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Sterry David Mahaffey , Jr., was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania in on [[May 25]], 1952, and baptised at Mahaffey Methodist Church on [[December 14]] the same year. In 19731968, he married began serving as a lay minister in the former Karen Meterko with whom he had four childrenUnited Methodist Church, conducting services and delivering homilies for UMC parishes. He also studied at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (Punxsutawney Campus) between 1970-72. In 1975his secular work, he worked in maintenance, David was received into the Orthodox Christian faithheavy equipment operator, and other roles between 1970-89, before working in car sales between 1989-91.

He was On [[ordination|ordainedMay 5]] , 1973, he married the former Karen Meterko at Sts Peter & Paul Orthodox Church, Urey, with whom he had four children - Nikolas in 1980, Sterry Michael in 1982, Seth in 1985 and Kyra in 1987. In 1975, he ceased to be a UMC lay minister, and was chrismated into the Orthodox Christian faith on [[deaconNovember 16]] in 1981 and served , 1975, at various [[parish]]es the same church he was married. He also began the Late Vocations Program of the [[Diocese of Western Pennsylvania (OCA)|Diocese Archdiocese of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania]].  He was ordained a [[priest]] in 1993 and was assigned as rector of the Church of St. Michael in Old Forge, Pennsylvania, serving until 2006same year, when he was transferred to the pastorate of Holy Trinity Church graduating in Pottstown, Pennsylvania1980.

Fr. David served as He was [[ordination|ordained]] a graduate assistant in the Theology Department of the University of Scranton[[deacon]] on [[April 12]], adjunct lecturer at St. Tikhon’s Seminary1981, and adjunct lecturer in theology and philosophy served at the Melrose Park Campus various [[parish]]es of Alvernia University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He also has served in a wide variety of capacities in the [[Diocese of Eastern Western Pennsylvania (OCA)|Diocese of Philadelphia Pittsburgh and Eastern Western Pennsylvania]], and also serving as the Parish Education Coordinator at those parishes - including [[dean]] of the Philadelphia Deaneryspeaking on teen and adult education at retreats and lecture series' in Eastern and Western Pennsylvania Dioceses, and developing educational software in game format for use at parish and regional levels.

In 19971992, he received began studying a Master of Divinity degree from at [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Theology Seminary|]]. While studying, he was ordained a [[priest]] on [[July 31]], 1993, and was assigned as rector of StMichael's Church in Old Forge, Pennsylvania. Tikhon’s Seminary Fr David graduated ''cum laude'' from St Tikhon's in 1997, before starting further studies at the University of Scranton in 1999 with Bachelors of Arts majoring in Theology and in Philosophy and graduating ''magna cum laude'' in 2003 (with awards for Academic Excellence and Excellence in Philosophy, and giving Presidential Honors in 2000, 2001 and 2003 from the University President), and graduating from a Master of Arts in Theology degree (also from the University of Scranton). He continued to serve at St Michael's until January 2006, when he was transferred to the pastorate of Holy Trinity Church in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, and was then transferred from there to be Acting Rector of St Nicholas Orthodox Church, Bethlehem, PA. He also served as [[dean]] of the Philadelphia Deanery, as Treasurer of St Tikhon's Alumni Association, Secretary of the NEPA Chapter of Alpha Sigma Nu Alumni, Secretary of the Clergy Brotherhood of NEPA, Staff of ''Your Diocese Alive in South CanaanChrist'' magazine, auditor of the [[OCA]] and the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania, and on the Bishop's Task Force on Missions and Evangelism for the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania.

In 1997, he received a Master of Divinity degree from [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary|St. Tikhon’s Seminary]] in South Canaan, Pennsylvania. In 2003, he graduated from the University of Scranton with Bachelors degrees in Theology and Philosophy. In 2005, he also received his Master of Arts degree in theology Theology from the University of Scranton.

In Between 2003-04, Fr. David served as a graduate assistant in the Theology Department of the University of Scranton, before serving from 2005 as Adjunct Lecturer in Philosophy, Doctrine, Church History, Comparative Theology and Modern Belief at [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary|St. Tikhon’s Seminary]], and from March 2009 as adjunct lecturer in theology and philosophy at the Melrose Park Campus of Alvernia University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On [[August 8]], 2007, Fr. David's wife , Matushka Karen , fell asleep in the Lord.<ref>[http://doepa.org/news_070809_1.html] In Memoriam: Matushka Karen Mahaffey</ref> In 2009, he was assigned rector of St. Nicholas Church in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

On October 9-11, 2012 the Holy Synod of OCA accepted Archbishop [[Benjamin (Peterson) of San Francisco|Benjamin’s]] presentation of Hieromonk David (Mahaffey) as the nominee for the Episcopal See of Alaska<ref>[http://oca.org/news/headline-news/holy-synod-of-bishops-concludes-fall-session Holy Synod of Bishops concludes fall session]</ref>.  On Friday, February 21, 2014, Hieromonk David was consecrated Bishop of Alaska during a Hierarchical Liturgy by [[Metropolitan]] [[Tikhon (Mollard) of Washington]], Archbishop Benjamin, Bishop [[Michael (Dahulich) of New York]], Bishop [[Irineu (Duvlea) of Dearborn Heights]], and Bishop [[Irénée (Rochon) of Quebec City]] at St Innocent Cathedral in Anchorage, Alaska. Co-serving the bishops were [[Chancery office of the Orthodox Church in America|Chancellor for the Orthodox Church in America]] [[Archpriest]] [[John A. Jillions]], [[Chancellor]] of the Diocese of Alaska Archpriest Victor Nick, and 40 other priests from around the diocese. A banquet was held in his honor that evening at the University of Alaska’s Lucy Cuddy Center in Anchorage<ref>[http://oca.org/news/headline-news/banquet-honoring-bishop-david-held-at-university Banquet honoring Bishop David held at University]</ref>.

*[http://oca.org/news/headline-news/the-episcopal-consecration-of-bishop-david-of-sitka-and-alaska The Episcopal Consecration of Bishop David of Sitka and Alaska]* [http://www.nynjoca.org/files/2009/08-17/Mahaffey_bio.pdf Curriculum Vitae: V. Rev. S. David Mahaffey, Jr.] (for the Episcopal Search Committee of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey)