About Holy Spirit [Ruthenian] · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Holy Spirit Byzantine Catholic Church is a Ruthenian (Byzantine) Catholic parish in Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood, founded in 1907 by Carpatho-Ruthenian immigrants from the Austro-Hungarian Empire who came to work in the city's steel mills. The parish belongs to the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh and worships in the Byzantine tradition in full communion with the Pope of Rome. Its present church, dedicated in 1962, is built in a modern Byzantine style and is distinguished by a giant facade triptych of Venetian glass, eight Byzantine-style stained glass windows, and an iconic mural behind the main altar. Today the parish welcomes visitors and is led by Father Michael Kunitz, who was appointed Administrator in December 2021 after Monsignor Russell A. Duker's retirement.
- Established
- 1907
- Patron
- Holy Spirit (Most Holy Spirit)
- Rector
- Father Michael Kunitz (Administrator, appointed December 22, 2021)
- Diocese
- Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh (Ruthenian)
Why belong here
Holy Spirit offers a warm Byzantine Catholic home in the heart of Pittsburgh's Oakland academic and medical corridor, where the faithful follow the Ruthenian liturgical tradition in full communion with Rome. Parishioners come from many backgrounds — descendants of Carpatho-Rus', Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, and Ukraine, alongside newcomers drawn to the Eastern Christian way of worship — and all are welcome. Beyond its regular Divine Liturgy schedule, the parish hosts monthly Adult Eastern Christian Formation talks, Byzantine Catholic Campus Ministry programs, the Pittsburgh Byzantine Catholic Archeparchial Choir's Paschal presentation, and outreach such as a Lenten Almsgiving collection supporting the South Oakland Community Health Services Food Pantry and a Pro-Life Moleben.
Mass times at Holy Spirit [Ruthenian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 5:00–6:00 PM
- Monday 6:00–6:45 PM
- Friday 6:00–6:45 PM
- Sunday 5:00 PM (before the evening Divine Liturgy)
- By appointment (contact the rectory)
Parish History
During the first decade of the twentieth century, immigrants from Carpatho-Ruthenia — a small portion of the vast Austro-Hungarian Empire — settled in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh, drawn by work in the city's emerging steel mills. On June 8, 1907, Bishop F. J. Regis Canevin of the Roman Rite Diocese of Pittsburgh approved the organization of a Greek (Byzantine) Catholic parish at the request of a committee of Father John M. Szabo, John Hornyak, and Michael Ciptak. A vacant wooden church on Bates and Atwood Streets was obtained within a week for $10,000, and Father Szabo celebrated the first Divine Liturgy there on June 14, 1907, placing the parish under the patronage of the Most Holy Spirit. Parishioners joyfully celebrated their 100th anniversary in 2007 with a Divine Liturgy of Thanksgiving and a gala banquet, and the parish continues to minister to Byzantine Catholics in Oakland more than 115 years later.
- Founded June 14, 1907, on Bates and Atwood Streets in Oakland
- Approval granted June 8, 1907, by Bishop F. J. Regis Canevin of the Roman Rite Diocese of Pittsburgh
- Present church dedicated by Bishop Nicholas T. Elko on May 6, 1962
- 100th anniversary celebrated in 2007 with a Divine Liturgy of Thanksgiving and gala banquet
Architecture & Sacred Art
Constructed along modern Byzantine lines and dedicated in May 1962, the present edifice is cruciform in plan, eighty feet wide and one hundred forty feet long. Three gold Byzantine-Slavic-style crosses surmount the church, with anodized gold canopies above the entrance. The interior and exterior are richly articulated with sacred art designed to teach and to pray with: eight Byzantine-style stained glass windows, a sweeping iconic mural of the Most Holy Mother of God with the Christ Child behind the main altar (its lower panel showing the Holy Spirit descending on the apostles at Pentecost), and a colossal facade triptych mosaic of genuine Venetian glass covering the entire front of the building — one of the largest of its kind in the United States.
- Architect: Williams, Tribilcock, Whitehead and Associates
- General contractor: Mellon-Stuart Company
- Interior decorations: Rudolph Rohn Company of Pittsburgh
- Three gold Byzantine-Slavic-style crosses surmount the roof
- Eight Byzantine-style stained glass windows
- Iconic mural of the Theotokos with Christ Child behind the main altar
- Venetian-glass facade triptych mosaic covering the front of the building
Worship Schedule & Holy Mysteries
The parish celebrates the Byzantine (Ruthenian) Divine Liturgy in full communion with Rome, primarily in English, with Church Slavonic retained in parts of the liturgical chant. The weekly schedule is structured around the Horological services of the Byzantine day: Matins on Sunday morning, Great Vespers on Saturday evening, and Daily Vespers on Monday. Holy Days are normally celebrated with a vigil schedule of Confessions at 5:00 PM, Great Vespers at 6:00 PM, and Divine Liturgy at 7:00 PM; details are always published in the weekly bulletin.
- Sunday: 7:00 AM Matins, 7:45 AM Rosary, 8:00 AM Divine Liturgy
- Sunday evening: 5:00 PM Confessions, 6:00 PM Divine Liturgy
- Monday: 6:00–6:45 PM Confessions, 7:00 PM Daily Vespers
- Tuesday/Wednesday: Services at St. Pius X, Carrick
- Thursday: Father's day off
- Friday: 6:00–6:45 PM Confessions, 7:00 PM Divine Liturgy
- Saturday: 5:00–6:00 PM Confessions, 6:00 PM Great Vespers
- Holy Days: 10:00 AM (vigil schedule applies for major feasts)
Sacraments
Holy Spirit celebrates the full range of Byzantine Catholic holy mysteries (sacraments). For Baptism/Chrismation/Eucharist, Marriage, and the Anointing of the Sick, parishioners are asked to contact the rectory. Confessions are heard regularly each week as listed on the schedule and by appointment.
