Archbishop Mor Athanasius Elia Bahi  Patriarchal Vicar
Archdiocese of Canada.

Biography of his Eminence Athanasius Elia Bahi

He was born to a Syriac family in Beirut Lebanon in 1973; his father was Habib Bahi, and his mother was Mary Kawrieh. His eminence was baptized Shaphir. He left Lebanon at an early age in 1989, and then, in 1990, joined Mar Afram College in Damascus, Syria, where he graduated in 1993, he was consecrated monk by our Patriarch Mar Ignatius Zakka Quadmyo, was given the name Elia and he was asked to move to the patriarchal premises as his new place of residence. In 1996, he was appointed patriarchal secretary and person in charge for the patriarchal journal in financial and administrative affairs. In 1996 he was promoted to the level of priest, in 1998, he was invested by the holy cross, in 2003, he was promoted to the level of Bishop and was given the new title of Mar Athanasios. Our Patriach Mar Ignatios Zakka Qadmoyo also appointed him his private secretary. Until he was appointed to his new post in Canada, he accompanied our Patriarch on most of his trips around the globe. In February 9, 2008, he was officially appointed to his new post in Canada.