About Dormition of Saint Mary Mother of God [Ruthenian] · Cleveland, Ohio
The Dormition of the Mother of God Church (formerly known as St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church) is a Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic mission parish located at 4600 State Road in Cleveland, Ohio. Founded in 1938 by Carpatho-Rusyn immigrant families in Cleveland's Brooklyn district, it is one of the older Byzantine Catholic communities in the United States and today serves as the principal worship site for the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma while the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Parma undergoes restoration. The parish celebrates the Divine Liturgy in English (with Byzantine chant) according to the Ruthenian liturgical tradition, and is home to St. Mary Byzantine Catholic School — reported to be the only Byzantine Catholic school in America still maintaining grades K through 8.
- Established
- 1938
- Patron
- Dormition of the Mother of God (Mary)
- Rector
- Very Rev. Mitred Archpriest Marek Visnovsky (Rector, Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and Dormition Parish)
- Diocese
- Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma (Ruthenian)
Why belong here
The Dormition parish offers the rare combination of a deeply rooted Ruthenian Byzantine liturgical tradition and an active family life centered on the historic 1950 church on State Road. Worshippers can pray the Divine Liturgy in a fully Byzantine setting — with Matins, Festal Vespers, and the Divine Liturgy celebrated on Sundays and weekdays — while also taking part in a long-running Tuesday hospitality outreach and a parish school that has served as the only Byzantine Catholic K–8 school in America. For Byzantine Catholics in the Cleveland area, this is the heart of the Eparchy's worship life while the cathedral is being restored.
Mass times at Dormition of Saint Mary Mother of God [Ruthenian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm (at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, 5500 W. 54th St., Parma)
History of St. Mary / Dormition Parish
The parish traces its origins to early 1938, when five men of Cleveland's Brooklyn district organized 137 families into what would become the Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic community of St. Mary, canonically founded on August 15, 1938 — the Feast of the Dormition — by Very Reverend Dean Edmund Tabakovich on behalf of Bishop Basil Takach. The first temporary pastor, Father Stephen Petrick, blessed a converted wooden building on State Road as a chapel on September 25, 1938.
- Founded August 15, 1938, under the patronage of Mary, the Dormition of the Mother of God
- Founders: Stephen Monchak, Wasil Molchan, Wasil Zevchik, John Radio, Michael Kurak
- 72 families attended the founding assembly; 137 families on the original list
- First temporary pastor: Father Stephen Petrick (blessing Sept. 25, 1938)
- First permanent pastor: Father Daniel Ivancho (early 1939)
Father Daniel Ivancho and the Parish's Episcopal Chapter
During Father Daniel Ivancho's pastorate (1939–1945), the parish grew materially and spiritually — additional lots were purchased, the wooden church was bought outright, and a rectory was built. On August 29, 1946, Pope Pius XII appointed him titular Bishop of Europus and Coadjutor to Bishop Takach, and he was consecrated on November 5, 1946, at St. Paul's Cathedral, Pittsburgh, with Monsignor Fulton J. Sheen as homilist. This was the first time such an honor had fallen on a Ruthenian parish in America.
- Father Ivancho ordained priest September 30, 1934 (Bishop Takach)
- Apostolic Delegate announcement August 29, 1946
- Consecration November 5, 1946, at St. Paul's Cathedral, Pittsburgh
- Father Emil Masich assisted him from November 1945; later served as administrator
Building the Present Church (1947–1950)
Father Nicholas Elko succeeded as pastor on April 1, 1947. A successful fundraising campaign led to groundbreaking on October 3, 1948; Bishop Ivancho returned to bless the cornerstone on May 9, 1949. The Solemn Blessing and Dedication of the new St. Mary Church took place on April 30, 1950, with Bishop Ivancho officiating and Roman Catholic Bishop Edward F. Hoban and Bishop Floyd L. Begin among the concelebrants.
