Obituary of Bishop Matthias (Fr. David Moriak)

Bishop Matthias (Father David Moriak), 75, of Martinsburg, passed away on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at Hospice of the Panhandle, Kearneysville. He was born David Lawrence Moriak on April 4, 1949, in Cleveland, OH, the son of the late Lawrence and Gladys Moriak. He was also preceded in death by his beloved wife of nearly 25 years, Pani Jeannette (Luchok) Moriak. He was a 1967 graduate of Parma High School in Parma, OH, and went on to attend Christ the Saviour Seminary in Johnstown, PA. Following his marriage to Pani Jeannette on June 3, 1972, Father David was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on June 18, 1972, and assigned to Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Jenners, PA. Father David went on to start a mission parish, Saint Paul the Apostle in Freehold, NJ, and was later assigned to Saint Nicholas Church in Gary, IN, and then Saint Michael the Archangel Church in Saint Clair, PA. While serving the parish in Saint Clair, Father David worked for ten years as a chaplain at Manor Care Nursing Center, Pottsville, PA, and also earned a Master of Divinity degree from Saint Tikhon's Seminary, South Canaan, PA. Following Pani Jeannette's illness and death, Father David traveled to several monasteries for healing and spiritual strength and made many visits to Hogar Rafael Ayau Orphanage in Guatemala. On October 14, 2003, he was tonsured a monk and took the name Matthias. Father Matthias was assigned to Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Johnstown, PA, where he served as Associate Pastor and Prefect of Christ the Saviour Seminary. He went on to spend several years at Saint Gregory of Nyssa Church in Seaford, NY. Bishop Matthias was consecrated on April 30, 2011, and served as Bishop of the Diocese of Chicago and the Midwest until his retirement on April 15, 2013. After retiring from the episcopacy, he worked as a sales clerk at Penn Liquors in Martinsburg until the time of his leukemia diagnosis. He is survived by two children, Rachel Sumner (Michael) of Charles Town and Father Matthew Moriak (Jodi) of Westerville, OH; five grandchildren, Jude and Nadia Sumner, and Jeannette, Owen, and Levi Moriak; and many nieces, nephews, and godchildren. Friends and family will be received at Hastings Funeral Home, 153 Spruce Street, Morgantown, WV 26505 on Wednesday, May 15, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. A Panachida service will be held at 7:30 pm. Visitation will continue at Hastings Funeral Home on Thursday, May 16, from 9:30 am until the time of the funeral service at 10:00 am with Father Matthew Moriak officiating. Interment will follow at East Oak Grove Cemetery in Morgantown. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Nationwide Children's Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 16810, Columbus OH 43216-6810. Send condolences online at hastingsfuneralhome.com