About Cathedral of Saint George [Romanian] · Canton, Ohio
St. George Romanian Byzantine Catholic Cathedral is the cathedral church of the Romanian Greek Catholic Eparchy of St. George in Canton, located at 1121 44th Street NE in Canton, Ohio. Founded in 1912 by Romanian immigrants and their pastor Rev. Fr. Aurel Hatiegan with about 65 founding members, it is the mother parish of Romanian Byzantine Catholics in the United States and serves as the seat (cathedra) of the Romanian Catholic bishop in America. The current modern church was dedicated on October 5, 1975, and the parish was raised to cathedral status in 1983 when the Apostolic Exarchate for Romanian Catholics in the United States was established. Today the cathedral is led by Rector Very Rev. Ovidiu Mărginean under the pastoral care of Bishop John Michael Botean.
- Established
- 1912
- Patron
- Saint George the Martyr
- Rector
- Very Rev. Ovidiu Mărginean (Rector; appointed July 2010; seventh rector of St. George Cathedral)
- Diocese
- Romanian Greek Catholic Eparchy of St. George in Canton (immediately exempt to the Holy See)
Why belong here
St. George Cathedral is the historic spiritual home of Romanian Byzantine Catholics in the United States and the seat of their bishop — a parish where a century-old community gathers for Divine Liturgy in both Romanian and English in the full Byzantine tradition. Visitors can experience a modern cathedral centered on a consecrated iconostasis, ongoing devotions such as Great Vespers (Saturdays at 6:30 p.m.), the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd faith formation program for children, Byzantine chant led by long-serving cantors, and a tightly knit diaspora community that has maintained Romanian language, culture, and Catholic faith across four generations. Its combination of heritage, liturgical beauty, and welcoming small-parish community makes it a meaningful place both for Romanian-American faithful and for anyone interested in the Eastern Catholic tradition.
Mass times at Cathedral of Saint George [Romanian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 9:30 AM – 9:50 AM (in Romanian or English)
History of St. George Parish and Cathedral
Founded September 29, 1912 by Rev. Fr. Aurel Hatiegan and 65 members, St. George is the mother church of Romanian Byzantine Catholicism in the United States. Its present modern cathedral at 1121 44th Street NE was consecrated October 5, 1975, and the parish was raised to cathedral status in 1983 with the establishment of the Apostolic Exarchate for Romanian Catholics in the U.S., elevated to a full eparchy by Pope John Paul II on April 11, 1987.
- 1912 – Parish founded; first frame church blessed Nov. 10, 1912 at Gibbs Ave. & 9th St.
- 1934 – Second church on Seventh Street NE blessed July 29, 1934
- 1939 – Bishop McFadden of Cleveland consecrated the parish church
- 1943 – Parish comes under the new Roman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown
- 1975 – Present cathedral consecrated Oct. 5, 1975 (cost $1,097,805)
- 1978 – Mortgage burned and iconostasis consecrated Aug. 28, 1978
- 1983 – Parish elevated to cathedral of the new Romanian Catholic Exarchate
- 1987 – Exarchate elevated to Eparchy of St. George the Martyr
- 2012 – Centennial celebrated
Divine Liturgy, Sacraments, and Schedule
The cathedral celebrates the Byzantine Divine Liturgy in the Romanian and English languages. Weekday liturgies are held Tuesday through Saturday mornings, with the principal Sunday Divine Liturgy at 10:00 AM. Confessions are heard each Sunday before Liturgy in either Romanian or English.
- Sunday Divine Liturgy: 10:00 AM
- Tuesday–Friday: 8:30 AM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM
- Holy Days: 12:00 PM and 6:30 PM; Vigil 6:30 PM
- Confessions: Sunday 9:30–9:50 AM (Romanian or English)
- Live stream via stgeorge.click2stream.com
Byzantine Architecture and Furnishings
The present cathedral is a Modern-style church designed by Richard Johnson (selected 1972) and built by William Pachan Construction Co. (1974–1975). It seats roughly 220 people and features a consecrated iconostasis screen donated entirely by the membership. A wooden church of St. Panteleimon, consecrated in 2005, stands on the cathedral grounds.
- Designer: Richard Johnson (1972)
- General contractor: William Pachan Construction Co. (1974)
- Groundbreaking: September 29, 1974
- Consecration: October 5, 1975
- Iconostasis consecrated: August 28, 1978 ($26,000, member-donated)
- Capacity: approximately 220
Faith Formation: Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Introduced under Fr. Emmanuel Samayoa, the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a Montessori-inspired religious formation program for children. The cathedral operates two atriums — one for children ages 3 to 6 and another for older children — designed to nurture the child's faith, moral, and psychological growth.
- Two atriums on the cathedral grounds
- Ages 3–6 atrium and older-children atrium
- Based on the Association for the Religious Formation of the Child
Music and Cantor Ministry
Byzantine chant at St. George is led by a continuous line of cantors dating back to the parish's founding. Teodor Moga was the first cantor (1912–1922), followed by George Pop (to 1947) and Ovidiu Popa (to his death in 1971). Today Reader and Cantor James Dershaw leads the chant, accompanied by William Gal and Deacon Cal Gal.
- Teodor Moga (1912–1922)
- George Pop (to 1947)
- Ovidiu Popa (to 1971)
- James Dershaw (1993–present)
- William Gal (from 2008)
- Deacon Cal Gal
Community Organizations and Heritage
Beyond liturgical life, St. George sustains Romanian language classes (founded 1917), the Sf. Maria Ladies Auxiliary (founded August 14, 1924), and parish committees that have historically guided building projects and community events. The cathedral remains the cultural and spiritual anchor for Romanian Americans throughout northeast Ohio.
