eastern rite catholic churches of the united states—Part 1

Eastern rite Catholic churches are often a mystery to many U.S. Catholics mainly because there are only about half a million Eastern rite Catholics in the United States—less than 1 percent of all U.S. Catholics.  I attended Holy Spirit Church--a Ruthenian parish in Pittsburgh--once over 40 years ago, but like most Latin rite Catholics knew almost nothing about the Eastern churches.

Rite refers to liturgical practices, ecclesiastical discipline, and spiritual heritage—which are different for Eastern rite churches.  The Eastern rite Catholic churches share the same essential beliefs with Western (also known as the Latin or more often, Roman Rite) Catholics, including the acknowledgement of the Pope as leader of the Universal Church.  However, the mass prayers and other liturgical rituals differ from that of a Latin rite church.  Language was also different in the past.  Latin rite Catholic churches used Latin in their liturgies until the 1960s.  Eastern rite churches always used the local language.  It should be noted that not all Roman rite Catholics share the same liturgical practices.  The Milanese or Ambrosian rite is used in Milan, Italy, the Mozarabic rite is used in Toledo, Spain, and the Bragan rite is used in Braga, Portugal.  Also, the Dominicans, Carmelites and Carthusians have unique rites.  Pope Benedict XVI created an Anglican rite as well.

Eastern Catholic churches date back to the early days of Christianity.  After the Roman Empire split in the 4^th Century into Eastern and Western halves, churches in the West were aligned with the Roman patriarch (the Pope) and churches in the East (mostly modern day Eastern Europe and the Middle East) to the patriarchs of Alexandria, Antioch, Constantinople, and Jerusalem—while still acknowledging the special position of the Pope as successor to St. Peter.  Over time, most of the Eastern churches split from Rome.  Some left the Church and have never returned, such as the Nestorians after the Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D.  Others—now known as the Oriental churches—left after the Council of Chalcedon in 451.  Both of these councils dealt with the divine and human natures of Jesus.  The largest schism came in 1054, when many of the Eastern churches split with Rome to become the various Orthodox churches. 

There can be some confusion between the Orthodox churches and the Catholic churches.  For example, there was a terrorist attack at a Coptic church in Cairo in December 2016.  This church belongs to the Coptic Orthodox Church with 18 million members, mostly in Egypt.  There is also a smaller Catholic Coptic Church, which I will discuss later.  Catholic Coptics number about 175,000, again mostly in Egypt.

Today’s Eastern Catholic Churches have different histories of reunification with Rome.  Some never left the Catholic Church, others asked for reunification, and others came back due to the missionary activities of the Dominicans, Franciscans, and Jesuits.  Eastern Catholic Churches today are divided into five major rites, each of which has one or more minor rites.  The major rites are:  Byzantine (mostly Eastern Europe), Chaldean (Middle East and India), Antiochene (Middle East and India), Armenian (Eastern Europe), and Alexandrian (Africa).  Eastern rite churches with dioceses in the United States are discussed in greater detail below.  Some eastern churches refer to a diocese as an eparchy (pronounced epar-key).  An exarchy is a missionary diocese.  The bishop is sometimes referred to as an eparch (or an exarch).

There are about 640,000 Eastern Rite Catholics in the United States, an increase of over 90,000 since 2009.  Eastern Catholics traditionally settled in East Coast states (such as Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts) and in the states of the industrial Midwest (such as Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio).  Today, however, Eastern Rite churches have parishes and missions in all but 8 states, and there has been significant growth in states such as California, Florida, and Texas.

Byzantine Rite Catholics have decreased in the United States since 2009, from about 180,000 to 160,000.  Antiochene Rite Catholics have increased from 93,000 to 104,000 in the United States, and Armenian Rite Catholics have increased from 25,000 to 38,000.  The largest U.S. increase has been in the Chaldean Rite, which has grown from 245,000 to 337,000 since 2009, an increase of 92,000.  Almost all of this growth has been from the Middle East.

Today we will focus on the Byzantine Rite.  A future blog will cover the other rites.  I need to note that information on U.S. Eastern Rite churches is limited.  Some of the websites are pretty basic and I often have not been able to find much on the bishops.  Even Wikipedia is often not helpful.  Also, I tend to go back and forth between diocese versus eparchy and exarchy, but I think you will get the point.  Of the 11 cathedrals that we will discuss today, I have seen 9 of them, but only one was open at the time of my visit.

Byzantine Rite

Byzantine Rite Catholics are divided into at least 15 different rites.  The website byzcath.org mentions 20.  Most including the Albanian, Belarussian, Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Greek, Hungarian, Italo-Albanian, Macedonian, Russian, and Slovak have about 700,000 members in 19 dioceses in Europe, but have few if any members in the United States (these rites put together only have 9 U.S. parishes and no U.S. dioceses).  Four Byzantine Rite Churches have dioceses in the United States:  the Ukrainians, the Ruthenians, the Melkites, and the Romanians.  These churches have 10 U.S. dioceses that we will discuss today.

Large numbers of Ukrainian and Ruthenian Catholics began immigrating from the Austro-Hungarian Empire to the United States in the last quarter of the 19th Century.  The first Byzantine Catholic church was dedicated in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, in 1884.  For many years, little distinction was made between Ukrainian rite and Ruthenian rite Catholics—they were generally lumped together as “Greek” Catholics—although they were not from Greece.  Ukrainian Catholics were, of course, from modern day Ukraine.  Ruthenian Catholics (also known as Carpatho-Rusins) came from a region that includes parts of modern day Ukraine, Slovakia, and Poland.

They arrived in the United States at a time when several prominent U.S. bishops promoted an Americanization movement that sought to combine some American values with the Catholic Faith and that would minimize ethnic differences.  Newly arrived immigrants, such as these “Greek” Catholics, did not find comfort in this movement.  They wanted to practice their Faith the way they had for centuries.  But many Latin-rite bishops did not welcome separate Byzantine congregations, who had “strange” liturgies conducted in foreign languages.  And many Greek Catholics retained loyalties to bishops in Europe rather than bishops in their new country.

This problem was compounded in 1890 when the Vatican directed Eastern rite bishops in Europe not to send married priests (a practice that was acceptable in some Eastern rite churches) to the United States and those that did come were subject to the authority of the local Latin-rite bishop.  This alienated many of the Greek Catholics and caused many, especially among the Ruthenians, to leave the Church and return to the Orthodox religion that they had left centuries before.

Rome sought to solve the problem through the appointment of a Byzantine bishop in 1907, Stephen Ortynsky, a Ukrainian Catholic.  The Vatican initially gave him limited powers—he had no diocese—but he attempted to work with local bishops to serve Byzantine Catholics.  A separate exarchy to serve all “Greek” Catholics was finally established in 1913 with Ortynsky as bishop, but he died in 1916.   In 1924, Pope Pius XI established separate eparchies for the Ukrainians at Philadelphia and for the Ruthenians at Pittsburgh.

Ukrainians

Ukrainian-rite Catholics have 4.4 million members in 33 dioceses in the world today, mostly in the Ukraine.  Ukrainians reunited with Rome in 1596.  There are about 50,000 U.S. members in four dioceses and 193 parishes.  The Philadelphia diocese traces its origins to the 1913 creation of the “Greek” diocese by Pope Pius X.  Pope Pius XI established the Eparchy of Philadelphia in 1924 specifically for Ukrainian Catholics.  Pope Pius XII created the Exarchy of Stamford, Connecticut, in 1956, and two years later created the Province of Philadelphia, consisting of the new Metropolitan Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Stamford diocese—which he raised to an Eparchy.  Pope John XXIII created the Eparchy of St. Nicholas of Chicago in 1961 and Pope John Paul II created the Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma, Ohio, in 1983.

