Our Church Priest

Father Mark Iskander

On November 11, 2008, the church of St. Mary and St. Moses was blessed with the ordination of Father Mark Iskander,  by the hand of His Holiness Pope Shenouda the Third.  Following his blessed ordination, he spent the forty days in St. Mary’s (El-Sorian) Monastery in Egypt under the care of His Grace Bishop Mettaos (in the Coptic Orthodox Church, a newly ordained priest spends 40 days, in prayer fasting and solitude, at a monastery of his choice, in a manner similar to how our Lord Jesus Christ fasted for 40 days in the wilderness before starting His public ministry). After the 40 days, Father Mark, his wonderful wife Jackline and their two sons, David and Joshua, arrived in Buffalo on December 29, 2008.  That day thus marks a historical day in the history of the Coptic Orthodox Christian congregation in Buffalo.  More than 16 priests from all over the United States and Canada shared with the Buffalo congregation their joy of having Father Mark amongst them.

Father Mark holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the City College of New York.  He is a licensed Structural Engineer in the State of New York, and has worked for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey before his ordination.  Father Mark previously served at the Church of St. George in Brooklyn, NY from 1991 to 2002, and at the church of St. Mary and St. Pakhomios in White Plains, NY from 2002 to 2008.   Since his arrival in Buffalo, Father Mark has been overseeing both the spiritual, as well as architectural, development of St. Mary and St. Moses.  He has a loving and humble personality which makes him very approachable and a pleasure to talk to.  Father Mark has a special gift in serving the youth.  May our Lord Jesus Christ preserve his priesthood for many years to come, and support him in his service, Amen