About Holy Angels [Ruthenian] · San Diego, California
Holy Angels Byzantine Catholic Church is a Ruthenian (Byzantine) Catholic parish in the Angel Heights neighborhood of Serra Mesa, San Diego, California. In full communion with the Pope of Rome, the parish worships in the ancient Eastern Christian tradition — most notably through the Divine Liturgy celebrated in English with congregational chanting, icons, incense, and Communion distributed by spoon. Founded in 1958 as a mission and raised to parish status in 1960, Holy Angels is part of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy (Holy Protection of Mary) of Phoenix and serves a multigenerational, English-speaking community whose members have journeyed to the Byzantine rite from many faith backgrounds.
- Established
- 1958 (mission) / 1960 (parish)
- Patron
- Holy Angels
- Rector
- Fr. James Bankston (Administrator, appointed September 1, 2019)
- Diocese
- Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Holy Protection of Mary of Phoenix (Ruthenian); geographically within the territory of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego
Why belong here
Holy Angels is a family-oriented Byzantine Catholic parish that welcomes newcomers from many faith traditions — Roman Catholic, other Christian backgrounds, and even non-Christian spiritual journeys — into the ancient Eastern liturgy sung entirely in English. The community is small enough to know you by name yet vibrant enough to offer religious education from Pre-K through Grade 12, a youth group (Byzanteens), women's and men's fellowship (Myrrh-Bearers, Alive in Christ), a Byzantine Bookshelf and icon shop, and a beloved Ethnic Foods ministry. Weekly Matins, Great Vespers, and the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts during Great Fast give parishioners a fuller rhythm of prayer beyond Sunday morning, and the Angel Heights campus overlooks Mission Valley from a quiet cul-de-sac in Serra Mesa.
Mass times at Holy Angels [Ruthenian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 4:00 – 4:45 PM
- 30 minutes before services
- By appointment
About Holy Angels Parish
Holy Angels Byzantine Catholic Church is a Ruthenian (Byzantine) Catholic parish in the Angel Heights area of Serra Mesa, San Diego. In full communion with the Pope of Rome, the parish celebrates the ancient Eastern Christian liturgy in English and welcomes visitors and seekers from any background. The community is multigenerational and explicitly describes itself as 'family oriented,' with many members having journeyed to the Byzantine rite from Roman Catholic, other Christian, and non-Christian traditions.
- Part of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Holy Protection of Mary of Phoenix (Ruthenian)
- Located geographically within the territory of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego
- All liturgical services celebrated in English
- Address: 2235 Galahad Road, San Diego, CA 92123-3931
- Parish office phone: (858) 277-2511
- Email: [email protected]
History of Holy Angels
Founded in 1958 as a Byzantine Catholic mission worshipping in a Carmelite Monastery chapel and raised to parish status in May 1960, Holy Angels is one of the oldest Ruthenian Catholic communities in the western United States. Growth from 18 to 54 households in three months prompted Bishop Nicholas Elko to assign a resident pastor, the Reverend Paul Fetch. After two decades of fund-raising — bazaars, baking, and kolbasi production — the parish built its current church in the Angel Heights neighborhood in 1978. Successive pastors have retired the building debt, navigated changes in eparchial structure, and carried out a major two-phase renovation completed in 2016. On September 1, 2019, Father James Bankston was appointed Administrator.
- 1958 – First Divine Liturgy celebrated by Fr. William Levkulic at Carmelite Monastery Chapel, June 1
- 1960 – Mission raised to parish status by Bishop Nicholas Elko; Fr. Paul Fetch appointed first resident pastor
- 1969 – Fr. Joseph Radvansky becomes pastor; planning begins for a permanent church
- 1973 – Angel Heights property purchased at Cal-Trans auction for $33,000 on the Feast of Saint Nicholas
- 1978 – New church constructed; first liturgy in new church celebrated November 12
- 1979 – Bishop Emil Mihalik of Parma blesses the church on February 4
- 1981 – Eparchy of Van Nuys established for the Western United States
- 1983 – 25th anniversary celebrated by Bishop Thomas Dolinay
- 1998 – 40th anniversary celebrated
- 2004 – Fr. Robert Pipta appointed; Phase One renovations begin
- 2010 – Eparchy renamed Holy Protection of Mary Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix; new rectory purchased
- 2012–2016 – Phase Two renovations: expanded hall, new façade, replaced parking lot, restored dome
- 2019 – Fr. James Bankston appointed Administrator on September 1
Liturgical Life & How We Worship
The parish worships in the Byzantine tradition, with services sung a cappella, led by a cantor, and entirely in English. The Byzantine Mass is called the Divine Liturgy — the central act of worship and thanksgiving — and is surrounded by the 'Divine Praises' (Matins, the Hours, Vespers, Compline, and the Midnight Office). At Holy Angels the Divine Liturgy is most commonly celebrated on Sundays at 9:00 AM, with Great Vespers on Saturday evenings and the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts each Friday evening during the Great Fast.
- Divine Liturgy (Sunday) – 9:00 AM
- Great Vespers – Saturday 5:00 PM
- Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts – Friday 6:00 PM during Great Fast
- Matins and other Hours – see monthly calendar
- All services sung a cappella; congregational responses led by a cantor
- Icons throughout the church, with a central icon screen and 'holy doors'
- Incense used as a sign of reverence and purification
- Congregation bows and signs the cross often; genuflection is not practiced
Receiving Holy Communion
At Holy Angels, Communion is given by spoon: the Body and Blood are administered together by a small spoon held by the priest. The parish extends a warm welcome to anyone who is Catholic (Roman or Byzantine), in a state of grace, and prepared through the appropriate fast.