UKRAINIAN Province of Philadelphia

Ukrainian-rite Catholics in the United States are organized into four dioceses, known as eparchies:  the Metropolitan Archeparchy of Philadelphia, the Eparchy of Stamford (Connecticut), the Eparchy of St. Nicholas of Chicago, and the Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma (Ohio).

Ukrainian Archeparchy of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Archeparchy of Philadelphia has 14,000 Ukrainian Catholics in 66 parishes in Eastern Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, and the states of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Virginia.  Most of the parishes are in Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Metropolitan Archbishops of Philadelphia

Stephen S. Ortynsky, O.S.B.M, (1866-1916), first Byzantine and Ukrainian bishop in the United States (1907-1916). 

·         Born in Poland and was ordained a priest for the Order of St. Basil the Great in 1891.

Stephen Ortynsky encountered many problems when he became the first U.S. Byzantine-rite bishop in 1907.  His appointment was not popular with many Latin-rite bishops, who as noted above, were often hostile to the idea of separate Byzantine congregations.  Also, as a Ukrainian, he was often not trusted by the Ruthenians.  Some of his priests were not used to close episcopal supervision and did not like it.  Finally, Orthodox Christians openly tried to bring Byzantine Catholics back to the Orthodox Church.  Ortynsky tried to counter these problems by establishing a strong exarchial organization, starting a newspaper, and bringing in Byzantine nuns to serve the Byzantine communities.  At the time of his death, the exarchy had half a million Byzantine Catholics served by almost 200 parishes.  Ortynsky died in 1916.

Constantine Bohachevsky (1884-1961), first Eparch of Philadelphia (1924-1958) and first Metropolitan Archbishop of Philadelphia (1958-1961). 

·         Born in Austria and was ordained a Ukrainian priest in 1909.

It would be eight years after the death of Bishop Ortynsky before Pope Pius XI created an Eparchy of Philadelphia specifically for Ukrainian Catholics and named Constantine Bohachevsky as the first Eparch.  He became the first Metropolitan Archbishop of Philadelphia in 1958.  As a result of the eight year gap between bishops, Bohachevsky faced some of the same clerical discipline problems encountered by his predecessor, so he quickly realized that a strong seminary system was needed, so he established three seminaries.  He also built a parochial school system and invited Ukrainian nuns to operate them.  He invited male Byzantine religious orders to serve as priests and monks in the Eparchy.  Because Ukrainian publications were difficult to obtain during the Second World War, Bohachevsky started a journal for the Eparchy.  Archbishop Bohachevsky died in 1961.

Ambrose Senyshyn, O.S.B.M. (1903-1976), Metropolitan Archbishop of Philadelphia (1961-1976). 

·         Born in the Ukraine and ordained a priest for the Eparchy of Philadelphia in 1931 and later became a member of the Order of St. Basil the Great in 1931.

·         Also served as auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia (1942-1956), first Exarch of Stamford (1956-1958), and first Eparch of Stamford (1958-1961).

Archbishop Senyshyn died in 1976.

Joseph M. Schmondiuk (1912-1978), Metropolitan Archbishop of Philadelphia (1977-1978). 

·         Born in Wall, Pennsylvania, and ordained a priest for the Eparchy of Philadelphia in 1936.

·         Also served as auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia (1956-1961) and Eparch of Stamford (1961-1977).

Archbishop Schmondiuk served slightly more than a year before he died in 1978.

Myroslav Ivan Lubachivsky (1914-2000), Metropolitan Archbishop of Philadelphia (1979-1980).

·         Born in the Ukraine, ordained a priest there in 1938, and came to the United States in 1947.

·         Also served as coadjutor Major Archbishop of Lviv, Ukraine (1980-1984), and Major Archbishop of Lviv (1984-2000).  He lived in Rome until 1991, because the Soviet Union would not allow him to come to the Ukraine.  Pope John Paul II named him a Cardinal in 1985.

Archbishop Lubachivsky served less than six months before being named coadjutor Major Archbishop of Lviv, Ukraine in 1980.  He later became Major Archbishop of Lviv and was named a Cardinal in 1985.

Stephen Sulyk (1924-    ), Metropolitan Archbishop of Philadelphia (1980-2000).

·         Born in the Ukraine and ordained a priest for the Eparchy of Philadelphia in 1952.

Archbishop Sulyk was the third Archbishop in slightly more than three years.  He retired in 2000 after serving 20 years as Archbishop.

Current Metropolitan Archbishop

Stefan Soroka was appointed the sixth Metropolitan Archbishop of Philadelphia by Pope John Paul II in 2000.  He was born in Canada in 1951 and ordained a priest for the Archeparchy of Winnipeg, Canada in 1982.  He previously served as auxiliary bishop and vicar general for the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Winnipeg (1996-2001).  Prior to becoming a priest, Archbishop Soroka worked as a corrections officer and as a social worker.

The Cathedral

Cathedral of Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

830 N. Franklin Street

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  19123

Many Christians believe that humans are born into sin—known as original sin.  This sin is erased through baptism and the saving grace of Jesus Christ.  Catholics believe that Mary, through the grace of God, was conceived without the stain of original sin—the Immaculate Conception.  She was given the honor because of her role as the Mother of God.  The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated on December 8.

Let us pray, Father, the image of the Virgin is found in the Church. Mary had a faith that your Spirit prepared and a love that never knew sin, for you kept her sinless from the moment of her conception. Trace in our actions the lines of her love, in our hearts her readiness of faith. Prepare once again a world for your Son who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.

Bishop Stephen Ortynsky purchased a former Episcopal church on North Franklin Street in 1907 and converted it into the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.  The current Cathedral was built in 1966 and was designed by Julian Jastremsky.  The cornerstone contains a stone from the tomb of St. Peter the Apostle.

The Cathedral is designed in the Byzantine style and was constructed in limestone and concrete.  The Cathedral is 172 feet long and 128 feet wide and can seat over 1,800.  The dome rises 106 above the floor and its exterior is covered with Venetian tiles made of gold fused in glass.  The interior of the dome has a mosaic of Christ, the Pantocrator (Almighty Ruler), and has 32 windows depicting the Ukraine and people who have contributed to the success of the U.S. Ukrainian Catholic church.

The sanctuary has four mosaics.  The central mosaic shows the Theotokos or Mother of God.  Other mosaics depict the Last Supper, Christ meeting the disciples of the road to Emmaus, and the Visitation of the Holy Trinity from the Old Testament.  The sanctuary windows depict 12 angels, each with six wings.  The icon screen (iconostas) separating the sanctuary from the nave was designed by Chrystyna Dochwat and has icons of the Annunciation, the four Evangelists, Christ the Teacher, St. Stephen, St. John the Baptist, the Mother of God with the infant Jesus, St. Michael the Archangel, St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, the Last Supper, the crucifixion with St. John and our Blessed Mother, and Christ the King.

The Cathedral website has more details at ukrcathedral.com.  The Archeparchy’s website is ukrarcheparchy.us.  The Cathedral is located a few blocks north of downtown Philadelphia and has three weekend masses, including one in Ukrainian.

All of the pictures are from the Cathedral website.

Eparchy of Stamford, Connecticut

The Eparchy has 14,000 Ukrainian Catholics in 51 parishes in the State of New York and four New England states.  Most of the parishes are in New York.

Eparchs of Stamford

Ambrose Senyshyn, O.S.B.M. (1903-1976) first Exarch of Stamford (1956-1958) and first Eparch of Stamford (1958-1961).

·         Born in the Ukraine and ordained a priest for the Eparchy of Philadelphia in 1931 and later became a member of the Order of St. Basil the Great in 1931.

·         Also served as auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia (1942-1956) and Metropolitan Archbishop of Philadelphia (1961-1976).

Bishop Senyshyn was named Metropolitan Archbishop of Philadelphia in 1961.

Joseph M. Schmondiuk (1912-1978), Eparch of Stamford (1961-1977).

