About Cathedral of Saint John Baptist [Ruthenian] · Parma, Ohio
The Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist is the mother church and episcopal seat of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma, a diocese of the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church sui iuris located in Parma, Ohio. Established as a parish in 1898 by Rusyn immigrants in Cleveland, the cathedral was originally situated on East 22nd Street, then moved to Snow Road in Parma in 1960, and was relocated again to a renovated Holy Spirit site in 2024 following a multi-parish merger. Known as the mother church of Byzantine Catholics in Ohio, the cathedral serves English-speaking and Ruthenian faithful with the Byzantine liturgical rite.
- Established
- 1898
- Patron
- Saint John the Baptist
- Rector
- Very Rev. Mitred Archpriest Marek Visnovsky (Rector of the Cathedral)
- Diocese
- Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma (Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church)
Why belong here
Worshiping at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist means joining the mother church of the Byzantine Ruthenian Catholic faithful in Ohio — a community rooted in 1898 Rusyn immigrant heritage and now serving a broad Eparchy of Parma family. The cathedral offers the fullness of Byzantine liturgical life — Divine Liturgy sung and prayed in the Eastern tradition, festal Vespers with Litija, daily Matins, and devotion to the Holy Mysteries — under the pastoral care of a Mitred Archpriest with strong episcopal oversight. As the cathedral has entered a new chapter under a unified three-parish entity, parishioners are invited to participate in the renewal of Byzantine Catholic identity in Northeast Ohio with its deep history and ongoing mission.
Mass times at Cathedral of Saint John Baptist [Ruthenian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM (at Dormition / unified parish)
History of the Cathedral
St. John the Baptist traces its roots to 1898, when Ruthenian Greek Catholic immigrants in Cleveland began meeting for worship. Founded under Father Peter Keselak, the parish first used St. Joseph's Chapel at East 23rd and Woodland, then moved through a rented hall to a purchased site at East 22nd and Scovill. A 1913 triple-domed church was demolished in 1961 after the state acquired the property for Cleveland's Innerbelt. The parish built a new Byzantine-style church at Snow and Broadview Roads in Parma, dedicated in 1960, and rose to cathedral status in 1969 with the erection of the Eparchy of Parma by Pope Paul VI.
- Founded 1898 in Cleveland
- Triple-domed church built 1913 by Rev. Stefan Makar
- Snow Road cathedral designed by John F. Lipaj, dedicated 6 November 1960
- Elevated to cathedral 21 February 1969
Liturgy and Worship
The cathedral celebrates the Byzantine Rite in English (with Church Slavonic elements) following the liturgical tradition of the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church. The combined parish currently celebrates all services at the Dormition of the Mother of God Church at 4600 State Road, Cleveland. Sunday Divine Liturgy is sung at 10:00 AM with Sunday Matins at 8:00 AM, daily Matins at 8:00 AM, and Daily Divine Liturgy at 8:30 AM. Festal Vespers with Litija is offered at 6:00 PM.
- Sunday Divine Liturgy 10:00 AM
- Sunday Matins 8:00 AM
- Daily Matins 8:00 AM
- Daily Divine Liturgy 8:30 AM
- Festal Vespers with Litija 6:00 PM
- Saturday Vigil Divine Liturgy 4:00 PM
Holy Mysteries (Byzantine Sacraments)
Byzantine Catholics recognize seven Holy Mysteries (Sacraments). The eparchy website provides teaching on Mystery of Repentance (Confession), urging faithful to approach the priest standing before the analogion to express their sins, receive a prayer of absolution, and be given a penance — offering peace and mercy through Christ. The cathedral also administers Baptism, the Anointing of the Sick, and Marriage according to Byzantine tradition. Confessions are heard Saturday 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM at the Dormition of the Mother of God Church.
- Repentance (Confession)
- Divine Eucharist
- Baptism
- Anointing of the Sick
- Marriage (Byzantine rite)
Eparchy of Parma
The Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma is a Ruthenian Greek Catholic diocese spanning Ohio (except eastern border counties) and states west of Ohio (plus Alaska and Hawaii), headquartered in Parma, Ohio. The eparchy is a suffragan of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh and depends upon the Roman Congregation for the Oriental Churches. Since 21 February 1969, its bishops have been Emil John Mihalik (1969–1984), Andrew Pataki (1984–1996), Basil Schott (1996–2002), John Kudrick (2002–2016), and Milan Lach (2017–2023). Robert Mark Pipta was appointed the sixth bishop in 2023.
- Established 21 February 1969 by Pope Paul VI
- Suffragan of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh
- Byzantine Rite
- Bishop Robert Mark Pipta, sixth bishop of Parma (2023–present)
- Bishop Emil John Mihalik (first eparch)
2021 Merger and 2024 Cathedral Relocation
On 5 March 2021, Bishop Milan Lach decreed the merger of St. John's parish with Holy Spirit Parish (Parma) and Dormition of the Mother of God Parish (Cleveland/St. Mary's). The Congregation for the Eastern Churches initially reversed the decree, but an amended merger was republished on 29 March 2021 and the merged parish adopted the Dormition of the Mother of God name at the Cleveland site. On 7 October 2024, Bishop Pipta officially transferred cathedral status of St. John the Baptist to the former Holy Spirit Church in Parma, deconsecrated the 1960 Snow Road church, and announced planned renovations adding multiple domes in Hutzul Ruthenian architectural style.
- March 2021: Decree merging three parishes (later republished)
- 7 October 2024: Transfer of cathedral to former Holy Spirit Church
- 7 October 2024: Snow Road cathedral deconsecrated
- Proposed renovation in Hutzul Ruthenian architectural style
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Ivan Matyaczko1898–c.1900
First pastor at founding; sometimes listed as F. Matyack.
- Rev. Peter Keselakc.1900
Succeeded Matyaczko as pastor.
- Rev. Stefan Makarearly 1900s–1922
Built the triple-domed church at E. 22nd and Scovill in 1913.
- Rev. Stephan Gulyassy1922–1966
Stabilized a divided parish and led it through the relocation era until his death in 1966.
- Various pastors1966–present
Succession after Rev. Gulyassy (1966) through merger (2021), with current rector Very Rev. Mitred Archpriest Marek Visnovsky.
![Cathedral of Saint John Baptist [Ruthenian] in Parma, Ohio — photo 1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cathedral_of_St._John_the_Baptist_(former)_-_Snow_Road,_Parma,_Ohio.jpg "Cathedral of Saint John Baptist [Ruthenian]")