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Fr. Sorial Sorial of blessed memory was born Eliya Sorial on January 6, 1957 in Khartoum, Sudan – one of seven children, including His Grace Bishop Karas of blessed memory, who was the first bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United States and the first abbot of the Church’s first monastery outside of Egypt, in California. Fr. Sorial graduated from Khartoum Medical University with an M.D. in April 1981 and received his Ph.D from London University in 1989. In 1994, H.H. Pope Shenouda III ordained Eliya as Fr. Sorial to serve the altar of St. Mary and St. Abraam Coptic Orthodox Church in Brighton, England. After two years, His Holiness sent Fr. Sorial and his family to serve at St. George and St. Shenouda Coptic Orthodox Church, Jersey City, NJ, USA alongside Hegumen Fr. Antonios Ragheb of blessed memory and Fr. Dawoud Bebawy. On February 7, 2007, Fr. Sorial was elevated to the rank of Hegumen. After a difficult battle with pancreatic cancer, Fr. Sorial reposed in the Lord on February 15, 2008. He was characterized by a profound humility and gentleness, tirelessness in service, simplicity, peacefulness, tears in prayer, and deep love for the Church’s prayers, praises, and hymnology, and is remembered by his beloved congregation and the many people whom he discipled.
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