·         Born in Pennsylvania and ordained a priest for the Eparchy of Philadelphia in 1936.

·         Also served as auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia (1956-1961) and Metropolitan Archbishop of Philadelphia (1977-1978).

Bishop Schmondiuk was named Metropolitan Archbishop of Philadelphia in 1977.

Basil H. Losten (1930-    ), Bishop of Stamford (1977-2006).

·         Born in Maryland and ordained a priest for the Archeparchy of Philadelphia in 1957.

·         Also served as auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia (1971-1977).

Bishop Losten retired in 2006.

Current Eparch

Paul Patrick Chomnycky, O.S.B.M., was appointed Eparchy of Stamford by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006.  He was born in Canada and was ordained a priest for the Order of St. Basil the Great in 1988.  He previously served as Exarch for Ukrainian Catholics in Great Britain (2002-2006).

The Cathedral

St. Vladimir Cathedral

24 Wenzel Terrace

Stamford, CT  06902

St. Vladimir of Kiev (955-1015) was a prince of the Rus’ people.  He converted to Catholicism prior to his marriage to the sister of the Byzantine emperor.  He converted many of his people—including people that we now refer to as Ukrainians and Russians.  He was noted for his generosity to the poor and as an early opponent of the death penalty.  His grandmother was St. Olga.  His feast day is July 15 and he is the patron saint of converts.

St. Vladimir, pray that all Catholics, whether born to the Faith or converted to it, may always be faithful to You and spread your Word to others.  We ask this through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

All I know is that St. Vladimir parish was established in 1916 and that the Cathedral is designed in a Romanesque Revival style.  The Cathedral does not have a website, but does have a Facebook page.  The Eparchy website is stamforddio.org.  The Cathedral is located a mile northeast of downtown Stamford and has two weekend masses, including one in Ukrainian.

All pictures are from the Eparchy website

Eparchy of St. Nicholas in Chicago, Illinois

The diocese has 11,000 Ukrainian Catholics in 38 parishes in 16 Midwestern, Southwestern, and Western states.  There are 8 parishes in Michigan, 7 in Illinois, and 6 in California.

Eparchs of St. Nicholas in Chicago

Jaroslav Gabro (1919-1980), first Eparch of St. Nicholas in Chicago (1961-1980). 

·         Born in Chicago and ordained a priest for the Eparchy of Philadelphia in 1945.

Bishop Gabro hosted a youth conference for the Eparchy in 1970 and established an Eparchy newspaper.  Gabro decreed that the Cathedral would follow the Gregorian religious calendar, a decision that led to the formation of a new parish that followed the traditional Julian calendar.  He attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) and ordained 7 priests.  Bishop Gabro hosted Ukrainian Patriarch Josyf Cardinal Slipyi in 1968.  He died in 1980.

Innocent H. Lotocky, O.S.B.M. (1915-2013), Eparch of St. Nicholas in Chicago (1981-1993).

·         Born in the Ukraine and ordained a priest for the Order of St. Basil the Great in 1940.

Bishop Lotocky took a special interest in developing vocations and his efforts resulted in the ordinations of 15 priests, 21 deacons, and 15 subdeacons.  Bishop Lotocky also hosted a youth rally in 1983, Patriarch Myroslav Lubachivsky in 1985, and celebrations commemorating the 25^th anniversary of the Eparchy in 1986.  Bishop Lotocky retired in 1993.

Michael Wiwchar, C.SS.R. (1932-    ), Eparch of St. Nicholas in Chicago (1993-2000).

·         Born in Canada and ordained a Redemptorist priest in 1959.

·         Served as Bishop of Saskatoon (Canada) of the Ukrainians (2000-2008).

Bishop Wiwchar emphasized pastoral and parish issues and spent time with the sick and homebound.  In 1995, he convened an Eparchial conference with delegates from all parishes to discuss administrative, financial and spiritual issues, and to provide training to lay leaders.  Wiwchar accepted the monks of the Society of St. John into the Eparchy.  He also set up Eparchy offices for child protection, development, and stewardship.  Bishop Wiwchar was named Eparch of Saskatoon (Canada) of the Ukrainians in 2000. 

Richard S. Seminack (1942-2016), Eparch of St. Nicholas in Chicago (2003-2016).

·         Born in Pennsylvania and ordained a priest for the Archeparchy of Philadelphia in 1967.  He previously served as a U.S. Navy chaplain.

Bishop Seminack centralized the Eparchy administration and created new offices for Ecumenism and Evangelism and for Faith Formation.  He also worked to ensure the financial viability of parishes.  Seminack celebrated the 100^th anniversary of the Cathedral parish in 2006, commemorated the Holodomor (a 1932-1933 genocide in the Ukraine) in 2008, and celebrated the 50^th anniversary of the Eparchy in 2011.  Bishop Seminack died in 2016. 

Current Eparch

Vacant.

The Cathedral

St. Nicholas Cathedral
2238 West Rice Street
Chicago, Illinois 60622

St. Nicholas was Bishop of Myra during the early 4^th Century in modern day Turkey.  He was an opponent of the Arian heresy, which did not believe in the full divinity and humanity of Christ.  He was known for his holiness and was for a time imprisoned for his Christian beliefs.  But, of course, he is best known for being the basis of the legend of Santa Claus.  His feast day is celebrated on December 6.

O good Saint Nicholas, who brings joy to children, put in my heart the spirit of childhood, of which the Gospel speaks and teach me to sow happiness around me.  You, whose feast prepares us for Christmas, open my faith to the mystery of God made man. You, bishop and pastor, help me to find my place in the Church. O good Saint Nicholas, watch over all who come to this church to pray to Jesus, your Lord and theirs, and also, on those whom I humbly entrust to you today. Amen.

Chicago’s Ukrainian Catholic community bought a former Lutheran church in 1906 to form St. Nicholas the Wonderworker parish.  The church was located at Superior and Bishop Streets and cost $8,000.  As more Ukrainian immigrants came to Chicago, the need for a larger building became obvious.  Property for the current church was purchased for $12,000—and construction began in 1913 and was completed in January 1915.  St. Nicholas church was raised to the status of a Cathedral with the creation by Pope John XXIII of the Diocese of St. Nicholas of Chicago in 1961.

The Cathedral was designed by I.G. Steinbach in a Neo-Byzantine Baroque style modeled after the Cathedral of St. Sophia in Kyiv, Ukraine.  The Cathedral has 13 bronze domes topped with gold crosses representing Jesus and his Apostles.  The building is constructed with stone and steel and is 136 feet long, 85 feet wide and 112 feet tall.  The Cathedral sits 1,200.

The sanctuary floor and most of the furnishings in the sanctuary are made from Italian marble.  Above the main altar is an icon of Jesus as Pantocrator (Lord of all), together with Mary as Theotokos (Godbearer), St. John the Baptist, St. Nicholas of Myra, and St. Josaphat of Polotsk (the first Ukrainian Catholic saint).  The Cathedral’s central dome is covered in gold and features six-winged angels, the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Dormition of Mary, and the four Evangelists.  Near the ceiling are depictions of the great Eastern saints:  Basil the Great, John Chrysostom, Gregory the Theologian, and Gregory Nazianzen. Icons of Saints Cyril and Methodius are above the choir loft.  Hanging from the central dome is a nine-tiered gold chandelier, lit by 480 individual globes, and designed by Greek craftsmen.

The stained glass windows depict themes from the Old and New Testaments created by the Munich Studios of Chicago in traditional Ukrainian style. The Cathedral’s iconography was done in the 1970s by Boris Makarenko and Myron Bilinsky of Philadelphia in the Byzantine Ukrainian style, using bright colors reminiscent patterned after that of Kyiv’s St. Sophia Cathedral, the mother church of all Ukrainian Christians.  The Stations of the Cross are mosaics.  Other mosaics include depictions of the “Oranta” Mother of God.  Mosaics over the entrance include St. Nicholas and Our Lady of Pochaiv, the latter designed by Boris Makarenko and made in Italy.  Additional information about the Cathedral can be found on its website at stnicholaschicago.org or on the diocesan website at esnucc.org.

