Bishop Matthias (Moriak), retired Bishop of the Diocese of Chicago and the Midwest, fell asleep within the Lord on Could 4, 2023 (Holy Saturday) after a protracted sickness. Bishop Matthias served as diocesan bishop of the Diocese of the Midwest, 2011-2013.
Bishop Matthias was born David Lawrence Moriak on April 4, 1949, in Cleveland, OH, the son of Lawrence and the late Gladys Mae Moriak. He was baptized at Cleveland’s Saint Theodosius Cathedral, the place he and his household have been members there. His John Moriak, immigrated to Cleveland in 1913 from the village of Horowa in Galicia, Austria. His father was raised as an Orthodox Christian, whereas his mom transformed to Orthodox Christianity previous to marriage.
On the age of 12, he moved along with his dad and mom to Parma, OH, and commenced attending a newly fashioned mission of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese, the place he started studying the Hours and the Epistle. He graduated from Parma Excessive Faculty in June 1967. Whereas considering a calling to the Holy Priesthood, he had deliberate to affix the Marine Corps after highschool commencement, till he met His Grace, the late Bishop John [Martin] of the Carpatho-Russian Dicoese, who impressed him to start research at Christ the Saviour Seminary, Johnstown, PA within the fall of 1967. Throughout the first few weeks of seminary research, he realized a powerful calling to the Holy Priesthood.
He graduated from Christ the Saviour Seminary in June 1972. He and his spouse, Pani Jeannette, have been married the identical month. He was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on June 18, 1972.
Bishop Matthias’ pastoral expertise has been in depth. He planted a mission parish devoted to Saint Paul the Apostle in Freehold, NY in 1975. In 1982, he was to the pastorate of Saint Michael the Archangel Orthodox Church, Saint Clair, PA, a well-established parish that traces its institution to 1897. The challenges of an older, established parish stood in sharp distinction to these of a mission parish.
In 2004, he was assigned to Christ the Saviour Cathedral, Johnstown, PA, the place he served as Affiliate Pastor and the Prefect of Christ the Saviour Seminary. Two years later, he was assigned to Saint Gregory of Nyssa Church in Seaford, NY, which grew spiritually and numerically throughout his pastorate.
He and his spouse turned the dad and mom of two youngsters. Their daughter, Rachel Sumner, and her husband; their son, Priest Matthew D. Moriak, and his spouse, Pani Jodi. They’ve a number of grandchildren.
In Could 1996, Pani Jeannette was identified with acute leukemia. She fell asleep within the Lord 11 months afterward March 26, 1997. Previous to his spouse’s sickness, Father Matthias had begun research at Saint Tikhon’s Seminary, South Canaan, PA, which he discontinued throughout his spouse’s sickness. One 12 months following the repose of his spouse, Father resumed his research and was awarded a Grasp of Divinity diploma.
Bishop Matthias had at all times admired the monastic life. Following the loss of life of his spouse, he visited a number of monasteries for therapeutic and religious energy. He made many visits to Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Ellwood Metropolis, PA, and Holy Myrrhbearers Monastery, Otego, NY, the place he additionally served the Nice Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord for 2 years. He additionally visited the Monastery of Saint Anthony in Arizona, the place he stayed for 2 weeks. Previous to his monastic tonsure, he visited the Iveron Monastery on Mount Athos for all the month of Could 2003. A lot of his time on Mount Athos was spent following the day by day cycle of companies and obediences. Many hours have been spent chatting with his newly discovered Anthonite religious father, Priestmonk Jeremiah. Following his time on Mount Athos, he was tonsured a riasophor monk on October 14, 2003.
Over the last ten years, he has visited Holy Trinity Monastery and Hogar Rafael Ayau Orphanage in Guatemala, each on his personal and because the chief of a number of mission groups. For the final two years, he has served as religious father to the nuns on the monastery and the youngsters on the orphanage. With the blessing of His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas of the Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese, he traveled to the orphanage each three months for a ten-day interval to listen to confessions, baptize youngsters, and chrismate converts to Orthodox Christianity. Father has baptized a minimum of 60 youngsters and adults in Guatemala.
He additionally has traveled to Turkey, Israel and the Holy Land, Greece, and Alaska.
Along with the aforementioned parishes, he served the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, Jenners, PA [1972-1975] and Saint Nicholas Church, Gary, IN [1978-1982]. He additionally has served as Regional Director of the Schooling Fee of the Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese [1972-2004], President of the Northwest Indiana Orthodox Clergy Affiliation [1981-1982], Chaplain of Manor Care Nursing Heart, Pottsville, PA [1984- 1994], Prefect of Christ the Saviour Seminary, Johnstown, PA [2004-2006], and a member of the college of Christ the Saviour Seminary, the place he taught liturgics [2004-2006]. He has been a visitor preacher at 5 Sunday of Orthodoxy celebrations and has carried out quite a few retreats throughout his almost 4 a long time of ordained ministry.
After canonical launch from the Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese, he was obtained into the Orthodox Church in America on September 1, 2010.
On the opening session of the autumn gathering of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America on Tuesday, November 16, 2010, he was canonically elected to the vacant Episcopal See of Chicago and the Midwest. He was granted retirement by the Holy Synod of Bishops on April 15, 2013.
Further info will probably be posted as it’s obtained.
Could Bishop Matthias’ reminiscence be everlasting!
“Well bless their hearts.”