- Pastor Father Nicholas Elko appointed April 1, 1947
- Groundbreaking October 3, 1948
- Cornerstone blessed May 9, 1949
- Solemn Blessing and Dedication April 30, 1950
School and Early Childhood Education
St. Mary Byzantine Catholic School has long been a centerpiece of parish life. According to the parish's own history page, it is currently the only Byzantine Catholic school in America maintaining grades K through 8, drawing children from a wide range of backgrounds and 'preparing them well for the rigors of High School life.' Teaching is now lay-led; the school no longer has religious sisters on staff. The parish also operates a preschool and daycare.
- Grades K–8
- Preschool and Daycare (moved into the main school/church complex in 2013)
- Kindergarten and Student Library moved to the church basement circa 2002 to consolidate under one roof
Outreach: The Hospitality House
In March 1989, the parish opened a Hospitality House in the front area of the old Producers complex on State Road, serving a hot meal every Tuesday to anyone who came through the door — the needy, the lonely, and those seeking friendship and support. After 13 years it relocated in July 2002 to Holy Spirit Byzantine Catholic Church on W. 54th in Parma, where it has continued to serve weekly meals. Dorothy and Ken Papke are credited with organizing and maintaining the ministry.
- Founded March 1989 in the Producers complex
- Open every Tuesday — a hot meal for all who come
- Relocated July 2002 to Holy Spirit Byzantine Catholic Church, Parma
- Dorothy and Ken Papke — long-time organizers
Liturgical Schedule (Byzantine Rite)
The parish celebrates the full cycle of Byzantine liturgical services in English. Sunday worship centers on Matins followed by the Divine Liturgy; daily services are also offered. Festal occasions are marked by Festal Matins and Festal Vespers with Litija. The Saturday Vigil Divine Liturgy and Great Vespers are currently celebrated at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Parma while restoration continues.
- Sunday: 9:00 am Matins, 10:00 am Divine Liturgy
- Daily: 8:00 am Matins, 8:30 am Divine Liturgy
- Saturday (Cathedral, 5500 W. 54th St., Parma): 4:00 pm Great Vespers / Divine Liturgy
- Festal: 9:00 am Festal Matins, 10:00 am Divine Liturgy, 6:00 pm Festal Vespers with Litija
- Sunday Rosary: 9:30 am
Clergy and Governance
The Dormition Parish is administered as part of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma (Ruthenian), with Bishop Kurt Burnette serving as Apostolic Administrator. The Very Rev. Mitred Archpriest Marek Visnovsky is the Rector of both the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and Dormition Parish. Rev. Michael Lee has served in the Eparchy (including assignments at St. Mary Byzantine) since 2014.
- Bishop Kurt Burnette — Apostolic Administrator, Eparchy of Parma
- Very Rev. Mitred Archpriest Marek Visnovsky — Rector
- Rev. Michael Lee — Parochial Vicar (per public LinkedIn profile)
Faithful of Memory and the Credit Union
The parish history page devotes considerable attention to remembering founders and benefactors who 'sadly lost' the community over the decades, and to the St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Credit Union — a parish-affiliated financial institution that has long served the Byzantine Catholic community of Greater Cleveland.
- St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Credit Union — long-standing parish institution
- 75th anniversary celebrated in 2013
Contact and Visiting
Parish offices are located at the historic 4600 State Road complex. Inquiries may be directed through the parish phone line or via the contact email listed on the Eparchy's directory. Online giving is available through the parish website.
- Address: 4600 State Road, Cleveland, OH 44109
- Phone: (216) 741-7979
- Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
- Website: http://www.stmarybyz.com/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Stephen Petrick1938
First temporary pastor; blessed the original wooden chapel on September 25, 1938.
- Father Daniel Ivancho1939–1945
First permanent pastor; ordained 1934; appointed titular Bishop of Europus and Coadjutor to Bishop Takach in 1946; later Bishop of Pittsburgh.
- Father Emil Masich1945–1947
Newly ordained in November 1945; served as parish administrator when Bishop Ivancho departed for Homestead.
- Father Nicholas Elko1947–
Oversaw construction and 1950 dedication of the present church; later became a bishop (Bishop Elko).
- Father Bodnar
Submitted new school plans to Bishop Elko.