The Cathedral is located three miles northwest of downtown Chicago and has four weekend masses, including three in Ukrainian.  St. Nicholas Elementary School has over 175 pupils. 

The first picture is by pinterest, the second from the Cathedral website, the third from the Eparchy website, and the rest were taken by me.

Eparchy of St. Josaphat of Parma, Ohio

The Eparchy has 8,000 Ukrainian Catholics in 38 parishes in the states of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and West Virginia.  Most of the parishes are in Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Eparchs of St. Josaphat of Parma

Robert M. Moskal (1937-    ), first Eparch of St. Josaphat of Parma (1983-2009).

·         Born in Pennsylvania and ordained a priest for the Archeparchy of Philadelphia in 1963.

·         Also served as auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia (1981-1983).

 Bishop Moskal retired in 2009.

Current Eparch

Bohdan J. Danylo was appointed Eparch of St. Josaphat of Parma by Pope Francis in 2014.  He was born in Poland in 1971 and was ordained a priest for the Eparchy of Stamford in 1996.  He previously served in several capacities at St. Basil College Seminary, including rector/president (1997-2014).  He was named as archpriest in 2007.

The Cathedral

St. Josaphat Cathedral

5720 State Road

Parma, Ohio  44134

St. Josaphat was born in 1580 in modern day Ukraine and became a monk and later a priest.  He eventually became Archbishop of what is now Polatsk in Belorussia.  He spent much of his life trying to bring Orthodox Christians in the province of Kiev back to communion with the Roman Catholic Church.  He met with a great deal of success, but was opposed by many, some of whom murdered him in 1623.  He was the first Eastern saint to be officially canonized by the Catholic Church in 1867.  His feast day is November 12.

Lord, fill your Church with the Spirit that gave Saint Josaphat courage to lay down his life for his people. By his prayers may your Spirit make us strong and willing to offer our lives for our brothers and sisters. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

I regret to say I could find nothing about the Cathedral in any source, other than that it was built in a Byzantine Revival style.  The Cathedral’s website is stjosaphatcathedral.com and the Eparchy’s website is stjosaphateparchy.com.

The Cathedral is located about a mile east of downtown Parma, near Cleveland, and has four weekend masses, including two in Ukrainian, to serve a parish of 400 families.  The parish elementary school has enrollment of slightly more than 100.

The first picture is by flickr and the other two were taken by me.

Ruthenians

Ruthenian-rite Catholics, who returned to communion with Rome in 1596 and 1646, have 572,000 members, mostly in the Ukraine and Czech Republic (each with one diocese).  There are about 82,000 U.S. members in four dioceses and 203 parishes.  Pittsburgh served as the only exarchy for U.S. Ruthenian Catholics from its creation in 1924 until 1963.  In that year, Pope Paul VI raised Pittsburgh to an eparchy and created the Eparchy of Passaic, New Jersey, as a second Ruthenian diocese.  Pope Paul VI raised Pittsburgh to a Metropolitan Archdiocese in 1969 and on the same day created the Eparchy of Parma, Ohio.  Prior to 1981, the Eparchy of Parma consisted of the western two-thirds of the United States.  The growth in the number of parishes along the west coast and their distance from Parma led Pope John Paul II to create the Eparchy of Van Nuys in 1981 (now the Eparchy of Phoenix).

RuthENIAN Province of PITTSBURGH

Ruthenian-rite Catholics in the United States are organized into four dioceses, known as eparchies:  the Metropolitan Archeparchy of Pittsburgh for the Ruthenians, the Eparchy of Passaic (New Jersey), the Eparchy of Parma (Ohio), and the Eparchy of Phoenix (Arizona).

Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The Archeparchy serves 57,000 Catholics in 74 parishes in seven states—Louisiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania (western), Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia.  Three quarters of the parishes are in western Pennsylvania.

Exarchs of Pittsburgh

Basil Takach (1879-1948), first Exarch of Pittsburgh (1924-1948). 

·         Born in the Ukraine and ordained a Ruthenian priest in Europe in 1902.

When Basil Takach became the first Ruthenian Exarch in 1924, he initially lived in Trenton, New Jersey, and Uniontown, Pennsylvania, before moving to the Pittsburgh area in 1926.  As the new Exarch, he immediately began organizing his Exarchy (which covered the entire country at that time) of 288,000 people, 129 priests, and 155 parishes by appointing a chancellor and dividing the Exarchy into deaneries.  He invited the Sisters of St. Basil the Great to establish schools in the Exarchy and also sought to institute things that would improve the spirituality of his people, including establishing an annual pilgrimage to a Marian shrine at the Sisters of St. Basil’s Motherhouse in Uniontown, Pennsylvania.  He also published periodicals and religious and devotional tracts.  He enforced, despite his disagreement, a Vatican ruling in 1929 that all American priests, including Eastern Rite priests, were to be celibate—many Greek Catholic priests at the time were married.  (As a result, 60,000 Greek Catholics left the Church to form the Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church.)  Bishop Takach died of cancer in 1948.

Daniel Ivancho (1908-1972), Exarch of Pittsburgh (1948-1954). 

·         Born in the Ukraine and ordained a priest for the Exarchy of Pittsburgh in 1934.

·         Also served as coadjutor bishop of Pittsburgh (1946-1948).

The need for a Byzantine seminary had become apparent given the difficulties encountered with sending seminarians to Europe during the Second World War.  Rejecting suggestions that a new Cathedral was the top building priority, Bishop Ivancho decided instead to build Saints Cyril and Methodius Seminary on the North Side of Pittsburgh.  The Seminary opened in 1951 with great fanfare.  Bishop Ivancho also invited religious orders to work in the Exarchy, including Greek Catholic Benedictine monks and nuns and Greek Catholic Franciscans.  Ivancho resigned as Exarch for personal reasons in 1954. 

Eparch of Pittsburgh

Nicholas T. Elko (1909-1991), Exarch of Pittsburgh (1955-1963) and first Eparch of Pittsburgh (1963-1967). 

·         Born in Donora, Pennsylvania, and ordained a priest for the Exarchy of Pittsburgh in 1934.

·         Also served as ordaining prelate for the Byzantine Catholics in Rome and head of the Vatican’s Ecumenical Commission on the Liturgy with the rank of Archbishop (1967-1970), and auxiliary bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati (1971-1985). of Form

Bottom of FormNicholas Elko was the first American-born Bishop of the Greek Catholic Church.  Attempting to respond to the needs of an American church, he allowed English to be used in the liturgy and established a weekly newspaper—The Byzantine Catholic World.  He oversaw the construction of more than 100 new church and school buildings and created new parishes in California and Alaska.  Elko built many of the new churches without traditional Byzantine features.  His leadership was questioned by many within the Eparchy and he was named to a position in the Vatican in 1967 with the title of Archbishop.  He later served as a Roman Catholic auxiliary bishop of Cincinnati.

Metropolitan Archbishops of Pittsburgh

Stephen J. Kocisko (1915-1995), Eparch of Pittsburgh (1967-1969) and first Metropolitan Archbishop of Pittsburgh (1969-1991). 

·         Born in Minnesota and ordained a priest for the Eparchy of Pittsburgh 1941.

·         Also served as auxiliary bishop of Pittsburgh (1956-1963) and first Bishop of Passaic (1963-1967).

