Matthias Mrad

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His Excellency

Matthias Charles Georges Mrad
Curial bishop of the Syriac Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch and Titular Bishop of Zorava
ChurchSyriac Catholic Church
Appointed19 February 2018
Orders
Ordination18 July 1993
by Ignace Antoine II Hayek
Consecration14 April 2018
by Ignace Joseph III Younan, Youhanna Battah, Antoine Nassif
Personal details
BornCharles Georges Mrad
(1969-04-15) 15 April 1969
Beirut, Lebanon
Education

Matthias Charles Georges Mrad (born 15 April 1969) is a Lebanese Syriac Catholic hierarch, who has served as a Curial bishop of the Syriac Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch and the Titular Bishop of Zorava since 2018.

Early life and education

Charles Mrad was born on 15 April 1969 in Beirut, Lebanon.[1] He entered the Patriarchal Seminary of Charfet and pursued his philosophical and theological studies with a licentiate at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik and a licentiate in canon law from the Université La Sagesse in Beirut.[2]

He later studied at the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome, where he obtained a doctorate in Canon Law in 2003.[2]

Priesthood

Mrad was ordained to the priesthood on 18 July 1993 for the Patriarchal Archeparchy of Antiochia by Patriarch Ignace Antoine II Hayek.[3]

Following his ordination, he held several pastoral and academic roles, including serving as a judge in the ecclesiastical tribunal and teaching at the university.[2]

Episcopate

On 19 February 2018, the Synod of Bishops of the Syriac Catholic Church elected Mrad as a Curial Bishop of the Syriac Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch. Pope Francis granted his assent to the election on the same day and appointed him the Titular Bishop of Zorava.[2] He was consecrated on 14 April 2018 by Patriarch Ignace Joseph III Younan, with Archbishops Youhanna Battah and Antoine Nassif serving as co-consecrators.[3][1]

Mrad is an active participant in interfaith dialogue in Lebanon. He has been a prominent figure in the annual Christian–Islamic encounter for peace, marking the Feast of the Annunciation, emphasizing that the Virgin Mary serves as a bridge of unity between the two faiths.[4]

In late 2025, he represented the Syriac Catholic Church in discussions with the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), highlighting the role of Church media in providing hope and "spiritual food" to the faithful amidst regional crises.[5]

References

  1. "غبطة أبينا البطريرك يرسم الخوراسقف شارل جورج مراد أسقفاً للدائرة البطريركية، باسم مار متياس شارل مراد، في كاتدرائية سيّدة البشارة – بيروت". syr-cath.org (in Arabic). Syriac Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch. 14 April 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  2. "Dalle Chiese Orientali". Bollettino Sala Stampa. Holy See Press Office. 19 February 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  3. "Bishop Matthias Charles Mrad". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  4. "Lebanon: Christian–Islamic encounter for peace marking Feast of Annunciation". Abouna.org. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  5. "His Eminence Bishop Mar Matthias Charles Mrad to the MECC Media". Middle East Council of Churches. 28 November 2025. Retrieved 23 April 2026.