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His Grace, the Right Reverend '''Hieromonk David''' (secular name '''David Mahaffey) of Sitka''') is an [[hieromonk]] of the current [[Orthodox Church in AmericaBishop]] who was nominated on [[September 15]], 2012 by the delegates to the Assembly of the [[Diocese of Alaska (OCA)|Diocese of Sitka and Alaska]] as the candidate for election as Bishop of Sitka and Alaska by the [[Holy SynodOrthodox Church in America]].
==Life==
Sterry David Mahaffey , Jr., was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania in on [[May 25]], 1952. In 1973, he married and baptised at Mahaffey Methodist Church on [[December 14]] the former Karen Meterko with whom he had four childrensame year. In 1975He grew up active in the United Methodist Church, including being president of the Youth Fellowship in high school, serving as Sunday School Superintendent, David was received into and filling in for the Orthodox Christian faithpastor during his summer vacation from 15 years of age. In 1997On graduation from high school, he received was offered a Master of Divinity degree from [[St. TikhonLay Pastor's Orthodox Theological Seminary|St. Tikhon’s Seminary]] in South CanaanLicense, Pennsylvaniabut did not accept it. In 20031968, he graduated from began serving as a lay minister in the United Methodist Church, conducting services and delivering homilies for UMC parishes. He also studied at Indiana University of Scranton with Bachelors degrees in Theology and PhilosophyPennsylvania (Punxsutawney Campus) between 1970-72. In 2005his secular work, he also received his Master of Arts degree worked in maintenance, heavy equipment operator, and other roles between 1970-89, before working in theology from the University of Scrantoncar sales between 1989-91.
Between 2003-04, Fr. David served as a graduate assistant in the Theology Department of the University of Scranton, before serving from 2005-11 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. Tragically, 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 subsequent years, Fr David became nominated for a series of sees - to the Diocese of Western Pennsylvania in November 2008, to the Diocese of New York and New Jersey in August 2009, to the Diocese of the Midwest in October 2010. On [[September 15]], 2012, he was nominated by the delegates to the Assembly of the [[Diocese of Alaska (OCA)|Diocese of Alaska]] as the candidate for election as Bishop of Sitka and Alaska by the [[Holy Synod]]. He was tonsured a [[riassaphore]] on September 23 by Abp [[Tikhon (Mollard) of Washington|Tikhon]] at St Tikhon's Seminary.[http://doepa.org/news_120924_6.html] 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-sessionHoly Synod of Bishops concludes fall session]</ref>. On Friday, February 21, 2014, Archimandrite David was consecrated Bishop of Alaska during a Hierarchical Liturgy by [[Metropolitan]] [[Tikhon (Mollard) of Washington|Tikhon of Moscow]], Archbishop [[Benjamin (Peterson) of San Francisco|Benjamin of San Francisco]], Bishop [[Michael (Dahulich) of New York|Michael of New York]], Bishop [[Irineu (Duvlea) of Dearborn Heights|Irineu of Dearborn Heights]], and Bishop [[Irénée (Rochon) of Quebec City|Irénée 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]], Archpriest Victor Nick ([[Chancellor]] of the Diocese of Alaska), 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>. {{Start box}}{{succession|before=[[Nikolai (Soraich) of Sitka|Nikolai (Soraich)]]|title=Bishop of Sitka and Alaska<br>([[OCA]])|years=2014-present|after=—}}{{end box}} ==See also==* [[David (disambiguation)]] ==References==<references/>
==Source==
* [http://oca.org/news/headline-news/diocese-of-alaska-nominates-archprist-david-mahaffey-to-vacant-see-of-sitka Diocese of Alaska nominates Archpriest David Mahaffey to vacant See of Sitka and Alaska]
* [http://www.stnicholasoca.org/administration.html Hieromonk S. David Mahaffey, Jr. - Hieromonk]
* [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)
[[Category:PriestsBishops]]
[[Category:Converts to Orthodox Christianity]]
[[Category:Bishops of Sitka]]
[[Category:21st-century bishops]]