Archbishop Kocisko implemented the changes from the Second Vatican Council in keeping with Byzantine tradition and practice.  He established an Office of Religious Education and the Byzantine Leaflet Series to improve his people’s understanding of their faith and liturgical practices and sought to improve liturgical music and congregational singing.  He also started an Archeparchial Museum to preserve and maintain religious articles, icons, books, paintings and other items of historical interest and erected a Byzantine chapel at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington.  He opened several new parishes in the Archdiocese and began an endowment fund for Saints Cyril and Methodius Seminary.  Kocisko and the other U.S. Ruthenian bishops began promoting the canonization of three Ruthenian bishops martyred by the Soviet Union.  After the fall of the Soviet Union, Kocisko visited dioceses in the Ukraine and Slovakia to show solidarity with the persecution suffered under Communist rule.  Archbishop Kocisko retired in 1991.

Thomas V. Dolinay (1923-1993), Metropolitan Archbishop of Pittsburgh (1991-1993). 

·         Born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, and ordained a priest in 1946 for the Eparchy of Pittsburgh.

·         Also served as auxiliary bishop of Passaic (1976-1981), the first Bishop of Van Nuys (1981-1990), and coadjutor archbishop of Pittsburgh (1990-1991).

Archbishop  Dolinay served less than two years before his death in 1993.  Dolinay consolidated the Archeparchy offices and moved them to a more visible location in downtown Pittsburgh and established a centralized accounting system for parishes.  He raised funds to help Ruthenian dioceses in the Ukranain and Slovakia rebuild after the fall of Communism.  He was also active in ecumenical activities.

Judson M. Procyk (1931-2001), Metropolitan Archbishop of Pittsburgh (1995-2001). 

·         Born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and ordained a priest for the Exarchy of Pittsburgh in 1957.

Archbishop Procyk made the Archdiocese’s financial status more transparent to the laity through the publication of annual financial reports.  He also reinforced Eastern traditions and practices in the administration of sacraments and the formation of deacons and upgraded liturgical music by improved training of cantors.  Procyk died in 2001.

Basil Schott, O.F.M. (1939-2010), Metropolitan Archbishop of Pittsburgh (2002-2010). 

·         Born in Freeland, Pennsylvania, and ordained a Byzantine Franciscan priest in 1965.

·         Also served as Bishop of Parma (1996-2002).

Archbishop Schott published a pastoral handbook and established programs for children, teens, and young adults.  He also established a compliance office and procedures to protect minors from sexual abuse.  In conjunction with Pope Benedict’s declaration of the Year for Priests (June 2009 to June 2010), Schott organized a celebration for all U.S. Ruthenian priests in Pittsburgh in June 2010.  Unfortunately, Archbishop Schott was hospitalized during the event and died a few days later of lymphoma.

Current Metropolitan Archbishop

William C. Skurla was appointed Metropolitan Archbishop of Pittsburgh by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012.  He was born in Minnesota in 1956 and ordained a Byzantine Franciscan priest in 1987 and became a priest of the Eparchy of Van Nuys in 1996.  He previously served as Bishop of Van Nuys (2002-2007) and Bishop of Passaic (2007-2012).

The Cathedral

St. John the Baptist Cathedral

210 Greentree Road

Munhall, Pennsylvania  15120

John was the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth and the cousin of Jesus.  As an adult, he prepared the way for his cousin’s ministry by preaching the need for baptism and repentance.  He baptized Jesus in the Jordan River at the beginning of Jesus’ own ministry.  John was beheaded by King Herod Antipas because of John’s admonition that Herod’s marriage was sinful and unlawful.  John is honored with two feast days—June 24 commemorates his birth and August 29 his death.  His is also the patron of St. John Lateran Basilica in Rome—the Pope’s Cathedral as Bishop of Rome—the Dedication of which is honored on November 9.

O God, You raised up St. John the Baptist to prepare a perfect people for Christ.  Fill Your people with the joy of possessing His grace, and direct the minds of all the faithful in the way of peace and salvation. Grant that as St. John was martyred for truth and justice, so we may energetically profess our Faith in You, and lead others to the Way, the Truth, and Eternal Life. Amen.

St. John the Baptist Greek Catholic Church was established in 1897 in Homestead, Pennsylvania, to serve a growing Carpatho-Rusin population that had come to work in the steel mills near Pittsburgh.  The original church building was small—about 2000 square feet—and one of the first tasks for Father Alexius Holosnyay when he arrived in 1900 to be the parish’s fourth pastor was to build a larger church.  In 1903, a new St. John’s, with twin steeples, was completed at the intersection of Tenth and Dickens Streets in nearby Munhall.

After arriving in the United States in 1924, Bishop Takach briefly lived in Trenton, New Jersey, and Uniontown, Pennsylvania, before settling in Pittsburgh.  He selected St. John the Baptist Church as his cathedral in 1926.  By the 1970s, it was clear that new facilities were needed for the parish.  Under the leadership of Msgr. Judson Procyk, the parish bought property on Greentree Road in Munhall and opened a new parish center in 1981.  The current Cathedral was dedicated in 1994.

The Cathedral was designed by Grant Scott in a Byzantine style with a gold dome topped by a triple-bar cross.  The Cathedral has 72 colorful icons throughout its interior, which are the work of Michael Kapeluck, whose principal work is to produce Byzantine church decorations.  The icons took two years and 5,500 labor hours to complete.  The icons include on either side of the Royal doors, Christ the Teacher and the Mother of God; and farther to the left and right are St. John the Baptist and St. Nicholas of Myra.  Other icons include major feasts of Christ, major feasts of the Mother of God, Christ the King, the Twelve Apostles and the Old Testament Prophets.

A baldachine, representing the Throne of God, rises above the square main altar.  The Cathedral uses traditional colors of paint to achieve a special glow.  These colors include dark blues, burgundies, grays, and blacks along with the more flamboyant, reds, yellows, greens, and purples and a contrast of gold.  The central dome features Christ the Pantocrator (all-encompassing Lord) surrounded by angels.  The dome was painted by artists lying on their backs, Michelangelo-style, and finished with gold leaf.  The dome has 24 windows which use new stained glass and stained glass from the old Cathedral. 

The old Cathedral also provided the tabernacle, the brass candlesticks on the altars, the church bells, and in some of stained glass windows depicting saints.

The Cathedral website, stjohnsbyzantinecathedral.com, has a tour with many beautiful pictures.  The Archdiocese’s website is archpitt.org. The Cathedral is located in Munhall about seven miles southeast of downtown Pittsburgh and has two weekend masses.

The first six pictures are from the Cathedral website, the seventh is from the diocesan website, and the last is from pinterest.

Eparchy of Passaic, New Jersey

The eparchy has 14,000 members in 84 parishes located in 11 eastern states from Massachusetts to Florida.  The majority of the parishes are in New York, New Jersey, and eastern Pennsylvania.

Eparchs of Passaic

Stephen J. Kocisko (1915-1995), first Eparch of Passaic (1963-1967). 

·         Born in Minnesota and ordained a priest for the Eparchy of Pittsburgh 1941.

·         Also served as auxiliary bishop of Pittsburgh (1956-1963), Eparch of Pittsburgh (1967-1969), and first Metropolitan Archbishop of Pittsburgh (1969-1991).

In his brief tenure as bishop, Kocisko organized the new Eparchy and established an Eparchy newspaper.  He also participated in the Second Vatican Council.  He was named Eparch of Pittsburgh in 1967. 

Michael J. Dudick (1916-2007), Eparch of Passaic (1968-1995). 

·         Born in Pennsylvania and ordained a priest for the Eparchy of Pittsburgh in 1945.

During his time as bishop, Dudick established 32 parishes and missions, as well as two monasteries.  He opened the Heritage Institute in 1971—a library and museum celebrating the Carpatho-Rusin culture.  He inaugurated an Office of Religious Education in 1978 to promote authentic Byzantine liturgical and spiritual traditions and practices.  He also established a stewardship program that allowed the Eparchy to build a new Eparchial center and the Carpathian Village spiritual and recreational center; to pay for the education, medical expenses, and pensions of the Eparchy’s priests; and to assist Ruthenian churches in Europe.  Bishop Dudick established good relations with Roman Catholic bishops and bishops of the Orthodox Church.  He retired in 1995.

