Annunciation [Ruthenian]

Welcome and Identity

Annunciation Byzantine Catholic Church is the Ruthenian (Byzantine rite) Catholic parish serving Orange County, California. Its home is 995 N. West Street in Anaheim, where the community gathers for the chanted Divine Liturgy, Byzantine Christian formation, and a busy parish social life. The parish is canonically part of the Holy Protection of Mary Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix and sits geographically within the territory of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange.

Our History

The mission parish was established on July 20, 1969, when Fathers Eugene Chromonoga and Joseph Ridelia celebrated the first Divine Liturgy at St. Catherine's Military School Chapel in Anaheim. It grew out of mid-1960s migration of Ruthenian families from St. Mary's in Van Nuys and St. Nicholas of Fontana to Orange County. The congregation developed a chapel and offices in a former Spanish-style house on Harbor Boulevard (associated with 'Our Gang' actress Darla), acquired land on North West Street in 1988, and built its present sanctuary, social hall, classrooms, and bell tower in 1999–2000. The church was solemnly blessed on May 16, 2006, and the paid-off mortgage was ceremonially burned in July 2021. The parish celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2019.

• 1969 — First Divine Liturgy at St. Catherine's Military School Chapel, July 20
• 1972 — Father George M. Kuzma assigned; Harbor Blvd. property developed as chapel, office, and hall
• 1982 — Pope John Paul II erects the Eparchy of Van Nuys for Western U.S. Byzantine Catholics
• 1987 — Monsignor George N. Vida appointed pastor
• 1988 — 2.5 acres on North West Street near La Palma acquired
• 1999 — Ground broken on sanctuary, hall, classrooms, and bell tower (~$4 million project)
• 2000 — Hall and bell tower dedicated
• 2006 — Church blessed, May 16
• 2010 — Eparchy renamed Holy Protection of Mary Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix
• 2015 — Mitered Archpriest Stephen G. Washko appointed pastor
• 2021 — Mortgage burned at Hierarchical Divine Liturgy with Bishop John Pazak

Ruthenian and Byzantine Heritage

The parish is part of the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church, whose ancestors came from the Carpathian region of what is now southern Ukraine and migrated to Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Croatia, and ultimately to the United States. Through intermarriage and an attraction to Eastern spirituality, many non-ethnic faithful have joined, so the American church presents itself as Byzantine (not strictly ethnic) Catholic, in communion with Rome, served by bishops who are part of the Pittsburgh Metropolia. Byzantine worship is entirely sung, uses abundant incense, and is led by a cantor and choir without musical instruments.

• Byzantine Ruthenian rite, in full communion with the Pope
• Jurisdiction: Holy Protection of Mary Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix
• Byzantine worship is chanted; cantor and choir lead the singing
• Geographically within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange

Pastor and Parish Leadership

The parish is served by Mitered Archpriest Stephen G. Washko, who was appointed pastor in March 2015 and also serves as Syncellus for the California clergy of the Eparchy of Phoenix. He is originally from Detroit and previously served in Phoenix. Concelebrating clergy such as Fr. John Monestero assist for major feasts, and the parish is also assisted by deacons (Deacon Greg and Deacon Jonathan participated in the 2021 mortgage-burning liturgy).

• Parish Liturgy Coordinator: Marya Weil
• Parish Finance Council: Andy Spisak, Stephen Kopko, Robert Erickson
• Parish Advisory Board: Stephen Kopko, Jan Washicko, Marya Weil, Bruce Terry, Helen Malinick, Nana Erickson, John Sheftic, Beth Gath

Divine Liturgy and Schedule of Services

The regular Sunday schedule is the chanted Divine Liturgy at 10:00 AM, preceded by Confession, the Third Hour, and choir practice. Saturday offers a 9:00 AM Divine Liturgy and 6:00 PM Great Vespers. Holy Days are marked by a 7:30 PM Vigil Vespers/Liturgy the evening before and a 9:00 AM Feast Day Divine Liturgy. During Great Lent, the parish adds Matins with Communion on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday at 9:00 AM and the Presanctified Liturgy on Wednesday at 7:30 PM. Wednesdays the parish office is closed and there are no Holy Services, while during Great and Holy Week additional services such as the Presanctified Liturgy with Anointing of the Sick, the Vesper/Liturgy of St. Basil, and the Vespers with the candlelight procession of the Burial Shroud are scheduled.

