On July 22, 1962, the previous Metropolitan of Beni Suef (also named Athanasius) passed away. On September 9 of the same year, Pope Kyrillos VI ordained Macarius al-Suryani as the new bishop of Beni Suef and added El-Bahnasa to this bishopric, giving him the name of his predecessor.[1] Thus, he is sometimes referred to as Athanasius II of Beni Suef.