Andrew Pataki (1927-2011), Eparch of Passaic (1995-2007). 

·         Born in Pennsylvania and ordained a priest for the Eparchy of Passaic in 1952.

·         Also served as auxiliary bishop of Passaic (1983-1984) and Bishop of Parma (1984-1995).

Bishop Pataki revised the organizational structure of the Eparchy and sought to better provide for the retirement needs of the clergy.  He improved the eparchy’s newspaper and took steps to improve liturgical rites and religious practices within the Eparchy.  He also established standard liturgical practices, such as for the formation of deacons and for the rites of Christian initiation.  He retired in 2007.

William C. Skurla (1956-    ), Eparch of Passaic (2007-2012).

·         Born in Minnesota and ordained a Byzantine Franciscan priest in 1987 and became a priest for the Eparchy of Van Nuys in 1996.

·         Also served as Eparch of Van Nuys (2002-2007) and serves as Metropolitan Archbishop of Pittsburgh (since 2012).

Bishop Skurla was named Metropolitan Archbishop of Pittsburgh in 2012. 

Current Eparch

Kurt Burnette was appointed Bishop of Passaic by Pope Francis in 2013.  He was born in England in 1955 and ordained a priest for the Eparchy of Van Nuys in 1989.  He most recently served as rector of the Byzantine Seminary of SS. Cyril and Methodius in Pittsburgh.

The Cathedral

Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel
96 First Street
Passaic, New Jersey 07055

St. Michael is the leader of God’s angels and is one of the seven archangels “who stand before the Lord.”  He is mentioned several times in the Bible as the angel who, among other things, defeated the Devil and his fallen angels and thrust them into Hell and who guarded the body of Moses.  He executes the final judgment of God against all souls.  He is the patron saint of soldiers, police officers, and more interestingly, of grocers and radiologists.  He is also the patron saint of several countries.  His feast day, which he shares with the archangels Gabriel and Raphael, is September 29.

Glorious Archangel St. Michael, by your protection, enable my soul to be so enriched by grace as to be worthy to be presented by you to Jesus Christ, my Judge, at the hour of my death.  As you conquered Satan and expelled him from heaven, conquer him again, and drive him far away from me at the hour of my death.  O Mary, Queen of heaven, procure for me the assistance of St. Michael at the hour of my death. Amen.

St. Michael’s parish was established in 1890 to serve the Byzantine Catholics who had come to Passaic over the previous 30 years.  The first church was a former Protestant church located at First and Bergen Streets, but in slightly more than a decade, the 600 parish families had outgrown this small wooden church.  Construction of the current church was completed in 1905.  St. Michael’s became the Cathedral for the new Eparchy of Passaic in 1963.

The Cathedral is made of stone and brick and has two bell towers in front.  The five bells were made by the McShane Bell Foundry over one hundred years ago and were electrified in 1990.  The largest, named Andrew but nicknamed “Big Mike,” is six feet in diameter.  Big Mike occupies the right tower and the other four bells, Nicholas, Michael, Nicephor, and Daniel, reside in the left tower.

The church has several paintings and many icons, including one depicting Christ the Pantocrator (the Almighty) and one of Our Lady of Passaic.  Additional information can be found on the Cathedral’s website, stmichaelsarchangel.org and the diocesan website, eparchyofpassaic.com.

The Cathedral is located in downtown Passaic.  The parish also has a chapel in Woodland Park, New Jersey, located about four miles northwest of the Cathedral.  The Cathedral has one Sunday mass and the chapel, built in 1985, has one Saturday vigil Mass and one Sunday Mass.

Pictures are from the Cathedral website.

Eparchy of Parma, Ohio

The Eparchy of Parma consists of 9,000 Ruthenian Catholics in 28 parishes in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, and Ohio.  Over half the parishes are in Ohio.   

Eparchs of Parma

Emil Mihalik (1920-1984), first Eparch of Parma (1969-1984). 

• Born in Pittsburgh and ordained a priest for the Eparchy of Pittsburgh in 1945.

Organization of the new Eparchy consumed much of Bishop Mahalik’s time initially.  Bishop Mihalik established an annual pilgrimage to the Shrine of the Weeping Madonna of Mariapoch in Burton, Ohio, workshops for priests and liturgical ministers, and ministries to serve young people, the disabled, and others.  He saw the importance of communication and started an eparchy newspaper and provided a radio liturgy for those who could not attend Mass.  He established 18 parishes and oversaw the growth of the Ruthenian church in the western United States.  Mihalik ordained 23 priests.  He died from lung cancer in 1984.

Andrew Pataki (1927-2011), Eparch of Parma (1984-1995).

·         Born in Pennsylvania and ordained a priest for the Eparchy of Passaic in 1952.

·         Also served as auxiliary bishop of Passaic (1983-1984) and Eparch of Passaic (1995-2007).

Bishop Pataki improved the governance of the Eparchy through the creation of a priests' pension board and fund and the establishment of lay eparchial pastoral and finance committees.  He improved liturgies through cantor workshops.  He also sought to educate through publications and videos explaining Eastern rite liturgies and traditions.  Pataki was named Eparch of Passaic in 1995. 

Basil Schott, O.F.M. (1939-2010), Eparch of Parma (1996-2002). 

·         Born in Freeland, Pennsylvania, and ordained a Byzantine Franciscan priest in 1965.

·         Also served as the Metropolitan Archbishop of Pittsburgh (2002-2010).

Bishop Schott became the Metropolitan Archbishop of Pittsburgh in 2002. 

John M. Kudrick, O.F.M. (1947-    ), Eparch of Parma (2002-2016). 

·         Born in Pennsylvania and ordained a Byzantine Franciscan priest in 1975.

·         Also served as apostolic administrator of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh (2001-2002).

Bishop Kudrick retired in 2016. 

Current Eparch

Vacant.

The Cathedral

Cathedral of St. John the Baptist

1900 Carlton Road
Parma, Ohio  44134

John was the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth and the cousin of Jesus.  As an adult, he prepared the way for his cousin’s ministry by preaching the need for baptism and repentance.  He baptized Jesus in the Jordan River at the beginning of Jesus’ own ministry.  John was beheaded by King Herod Antipas because of John’s admonition that Herod’s marriage was sinful and unlawful.  John is honored with two feast days—June 24 commemorates his birth and August 29 his death.  His is also the patron of St. John Lateran Basilica in Rome—the Pope’s Cathedral as Bishop of Rome—the Dedication of which is honored on November 9.  

O God, You raised up St John the Baptist to prepare a perfect person for Christ. We call upon St John’s intercession to properly prepare us with a true sense of repentance to receive Your grace and salvation. Make us faithful to truth and justice, as You did Your servant, John the Baptist, herald of Your Son’s birth and death. Lord, may You increase Your life within us. Amen.

St. John the Baptist parish was established in 1898 and is one of the oldest Ruthenian parishes in the United States.  Initially the parish met in temporary spaces in Cleveland until an existing church was purchased in 1901 at what is now East 22nd and Tri-C Way. Interstate highway construction forced the parish to build the current Byzantine Revival church in 1960, which was substantially rebuilt in 1983.  St. John the Baptist became the Cathedral for the new Eparchy of Parma in 1969.

The Eparchy’s website is Parma.org.  There is no cathedral website.  The Cathedral is located about a mile east of downtown Parma, near Cleveland, and has two weekend masses.

All pictures are by me, except for the last which is from snipview.

Eparchy of Holy Protection of Mary of Phoenix, Arizona

Founded as the Eparchy of Van Nuys, California, the Eparchy was renamed the Holy Protection of Mary Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix in 2010.  The Eparchy serves 3,000 Catholics in 19 parishes in 8 western states, including 7 parishes in California.