- Bow and cross yourself before approaching
- State your first name to the priest
- Hold the red cloth under your chin with both hands
- Tilt your head back, open mouth wide (do not extend your tongue)
- Wait for the priest's hand to move away before closing your mouth
- No 'Amen' is said by the recipient
- Children must first join the Byzantine Catholic parish before receiving
The Divine Praises (Daily Prayer)
Beyond the Divine Liturgy, the Byzantine tradition organizes prayer through the 'Divine Praises' — an order of formal daily prayer that the parish encourages as a way to 'pray without ceasing.' The liturgical day begins at Vespers (evening), followed by Compline (night), the Midnight Office, Matins (morning), and the First, Third, Sixth, and Ninth Hours.
- Vespers – evening prayer, begins the liturgical day
- Compline – night prayer, before sleep
- Midnight Office – for night-watchers
- Matins – morning prayer
- First and Third Hours – small hours after Matins
- Sixth Hour – mid-day prayer
- Ninth Hour – prayer before Vespers
Eastern Christian Formation (Religious Education)
Religious education at Holy Angels is called Eastern Christian Formation (ECF), reflecting the Byzantine Catholic curriculum. Classes are held on Sundays following the Divine Liturgy and end at 11:30 AM. All teachers are vetted through the Eparchial Safe Environment Program and participate in annual training.
- Pre-K / Kindergarten
- Grades 1–2
- Grades 3–5
- Grades 6–8
- Grades 9–12
- Byzanteens youth group (annual rallies, e.g., ByzanTeen 2018 at Saint Vincent College)
- Myrrh-Bearers (women's events)
- Alive in Christ (young men's events)
- Adult education online via Sts. Cyril & Methodius Seminary and 'God with Us Online'
Great Fast (Lent) at Holy Angels
During the Byzantine Great Fast (Lent), the parish gathers for the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts each Friday at 6:00 PM. After the Liturgy, the community shares a Soup/Bread/Salad supper in the hall and listens to a teaching from Father James.
- Friday 6:00 PM – Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
- Soup/Bread/Salad supper in the hall afterwards
- Teaching by Fr. James following the meal
Parish Life & Fundraising
The parish supports itself through the time-honored activities of Byzantine Catholic communities: book and icon sales, ethnic-food fundraisers, and special events. The Byzantine Bookshelf, located adjacent to the church social hall, sells icons, educational books, and items for home icon corners. The Ethnic Foods ministry sells homemade Eastern European baked goods and prepared foods throughout the week.
- Byzantine Bookshelf – open Sundays 10:30–11:00 AM and by appointment
- Ethnic Foods – open Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat 10:00 AM–2:00 PM (call 858-268-3458 first)
- Bake sales and kolbasi production (a fundraising tradition since the parish's founding)
Architecture & Campus
Holy Angels sits at the end of Galahad Road overlooking Mission Valley in the Angel Heights section of Serra Mesa. The current church building was constructed in 1978 and substantially renovated in two phases — Phase One in 2005–2006 and Phase Two in 2012–2016, which added an expanded social hall, a new façade, a replaced parking lot, and a restored dome (shown with a before/after slider on the parish website). The interior is filled with icons, and the icon screen with 'holy doors' at the front draws the congregation's attention to the heavenly liturgy taking place at the altar.
- Church built 1978; first liturgy November 12, 1978
- Phase One Renovation completed January 2006
- Phase Two Renovation completed 2016 (expanded hall, new façade, replaced parking lot)
- Dome restored as part of Phase Two
- Rectory replaced in 2010 with a house immediately adjacent to the church
- New fencing and landscaping completed 2017
Byzantine Catholic Identity
Holy Angels is an Eastern Catholic — not a Roman Catholic — parish. Byzantine Catholics are in full communion with the Pope of Rome and share the same faith, scripture, and seven sacraments, while preserving the distinctive liturgical, spiritual, and disciplinary traditions of Eastern Christianity, with roots in Constantinople (Byzantium). The Ruthenian tradition specifically traces to the Greek missionaries Saints Cyril and Methodius, who brought the Byzantine rite to the Slavs of Central and Eastern Europe. The parish's 'Byzantine Bookshelf' and Eastern Christian Formation curriculum exist to pass on this patrimony to new generations and converts.
- Eastern Catholic (Byzantine), in full communion with the Pope of Rome
- Ruthenian rite with Slavonic roots (Cyril and Methodius)
- Same seven sacraments as Roman Catholics
- Distinct liturgical practices: Communion by spoon, no kneeling, continuous chant
- Part of the Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh (Ruthenian)
- Diocesan home: Holy Protection of Mary Eparchy of Phoenix
- Geographically inside the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. William Levkulic1958–1960
Pastor of Saint Nicholas in Fontana; celebrated the first Divine Liturgy in San Diego on June 1, 1958, and commuted 125 miles from Fontana every other week for two years.
- Rev. Paul Fetch1960–1969
First resident pastor after Bishop Elko raised the mission to parish status in May 1960; organized early parish life and fundraising.
- Rev. Joseph Radvansky1969–1980
Began site-specific planning for a new church; oversaw purchase of the Angel Heights property on December 6, 1973.
- Rev. Joseph Ridella1980–c.1992
Led the effort to retire the building debt within six years.
- Rev. Melvin Rybar1994–
Shepherded the parish through the late 1990s; oversaw the 40th anniversary in 1998.
- Rev. Robert Pipta2004–
Launched Phase One of the Renovation Project, completed in January 2006.
- Fr. James Bankston2019–present
Appointed Administrator on September 1, 2019.