Elias was born to a
Chalcedonian family, but joined the
non-Chalcedonian Syriac Orthodox Church upon reading the works of
Severus of Antioch. He became a monk at the monastery of Gubo Baroyo, and was later ordained as bishop of
Apamea in . Elias succeeded
Julian III as patriarch of Antioch in 709 and was consecrated at the monastery of Gubo Baroyo. Elias's consecration is placed in 709 (
AG 1020) by the
Chronicle of 819, the
Chronicle of 846, the
Chronicle of
Michael the Syrian, and the
Ecclesiastical History of
Bar Hebraeus, whereas the
Zuqnin Chronicle gives 708 (
AG 1019). Upon his ascension to the patriarchal office, Elias released Denha,
archbishop of Tikrit, who had been imprisoned by the Patriarch Julian III at the monastery of
Qenneshre for insubordination, and accompanied him on his return to
Tikrit to ensure he was accepted there before returning to his residence at the monastery of Gubo Baroyo. Elias presented himself before the Caliph
Al-Walid I at Hasarta, and was honoured by him. Elias consecrated a church at
Sarmada in Syria in 722, despite the protestations of the local
Chalcedonians. He became the first non-Chalcedonian patriarch of Antioch to enter Antioch since the deposition of
Severus of Antioch in 518 when, in the last year of his life, he consecrated a new church there. Elias died at the age of eighty-two on 3 October 723, and was buried at the monastery of Gubo Baroyo. Elias's death is placed in 723 (
AG 1035) by the
Chronicle of 819, the
Chronicle of 846, and the histories of
Michael the Syrian and
Bar Hebraeus, whilst it is dated to 729 (
AG 1041) by the
Zuqnin Chronicle. ==Works==