Patriarch of Antioch (550-575, d. 581), Paul was a native of Alexandria of a Coptic origin from the family of Ukama. He became a monk at the Outer Monastery of al-Jubb (ܓܘܒܐ ܒܰܪܳܝܐ) and was educated in the literatures of both the Greek and the Syriac languages. He was trained in the path of worship and later became a secretary to the Patriarch Theodosius. Also, he became the abbot of a convent at Alexandria. About 550, he was consecrated a patriarch of Antioch in 550, but was deposed around 575 for his participation with the Malkites (the king's party) in the hope of achieving unity between them and Antioch. But when he was disappointed in his hope, he returned to his former life. His death is thought to have occurred in the year 581.

Paul wrote two Synodical letters to Theodosius and Theodore, patriarchs of Alexandria; a letter to the Metropolitans Jacob and Theodorus; a letter to John, abbot of the Monastery of Bar Aphtonya in November, 576, which had been mentioned by Sergius the ascetic monk; and a letter to Mar Jacob. He also wrote a treatise containing the disputation between him and John of Sermin during his detention at the Monastery of Ibrahim, which might have been the protest mentioned by the monk Sergius.