- Baptism / Chrismation / Eucharist — contact the rectory
- Marriage — contact the rectory
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the rectory
- Confession — Saturday, Monday, Friday (and by appointment)
Faith Formation & Lifelong Learning
Father Michael Kunitz hosts monthly Adult Eastern Christian Formation sessions, rotating between Holy Spirit in Oakland and St. Pius X in Carrick. Each month addresses a new topic in the Byzantine Catholic spiritual, intellectual, and practical life — from praying the Divine Office at home and preparing for Holy Communion, to the theology of the Divine Liturgy, Byzantine devotional prayer, Philipovka (Philip's Fast), and the celebration of the Holy Supper. All are welcome to attend and may submit topics for future sessions.
- Adult Eastern Christian Formation (monthly, rotating between Holy Spirit and St. Pius X, Carrick)
- Open to anyone interested in learning more about Eastern Catholic faith and practice
Outreach & Charity
Holy Spirit maintains a steady rhythm of charitable outreach in the Oakland community. Each Great Fast the parish conducts a Lenten Almsgiving collection whose proceeds and food donations are presented to the Community Health Services Food Pantry in South Oakland. The parish also organizes a Moleben for the Sacredness of Life and Supplication for the Victims of Abortion during the Great Fast and joins the Pittsburgh Pro-Life March and Rally each January.
- Lenten Almsgiving collection benefiting the Community Health Services Food Pantry (South Oakland)
- Charity organizer: Mary Dzurichko
- Annual Moleben for the Sacredness of Life (Great Fast)
- Participation in the Pittsburgh Pro-Life March and Rally
Campus Ministry & Music
Because Holy Spirit sits in the heart of Pittsburgh's university district, the parish hosts programs of the Archeparchy's Byzantine Catholic Campus Ministry, including the annual 'Sing the Hymn of Victory!' Paschal presentation staged by the Pittsburgh Byzantine Catholic Archeparchial Choir (PBCAC). The program features beloved and seldom-heard Byzantine Ruthenian variations of the Paschal greeting 'Christ is Risen! Christos Voskrese!' in English and Church Slavonic, with readings drawn in part from the pen of the choir's founder, the late Metropolitan Judson M. Procyk. College students, families, and friends are especially encouraged to attend.
- Byzantine Catholic Campus Ministry (Archeparchy of Pittsburgh)
- Pittsburgh Byzantine Catholic Archeparchial Choir (PBCAC) — founded July 1998
- 'Sing the Hymn of Victory!' Paschal presentation hosted at Holy Spirit
- College students and their families especially welcome
Visit Us — Practical Information
Holy Spirit is located in Oakland, the academic and medical center of Pittsburgh. The parish complex occupies a city-block-size plot on Fifth Avenue between Clyde and Devonshire Streets, with parking on the north side of the church. Visitors and Roman Catholics are warmly welcomed: Byzantine Catholics are one of more than 20 particular communities in full communion with the Pope of Rome, and visiting Roman Catholics (and other Eastern Catholics) may participate in the services as they would at their home parishes.
- Address: 4815 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
- Phone: 412-687-1220
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.holyspiritbyzcath.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/holyspiritchurchpgh
- Parking available on the north side of the church
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John M. SzaboJune 1907 – August 1907
Founding pastor; served only two months; organized the parish with laymen John Hornyak and Michael Ciptak.
- Father Michael Balogh1907
Succeeded Father Szabo as a brief transitional pastor.
- Father Anthony Kecskes1907 – early 1908
Came from McKees Rocks to shepherd the parish while the search for a permanent pastor continued.
- Reverend Dr. Theodosius M. Vasochik, D.D.January 1908 – September 18, 1950
Doctorate in Sacred Theology from the University of Budapest; served 43 years; built the rectory (1909), acquired the Bates Street property (1910), remodeled the wooden church in 1922 and 1928.
- Father Michael HrebinJuly 1952 – 1959
Assigned by Bishop Daniel Ivancho; shepherded the parish to its highest enrollment during the Golden Jubilee (1957); purchased the Fifth Avenue city-block site from the Eparchy in 1957.
- Father John M. Volosin1959 – March 1970
Celebrated the parish's first English Divine Liturgy in September 1960; broke ground on the new complex October 23, 1960; cornerstone blessed November 26, 1961; new church dedicated by Bishop Nicholas T. Elko on May 6, 1962.
- Monsignor John M. MackoMarch 1970 – August 1992
Twenty-two-year tenure; oversaw construction of the present rectory and the burning of the mortgage on February 8, 1970.
- Father John KasardaAugust 1992 – June 1995
Assigned by Archbishop Thomas V. Dolinay; served three years until the new Metropolitan Archbishop arrived.
- Monsignor Russell A. DukerJune 15, 1995 – August 2021
Eleventh pastor; Doctor of Historical Theology from the Gregorian University in Rome; previously Rector of the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS. Cyril and Methodius and Protosyncellus/Chancellor of the Archeparchy; retired after 50 years of service to the Archeparchy.
- Father Michael KunitzDecember 22, 2021 – present
Appointed Administrator following Monsignor Duker's retirement.