His Grace Bishop Karas, was born on November 18, 1965. He joined the Coptic Orthodox Seminary School in 1983 and graduated in 1987 with a Bachelor’s degree in Theological Sciences. He then spent a year in the Egyptian military between 1988-1989. Following this, he served as a consecrated deacon for the Diocese of Tahta and Johaina from 1989 until 1992. Later that year, he joined the Monastery of Anba Bishoy in Wady El Natroun, Egypt.
He was ordained a monk on June 8, 1993 and was given the name of Father Karas of Jerusalem. He then served in Jerusalem from June 1993 until 1995 and later returned to the Monastery of Anba Bishoy. He was ordained a priest on June 7, 1999 and served the Diocese of Ireland, Scotland, and North East England with HG Bishop Anthony until 2014. During this time, he also served as the secretary of the dioceses. He received the rank of Hegomen on September 10, 2011. He was later ordained a Bishop on June 1, 2014, then appointed as the Exarch of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II to North America on August 2, 2014. He was enthroned as the Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and West Virginia on November 11, 2017.