• Sunday — 10:00 AM Divine Liturgy (live-streamed)
• Saturday — 9:00 AM Divine Liturgy; 6:00 PM Great Vespers
• Holy Days — 7:30 PM Vigil Vesper/Liturgy and 9:00 AM Feast Day Divine Liturgy
• Lent — Mon/Tue/Fri 9:00 AM Matins with Communion; Wed 7:30 PM Presanctified Liturgy
• Wednesdays — Parish office closed; no Holy Services

Eastern Christian Formation and Religious Education

The parish runs an Eastern Christian Formation (ECF) program for children that runs from September through June on Sundays after the Divine Liturgy, with the 2017 bulletin listing classes through the end of the academic year and a designated 'last day' for the program in late May. Adult Inquiry Sessions are held in the lower level after Sunday Liturgy for those exploring the Byzantine Catholic faith, and catechetical instruction also took place at the parish office during the week in earlier years.

• ECF classes for children, Sunday after Liturgy
• Adult Inquiry Sessions in the lower level after Sunday Liturgy
• Catechetical instruction for those preparing for the sacraments

Music, Liturgy, and the Cantor Program

In keeping with the Byzantine Ruthenian tradition, all liturgical services at Annunciation are chanted and sung — there are no musical instruments. A cantor and the choir lead the singing from the chant books referenced in the bulletin. The parish participates in the Metropolitan Cantor Institute, an online cantor-training program run by the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, and the Choirs of Annunciation Byzantine Catholic Church have released recordings on Apple Music. Parishioners are regularly invited to choir rehearsal and the cantor roster is maintained for the Eparchy of Phoenix.

• Cantor and choir lead all sung services — no instruments
• Choir rehearsal typically before Sunday Liturgy
• Metropolitan Cantor Institute online courses supported
• Recordings released on Apple Music as 'Choirs of Annunciation Byzantine Catholic Church'

Sacraments

Annunciation celebrates the Byzantine Catholic sacraments (Mysteries) including Baptism/Chrismation/Communion, the Mystery of Crowning (Marriage), Anointing of the Sick, and Confession, as well as the Byzantine tradition of Quinceañera. Baptism/Chrismation requires membership and preparation with a class; Marriage arrangements must be made at least six months in advance; Anointing of the Sick and Shut-In visits are arranged through the parish office and may be given in church after the Liturgy.

• Baptism / Chrismation / Communion — membership and preparation class required
• Mystery of Crowning (Marriage) — 6 months' notice required
• Anointing of the Sick and Shut-Ins — arranged through the Parish Office
• Confession — Sunday 9:00–9:50 AM and by appointment
• Quinceañera — for parish members in the ECF program

Parish Life, Fellowship, and Outreach

Parish life is active and visible: a Coffee Social follows Sunday Liturgy in the parish hall, the parish hosts an annual craft fair (held in late September), bake sales, Baby Showers for expectant families, and Parish Work Days for property projects. Father Stephen and parishioners offer a Prosphora (altar bread) baking class each year so that children and adults can participate in making the bread the priest consecrates at the Liturgy. The parish also takes an annual pilgrimage with the Metropolitan Archbishop and Eparchial Bishop to the Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

• Coffee Social in the Parish Hall after Sunday Liturgy
• Annual craft fair with $40 reserved vendor spaces (coordinated through Nicole Perlman)
• Prosphora altar bread baking class for children and adults
• Annual Our Lady of Perpetual Help Shrine Pilgrimage (with the Metropolitan Archbishop and Eparchial Bishop)
• Parish Work Days, Baby Showers, and bake sales
• Parish hall serves as a designated Voting Center for Primary Elections

Livestream and Online Giving

All Liturgies at Annunciation are live-streamed on the parish's Facebook page so that the faithful who cannot be present can still follow the services online. The parish also accepts donations through Zelle (angelgabriel995) and via the 'Donate' button on its website, and participates in the yearly Bishop's Appeal. Zelle is also accepted for craft fair reservations and other parish events.

• Live-streamed Divine Liturgies on Facebook (facebook.com/annunciation.byzantine)
• Livestream page on the parish website (annunciationbyzantine.org/livestream)
• Online donations via website and Zelle (angelgabriel995)
• Yearly Bishop's Appeal

Contact and Location

The parish is at 995 N. West Street, Anaheim, CA 92801, on West Street just south of La Palma Avenue. The Parish Office can be reached at (714) 533-6292 or by email at [email protected]. The parish bulletin (formerly at [email protected]) and weekly schedule are the most reliable sources for any week-to-week variations in the service times.

• Address: 995 N. West Street, Anaheim, CA 92801
• Phone (Office): (714) 533-6292
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: http://www.annunciationbyzantine.org/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annunciation.byzantine/