Sorial Ayad Sorial was born on [[January 17 January ]], 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 January ]], 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 ordained tonsure]]d a Monk [[monk]] and given the name Father Karas. [[Pope Shenouda III (Gayyid) of Alexandria|Pope Shenouda III]] [[ordination|ordained]] him as a [[priest]] on [[February 14 February ]], 1984, and assigned him to head the Papal Center in St. Bishoy Monastery. On [[May 23 May ]], 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 September ]], 1989.

The Bishops and [[Metropolitan bishop|Metropolitan]]s of the [[Holy Synod]] of the Coptic Orthodox Church unanimously agreed to the elevation of Father Karas as Bishop and Abbot in recognition of the monastery's prosperity; he . He was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated ]] as a bishop on [[July 6 July ]], 1993, by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III.

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 January ]], 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.