Eparchs of Van Nuys

Thomas V. Dolinay (1923-1993), first Eparch of Van Nuys (1981-1990). 

·         Born in Pennsylvania and ordained a priest in 1946 for the Eparchy of Pittsburgh.

·         Also served as auxiliary bishop of Passaic (1976-1981), coadjutor Archeparch of Pittsburgh (1990-1991), and Metropolitan Archbishop of Pittsburgh (1991-1993).

Bishop Dolinay quickly realized that his Eparchy was so large that unity would be a major concern for both clergy and laity.  To promote unity among the clergy, he instituted an annual meeting to provide support and continuing education.  He instituted an Eparchy newspaper to unite the laity.  He also increased the number of parishes from 12 to 16.  Pope John Paul II named him coadjutor archeparch of Pittsburgh in 1990 and he became the Metropolitan Archbishop of Pittsburgh the following year. 

George M. Kuzma (1925-2008), Eparch of Van Nuys (1990-2000). 

·         Born in Pennsylvania and ordained a priest for the Eparchy of Pittsburgh in 1955.

·         Also served as auxiliary bishop of Passaic ((1987-1990).

Bishop Kuzma had to deal with a devastating natural disaster.  The Northridge Earthquake of 1994 severely damaged St. Mary’s Cathedral, the Pastoral Center, and the episcopal residence.  Because of this, Bishop Kuzma moved his headquarters and residence to Phoenix and St. Stephen's Church in Phoenix became the Pro-Cathedral for the Eparchy.  Bishop Kuzma eliminated the use of Latin honorary titles for clergy and returned to the use of the traditional Eastern honors of archpriest and archimandrite.  He also reached beyond the traditional Ruthenian community and developed Ruthenian communities for many diverse ethnic groups, including Native Americans, African-Americans, and Asians.  His pastoral handbook of eparchial statutes has become a model for other eparchies.  He retired in 2000.

William C. Skurla (1956-    ), Eparch of Van Nuys (2002-2007).

·         Born in Minnesota and ordained a Byzantine Franciscan priest in 1987 and became a priest of the Eparchy of Van Nuys in 1996.

·         Also served as Bishop of Passaic (2007-2012) and serves as Metropolitan Archbishop of Pittsburgh (since 2012).

Bishop Skurla was named Eparch of Passaic in 2007. 

Eparchs of Phoenix

Gerald N. Dino (1940-    ), Eparch of Van Nuys (2007-2010) and Eparch of the Holy Protection of Mary Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix (2010-2016) 

·         Born in New York and ordained a priest for the Eparchy of Passaic in 1965.

Bishop Dino retired in 2016. 

Current Eparch

John S. Pazak, C.SS.R, was appointed Eparch of the Holy Protection of Mary Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix by Pope Francis in 2016.  He was born in Indiana in 1946 and ordained a priest Redemptorist priest in 1972.  He previously served as Bishop of the Eparchy of Saints Cyril and Methodius, in Toronto, Canada (2000-2016).

The Cathedral

St. Stephen Cathedral

8141 North 16th Street

Phoenix, Arizona 85020

The cathedral is named for St. Stephen, the Church’s first martyr.  Stephen was one of the first deacons appointed to assist the apostles.  Stephen belonged to a group of early Christians who believed they would have to separate themselves from Judaism.  These views led to his being stoned to death outside of Jerusalem.  His feast day is celebrated on December 26.

O glorious St. Stephen, first Martyr for the Faith, filled with compassion for those who invoke you, with love for those who suffer, heavily laden with the weight of my troubles. I kneel at your feet and humbly beg you to take my present needs under your special protection. Vouchsafe to recommend it to our Lord Jesus. Cease not to intercede for me until my request is granted. Above all, obtain for me the grace to one day meet God face to face, and with you and Mary and all the angels and saints praise Him through all eternity. O most powerful Saint Stephen, Deacon and Martyr, do not let me lose my soul, but obtain for me the grace of winning my way to heaven, forever and ever. Amen.

The first Cathedral for the Eparchy of Van Nuys was St Mary’s Cathedral.  St. Mary’s parish was established in 1956—the first Byzantine parish in the Western United States.  The parish community initially met at a Roman Catholic church in Van Nuys until the completion of a new St. Mary’s Church in 1962.  This church became the Cathedral for the newly created Eparchy of Van Nuys in 1981.  The Cathedral was severely damaged by the Northridge Earthquake in 1994.

St. Stephen’s parish in Phoenix was formed in 1966 and moved to an existing church building in 1968 (the current church).  Additional parish facilities were added in 1974.  After the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, Bishop George Kuzma moved his Chancery to St. Stephen’s, which was redesignated as St. Stephen Pro-Cathedral and was renovated to better serve the parish.  St. Stephen’s became the Cathedral for the Holy Protection of Mary Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix in 2010.

There are 8 stained-glass windows, made locally, that feature themes from the New Testament.  There are also icons of Jesus and Mary.  More information about these features can be found on the Diocesan website at eparchyofphoenix.org.  The Cathedral website is stsbcc.org.

The Cathedral is located about 10 miles north of downtown Phoenix and has three weekend masses to serve a parish of 150 families.

The first picture is from Byzantinecatholic.org, the next two are mine, and the last, not so good pictures, are from Wikipedia.

Melkites

There are about 1.6 million Melkite Catholics in 29 dioceses.  Traditionally Melkites lived in Syria and Lebanon, but now about half live in South America.  The Melkites resumed communion with Rome in the 18^th Century.  Emigration to the West has taken place mostly in the last few decades—primarily because of political tensions in the Middle East.  There are now substantial communities of Melkites in the United States, Canada, and Australia.  Pope Paul VI established the Exarchy of Newton in 1966 and raised it to an Eparchy in 1976.

Melkite Eparchy of Newton, Our Lady of the Annunciation, Massachusetts

The Eparchy serves about 25,000 Melkite Catholics in the United States in 41 parishes in 18 states.  There are 10 parishes in California and four each in New York and Ohio.

Exarch of Newton

Justin Najmy, O.S.B.M. (1898-1968), first Exarch of Newton (1966-1968).

• Born in Syria and ordained a priest for the Order of St. Basil the Great in 1926.

Bishop Najmy died of a heart attack in 1968.

Eparchs of Newton

Joseph Tawil (1913-1999), Exarch of Newton ((1969-1976) and first Eparch of Newton (1976-1989). 

• Born in Syria and ordained a Melkite priest in 1936.
• Also served as patriarchal vicar of the Eparchy of Damascus, Syria (1960-1969).  He was given the personal title of Archbishop in 1976.

Since Bishop Najmy served only two years before his death, Bishop Tawil was only able to begin organizing the new Eparchy.  He set up a Diocesan publication, a Diocesan pastoral council, an education office, a communications office, and a youth organization.  He established eight parishes and five missions, ordained 26 priests, and started a permanent diaconate program-the first for a U.S. Eastern Rite diocese.  He also helped establish a convent for women religious in Danbury, Connecticut.  Bishop Tawil spoke several languages when he came to the United States in 1969, but not English, which he quickly learned in time to write a pastoral letter emphasizing to his people the need to maintain their identity as Melkite Catholics.  Bishop Tawil retired in 1989.

Ignatius Ghattas, B.S.O. (1920-1992), Eparch of Newton (1990-1992). 

• Born in Nazareth, Israel, and was ordained a Basilian Salvatorian priest in 1946.

Bishop Ghattas died in 1992.

John A. Elya, B.S.O. (1928-    ), Eparch of Newton (1993-2004).

• Born in Lebanon and ordained a Basilian Salvatorian priest in 1952.
• Also served as auxiliary eparch of Newton (1986-1993).

