Elias Zaidan was born in Kosaybe, Lebanon. He professed perpetual vows as a member of the Congregation of Maronite Lebanese Missionaries on September 26, 1984, and was ordained a priest on July 20, 1986. As a priest, Zaidan served as a school administrator and as a pastor of several parishes, including Rector of Our Lady of Mt. Lebanon-St. Peter Cathedral. He speaks Arabic, English, French and Spanish. Pope Francis named Zaidan the Eparch of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles on July 10, 2013. He was ordained a bishop on September 28, 2013, by Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, the Patriarch of Antioch. On July 12, 2013, In St. Louis, Bishop Robert J. Shaheen introduced Bishop-elect Zaidan to the media. Bishop Zaidan, whose motto is 'Thy Will Be Done', gave a statement in which he promised to reach out to strengthen the weak and encourage the faithful to move forward the message of love.