon. After passing the Lebanese Baccalaureates I and II examinations he enrolled in the American University in Beirut. Due to the civil unrest then on-going in Lebanon, he was not able to continue his education in Lebanon. He then moved to the United States and enrolled in the University of North Texas, from which he graduated in 1978 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Continuing studying at North Texas he then earned a Master in Business Administration degree in 1980.

Following his graduation, he returned in 1981 to Lebanon. There, he worked for a raw materials importing company until October 1985 when he returned to the United States to work for the Prince George’s Hospital Center near Washington, D.C. before continuing as an employee with a medical supplies export company followed by working for Federated Stores.

With the blessing of Metr. Philip, Alexander enrolled in St. Vladimir’s Theological Seminary in Crestwood, New York, from which he graduated in 2000. On January 9, 2000, he was ordained a deacon, followed by his ordination to the priesthood on April 9, 2000. Then, from 2000 to 2004, Fr. Alexander served as priest at St. Mary’s Antiochian Orthodox Church in Hunt Valley, Maryland. Having become a monk, Fr. Alexander was elevated to the dignity of archimandrite on July 4, 2004.

On December 5, 2004, Fr. Alexander was consecrated to the episcopacy at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Damascus, Syria by a team of bishops including His Beatitude Ignatius IV the Patriarch of Antioch. Bp. Alexander was then enthroned as the first bishop of the Diocese of Ottawa, Eastern Canada, and Upstate New York on June 12, 2005 at St. Elias Cathedral in Ottawa.

Succession box:
Alexander (Mufarrij) of Ottawa
Preceded by:
Bishop of Ottawa
(Antiochian)

2004-Present
Succeeded by:
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Sources