The Rt. Rev. Ishaq Musa'ad

The Right Reverend Ishaq Musa’ad

(1911-2001)

(Bishop of Egypt: 1974-1981)

The Right Reverend Ishaq Musa’ad, Bishop of Egypt with North Africa 1974-81 and the first Egyptian Bishop of the Diocese, died on 17 July, 2001, in Cairo, after a lifetime of dedicated service.  In July 1935, Ishaq married Faiza, daughter of the pastor of his home church in Assiut.  They had two children, Samir and Saamia.  In January 1937, Ishaq joined the work of the Church Missionary Society in Boulac, Cairo, in the Blind School, the Boys’ Club, and the office of the Christian magazine Orient and Occident.  Ishaq and Faiza were confirmed by Bishop Gwynne in 1940, and in 1950, Ishaq felt called to ordained ministry.  He trained at St. Aidan’s College, Birkenhead, and was ordained deacon on St. James’ Day, July 25, 1952, by Bishop Geoffrey Allen on behalf of the Archbishop of Canterbury.  Ishaq served the Church of the Good Shepherd, Giza.   He was ordained priest in June 1953.  In 1960, he became administrator of Old Cairo Hospital in addition to his parochial duties and shared pastoral duties at St. Mark’s with All Saints, Alexandria.  In 1960, he was appointed vicar of St. Michael and All Angels, Heliopolis, where he served until his consecration as Bishop in November 1974.  After his retirement as Diocesan, he continued to serve at St. Michael and All Angels until his retirement from active ministry in 1989.  Among his contributions, Bishop Ishaq and Bishop Cragg together translated into English The Theology of Unity by Mohamed Abdu.  He continued to write, and his latest work, a translation into Arabic of William Barclay’s The Lord’s Prayer, was published shortly before his death.  Bishop Ishaq was widely respected and loved as a father figure in the Diocese.