Archimandrite Elias Bitar
LECTURER IN LITURGICAL MUSIC
The Right Rev. Archimandrite Elias Bitar (+May 21, 2020) was an alumnus and retired faculty member of St. Vladimir’s Seminary.
Father Bitar left behind a lifelong legacy as “the voice of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America.” During his nearly forty years in the priesthood, he served as lecturer in liturgical music (with a specialty in Byzantine music) and practical theology at St. Vladimir's Seminary, vicar general of the Archdiocese, and the residing priest for churches in California and New Jersey. Father Elias studied for his Master of Divinity degree at St. Vladimir's from 1972–1975, and subsequently earned a Doctor of Ministry from the Seminary in 2001. He retired from St. Vladimir’s in 2011 after nearly thirty years of service.
Father Elias Bitar and his beloved wife, Khouria Joanne Bitar, were blessed with children Katrina, Sr. Ignatia, Martha, Mikey, Antony, and Madeleine, as well as four grandchildren. His daughter, Katrina, was also a graduate of St. Vladimir’s Seminary (’09).