- Sf. Maria Ladies Auxiliary (since 1924)
- Romanian language classes (since 1917)
- Parish council and building committees
- Live-streaming ministry for the homebound
The Eparchy of St. George in Canton
The Eparchy of St. George in Canton is the canonical home of Romanian Greek (Byzantine) Catholics in the United States and Canada, immediately exempt to the Holy See. It was established as an Apostolic Exarchate in 1982–1983 and elevated to a full eparchy on April 11, 1987. The cathedral parish in Canton is its mother church, headed since 1996 by Bishop John Michael Botean, who previously served St. George as parish priest from 1990 to 1993.
- Established March 26, 1987 as Eparchy (originally Exarchate 1982/83)
- Eparch: Bishop John Michael Botean (since 1996)
- Approximately 6,000 faithful; 18 parishes (2020 data)
- Diocesan offices at 1121 44th St. NE, Canton
- Website: romaniancatholic.org
Visiting St. George Cathedral
Visitors are warmly welcomed at any service. Sunday Divine Liturgy at 10:00 AM is the principal gathering, with confessions beforehand at 9:30 AM. The cathedral complex sits on 8¼ acres on 44th Street NE in northeast Canton, with on-site parking. Those unable to attend in person may follow the liturgy live via the parish's online stream.
- Address: 1121 44th Street NE, Canton, OH 44714-1297
- Phone: (330) 492-8413
- Fax: (330) 493-9963
- Free on-site parking
- Live stream: stgeorge.click2stream.com
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Fr. Aurel Hatiegan1912–1917 (visiting)
Founding pastor; guided the establishment of St. George Romanian Greek Catholic Church of Canton on September 29, 1912 with about 65 members.
- Rev. Fr. Dr. Coriolan Pop-Lupu1917–1927
First resident pastor, sent through the offices of the Metropolitan of Blaj. Consolidated parish administration; led adoption of parish consolidation on June 24, 1917; started Romanian language classes; founded Sf. Maria Ladies Auxiliary on August 14, 1924.
- Rev. Fr. Aurel Voda1927–1928
Visiting priest after Fr. Pop-Lupu's return to Romania.
- Rev. Fr. Ioan Spatariu1928–1929 (and again as visiting priest until 1934)
Visiting priest; later returned as visiting priest after Fr. Vamosiu's transfer to Cleveland.
- Rev. Fr. Victor Vamosiu1929–1930 (and again as resident pastor 1934)
Later transferred to Cleveland; returned to bless the new Seventh Street church on July 29, 1934.
- Rev. Fr. Ioan Vuc1937–1939
Visiting priest after Fr. Vamosiu's 1937 resignation.
- Rev. Fr. Alexander Comsia1937–1939
Visiting priest who administered the parish with Fr. Vuc for two years.
- Rev. Fr. Ilie Crihalmean1939–1972
Arrived from Blaj June 25, 1939; installed August 28, 1939. Bishop McFadden of Cleveland consecrated the church in 1939; oversaw parish decision to join Cleveland diocese in 1940 and automatic transfer to the new Diocese of Youngstown in 1943. Died October 30, 1972.
- Fr. Mircea Toderici1972–1973 (interim)
Of Cleveland; served the parish with Fr. John Pavel until Msgr. Capros arrived.
- Fr. John Pavel1972–1973 (interim)
Of Youngstown; interim priest.
- Rt. Rev. Msgr. Carol Capros, Sc. E.O.D.1973–1983
Arrived from Rome September 23, 1973; oversaw design and construction of the present cathedral (consecrated October 5, 1975) and the consecration of the iconostasis on August 28, 1978. Retired 1983.
- Very Rev. Louis Puscas1983–1986
First rector of the cathedral; appointed first Exarch of the Romanian Catholic Exarchate in the U.S. on June 26, 1983; installed at the cathedral August 28, 1983; later first Bishop of the Eparchy.
- Fr. John FilipJune 30, 1986 – 1987
Served the parish until his retirement in 1987.
- Rev. Fr. Kenneth F. Yossa1987–1990
Succeeded Fr. Filip; transferred to St. Mary Church, Roebling, New Jersey in 1990.
- Rev. Fr. John Michael BoteanSeptember 1, 1990 – 1993
Native son of the parish; later Apostolic Administrator (1993), then ordained Bishop of the Eparchy on August 24, 1996.
- Deacon John Skalafrom 1990 (ordained priest 1997)
Came to the cathedral in 1990 as deacon; ordained a priest by Bishop Botean in 1997.
- Msgr. Gregory Duma1994–1998 (first rector term)
Came to the cathedral in 1994 to serve as rector; left for Romania in 1998. Returned from Romania in 2005 and was again named rector; retired again in September 2009.
- Very Rev. Archpriest Fr. Charles Mezzomo1998–2000
Took over as rector after Msgr. Duma's departure.
- Fr. Emmanuel Samayoa2000–c. 2005
Rector; during his tenure introduced the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd faith-formation program with two atriums.
- Msgr. Gregory Duma2005–September 2009 (second rector term)
Returned from Romania; renamed rector; retired September 2009.
- Fr. Paul Voida2005–May 2006
Ordained deacon 2005, ordained priest July 2005; served as associate pastor; went to St. Mary, McKeesport, PA in May 2006 as administrator.
- Fr. Ovidiu Mărgineanfrom 2006 (associate); Rector from July 2010
Ordained deacon 2005, ordained priest 2006 by Bishop Botean; named associate pastor and administrator of St. Theodore, Alliance; elevated to Iconom Stavrofor (Very Reverend) in May 2010; appointed seventh rector of St. George Cathedral in July 2010.