David (Mahaffey) of Sitka

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Hieromonk David (secular name David Sterry Mahaffey Jr[1]) is an hieromonk of the Orthodox Church in America who was nominated on September 15, 2012 by the delegates to the Assembly of the Diocese of Alaska as the candidate for election as Bishop of Sitka and Alaska by the Holy Synod.

Life

David Mahaffey was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania in 1952. In 1973, he married the former Karen Meterko with whom he had four children. In 1975, David was received into the Orthodox Christian faith.

He was ordained a deacon in 1981 and served at various parishes of the Diocese 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 2006, when he was transferred to the pastorate of Holy Trinity Church in Pottstown, Pennsylvania.

Fr. David served as a graduate assistant in the Theology Department of the University of Scranton, adjunct lecturer at St. Tikhon’s Seminary, and adjunct lecturer in theology and philosophy at the Melrose Park Campus of Alvernia University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He also has served in a wide variety of capacities in the Diocese of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania, including dean of the Philadelphia Deanery.

In 1997, he received a Master of Divinity degree from 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 from the University of Scranton.

In 2007, Fr. David's wife Karen fell asleep in the Lord. In 2009, he was assigned rector of St. Nicholas Church in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

On September 15 2012 he was nominated by the delegates to the Assembly of the Diocese of Alaska as the candidate for election as Bishop of Sitka and Alaska by the Holy Synod.

On October 9-11, 2012 the Holy Synod of OCA accepted Archbishop Benjamin’s presentation of Hieromonk David (Mahaffey) as the nominee for the Episcopal See of Alaska[2].

References

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