Bishop Elya retired in 2004.

Cyril S. Bustros, S.M.S.P. (1939-    ), Eparch of Newton (2004-2011). 

• Born in Lebanon and ordained a priest for the Society of the Missionaries of St. Paul in 1962.
• Also served as Archbishop of Baalbeck, Lebanon (1988-2004) and serves as Metropolitan of Beirut and Jbeil, Lebanon (since 2011).

Bishop Bustros was appointed as Metropolitan Archbishop of Beirut and Jbeil, Lebanon in 2011.

Current Bishop 

Nicholas J. Samra was appointed Eparch of Newton by Pope Benedict XVI in 2011.  He was born in New Jersey in 1944 and ordained a priest for the Eparchy of Newton in 1970.  He previously served as auxiliary bishop of Newton (1989-2005).

The Cathedrals

Annunciation Cathedral

7 VFW Parkway

Roslindale, Massachusetts 02131

The Cathedral is named for Mary, the Mother of God.  The Annunciation refers to the appearance of the Archangel Gabriel to Mary informing her that God had chosen her to be the Mother of Christ, the Redeemer.  With her assent, and with the power of the Holy Spirit, she became pregnant with the Son of God.  (Luke 1:26-38).  The Annunciation has been celebrated since the early days of Christianity.  The Solemnity of the Annunciation is celebrated on March 25. 

Let us pray, [That we may become more like Christ, who chose to become one of us.] Almighty Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, You have revealed the beauty of your power by exalting the lowly virgin of Nazareth and making her the mother of our Savior. May the prayers of this woman bring Jesus to the waiting world and fill the void of incompletion with the presence of her child, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit one God forever and ever. Amen

The Melkite Church of Our Lady of the Annunciation Church was founded 1910 in a commercial building located on Harrison Avenue in Boston.  A new church was dedicated on Warren Avenue in 1942, but the need for yet another church building soon became apparent.  The current site in Roslindale was selected and the existing church was dedicated in 1966, with half the cost of construction being donated by Cardinal Richard Cushing, who was then the Archbishop of Boston.  That same year, Pope Pius VI created the Melkite Exarchy of Newton and appointed Justin Najmy as the first Exarch.  He selected Our Lady of the Annunciation church to be his cathedral.

The Cathedral was designed in the Byzantine style by architect Lawrence Cuneo.  The Cathedral website is melkitecathedral.org and the Diocesan website is melkite.org.  The Cathedral is located in Roslindale about four miles southwest of downtown Boston and has two weekend masses—including one in Arabic.

The first picture is from the Cathedral website, the second from flickr, and the other from Wikipedia.

St. Anne’s Co-Cathedral

11211 Moorpark St.

North Hollywood, California  91602

The Cathedral is named for St. Anne.  St. Anne and her husband, St. Joachim, were the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  It is believed that Anne was born in Jerusalem and was childless for many years until an angel appeared to her to tell her that she would be the Mother of Mary.  St. Anne is the patron saint of pregnant and childless women and is also the one of the patron saints of Canada.  The feast of Saints Joachim and Ann is celebrated on July 26.

Good St. Anne, you were especially favored by God to be the mother of the most holy Virgin Mary, the Mother of our Savior. By your power with your most pure daughter and with her divine Son, kindly obtain for us the grace and the favor we now seek. Please secure for us also forgiveness of our past sins, the strength to perform faithfully our daily duties and the help we need to persevere in the love of Jesus and Mary. Amen.

The parish of St. Anne was established in 1909 with 300 members.  The parish initially met at St. Peter’s Italian Catholic Church at 1039 N. Broadway in Los Angeles.  The parish moved to 900 N. Hoover St. In Los Angeles in 1926.  The Melkite community continued to grow after the Second World War and a larger church was needed.  The current church was completed in 1964.  It was designed by E.M. Samaniego and Associates and combines ancient Byzantine and modern styles.  St. Anne’s became the Co-Cathedral of the Eparchy in 2015.  The selection of a second cathedral was attributed to the need for unity given the fact that the Eparchy consists of all Melkite churches in the entire United States.

The building is shaped in a semi-circle with Moorish-style columns around the exterior.  A bell tower has electronic carillons.  Inside, the nave is circular with seating surrounding the main altar.  The Cathedral seats more than 500 people and contains beautiful mosaics and icons.  The artistry depicts New and Old Testament events, saints, and Byzantine feast days.  Much of this had to be restored after a 1994 earthquake.  Shrines are dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe and to deceased pastors.

The Cathedral’s website is melkitesinlosangeles.org.  The Co-Cathedral is located in North Hollywood about 10 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles and has two weekend masses—including one in Arabic.

The first picture is from the Cathedral website and the second from Wikipedia.

Romanians

Romanian Catholics number about 513,000 in 7 dioceses, mostly in Romania, and were reunited with Rome in 1697.  Romanian Catholics first came to the United States at the turn of the last century—at least five of today’s Romanian parishes were established prior to 1920.  Pope John Paul II established the Apostolic Exarchate for the Romanians in 1982 and raised Canton to the level of an eparchy (diocese) in 1987.

Romanian Eparchy of St. George in Canton, Ohio

The Eparchy has 14 parishes in 9 states to serve 5,000 Catholics.  Ohio has five parishes and Illinois has three parishes.

Bishops of St. George’s in Canton

V. Louis Puscas (1915-2009), first Exarch of St. George's in Canton (1983-1987) and first Eparch of  St. George’s in Canton (1987-1993). 

• Born in Illinois and ordained a Romanian priest in 1942.

Bishop Puscas had previously served as a parish priest and college professor.  He retired in 1993.

Current Bishop 

John M. Botean was appointed Bishop of the Eparchy of St. George’s in Canton by Pope John Paul II in 1996.  He was born in Canton in 1955 and ordained a priest for the Eparchy of St. George’s in 1986.  He previously served as rector of the Cathedral parish and as vicar general and apostolic administrator of the Eparchy.  I haven’t been commenting on current bishops, but Bishop Botean is discussed in Wikipedia.

The Cathedral

St. George Cathedral

1121 44^th Street NE

Canton, Ohio  44714

Very little is known about St. George.  He is thought to have been a soldier in modern day Palestine who was martyred as a Christian in the early 4^th Century.  His veneration as a saint began in the Middle East as early as the 5^th Century, if not earlier.  He is best known for the legendary tale of St. George and the dragon which was popularized in the 13^th Century, in which George saves a maiden by killing a dragon.  He has been referred in England for centuries and is the patron saint of England and Portugal and of Boy Scouts.  His feast day is April 23.

St. George, Heroic Catholic soldier and defender of your Faith, you dared to criticize a tyrannical Emperor and were subjected to horrible torture. You could have occupied a high military position but you preferred to die for your Lord. Obtain for us the great grace of heroic Christian courage that should mark soldiers of Christ. Amen"

St. George parish was established in 1912 with 65 parishioners.  The first church was located at Gibbs Avenue and Ninth Street NE.  The parish moved to a new building on Seventh Street NE in 1934.  The current modern-style building was completed in 1975 and became the Cathedral for the Diocese when it was established in 1982.

The Cathedral website is shown as stgeorgecc.org, but does not seem to work.  The Cathedral’s facebook page is facebook.com/StGeorgeByzantineCatholicChurch.  The Diocesan website is romaniancatholic.org.  The Cathedral is located about four miles northeast of downtown Canton and has one weekend mass.

The first two are from the Cathedral's Facebook page and the last two were taken by me.

Update

Martin Amos retired as Bishop of Davenport recently.  Pope Francis has replaced him with Thomas R. Zinkula.  Zinkula was born in Mount Vernon, Ohio, in 1957 and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Dubuque in 1990.  He previously served as rector of St. Pius X Seminary at Loras College in Dubuque.  Zinkula earned a law degree from the University of Iowa.