About Holy Trinity [Ruthenian] · Sykesville, Pennsylvania
Holy Trinity Byzantine Catholic Church is a Ruthenian (Byzantine) Catholic parish in Sykesville, Pennsylvania, in full communion with Rome but worshipping according to the Byzantine liturgical tradition. Founded in 1907 by Slavic immigrants from the villages of Slovinky and Helcmanovce in Spiš County, the parish has served Byzantine Catholics in the Sykesville area for over a century. Today the parish is led by Father Nathaniel Tapsak with Deacon Lucas Crawford, and remains a community of families active in faith formation, prayer, and parish life. The church is one of the parishes of the Byzantine-Ruthenian Archeparchy of Pittsburgh.
- Established
- 1907
- Patron
- Holy Trinity
- Rector
- Rev. Nathaniel Tapsak
- Diocese
- Byzantine-Ruthenian Archeparchy of Pittsburgh (Ruthenian Metropolitanate sui juris of Pittsburgh). Geographically located within the territory of the Roman Diocese of Erie.
Why belong here
Holy Trinity is a small but lively Byzantine Catholic parish where the faith and hard work of families is what built—and continues to sustain—the community. Visitors and parishioners are welcomed into a beautiful church with a restored icon screen and a sanctuary refurbished in the Eastern Christian tradition, regular Sunday Divine Liturgy at 9:00 AM, Saturday Vespers with Divine Liturgy, and confession before the weekend services. Children and teens grow in faith through Eastern Christian Formation (ECF) on Sundays during the school year, and a network of parish organizations—the Rosary Society, Social Club, Catechists, and Advisory Board—keeps generations connected through prayer, fellowship, and service. For anyone seeking a Byzantine-Ruthenian Catholic home in the Sykesville/DuBois area rooted in the heritage of Rusyn and Slovak immigrants from Spiš County, Holy Trinity offers a deeply traditional and family-centered spiritual home.
Mass times at Holy Trinity [Ruthenian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–4:30 PM (check bulletin and website for additional times)
Adoration times
- Wednesday Vespers or Akathist (see parish calendar for time)
About Holy Trinity Byzantine Catholic Church
Holy Trinity Byzantine Catholic Church is a Ruthenian (Byzantine) Catholic parish in Sykesville, Pennsylvania, faithful to its Eastern Christian heritage and in full communion with Rome. The parish is one of the historic Byzantine-Ruthenian parishes of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, and it serves a multigenerational community of families. Its mission statement and home page invite visitors to 'come and see' the Byzantine Catholic tradition in the heart of Jefferson County, PA.
- Rite: Byzantine (Ruthenian), in communion with Rome
- Diocese: Archeparchy of Pittsburgh (Ruthenian Metropolitanate sui juris)
- Geographic area: Jefferson County, within the Roman Diocese of Erie
- Welcomes visitors to 'come and see'
Parish History
The story of Holy Trinity begins in the late 1890s, when a small group of Byzantine Catholic faithful organized themselves to build their own church in Sykesville. Organizational work intensified in 1906 under the direction of Fr. Anthony Mhley of nearby Ss. Peter and Paul in Punxsutawney. On May 16, 1907, Nicholas and Tekla Dobrosky donated the two lots of land on Shaffer Street on which the church and rectory still stand. Contractor A. L. Lukehart of Falls Creek, PA broke ground in July 1907, and on October 1, 1907 the new church opened for worship with Fr. Myron Danilovitch as its first pastor, appointed by Bishop Soter Ortinsky, OSBM. Many of the founding families came from the Rusyn/Slovak villages of Slovinky and Helcmanovce in Spiš County, preserving a deep Carpatho-Rusyn heritage that continues today.
- Late 1890s – Byzantine Catholic faithful begin organizing in Sykesville
- 1906 – Organizational work under Fr. Anthony Mhley (pastor of Ss. Peter and Paul, Punxsutawney)
- May 16, 1907 – Nicholas and Tekla Dobrosky donate the two lots on Shaffer Street
- July 3, 1907 – Construction contract signed with A. L. Lukehart of Falls Creek, PA
- October 1, 1907 – New church opened and readied for worship
- Fall 1907 – Fr. Myron Danilovitch assigned as first pastor by Bishop Soter Ortinsky, OSBM
Growth, Expansion, and Rebuilding
As membership grew, the parish made steady improvements to its facilities. In 1924, during the pastorate of Fr. Joseph Shakaley (1918–1925), the church was expanded to twice its original size. A social hall was added in 1926. By 1968 the social hall's significance had grown; remodeling began, a parking lot was prepared, additional properties were purchased, and a Holy Name Society was organized. These activities continued until the social hall was destroyed by arson in 1976—a blow from which the community rallied. In May 1979 a new rectory was built adjoining the church; its construction extended the church basement and added an upper floor, providing the framework for a new social hall and classrooms. In the late 1980s the icon screen was hand-restored by the late Fr. George Mihalke and the interior was refurbished in the Eastern Christian tradition. The social hall was completed in 1994 and the classrooms for religious education in 1995.
- 1924 – Church expanded to twice its size (pastorate of Fr. Joseph Shakaley)
- 1926 – Social hall erected
- 1968 – Social hall remodeled, parking lot prepared, Holy Name Society organized
- 1976 – Social hall destroyed by arson
- May 1979 – New rectory completed adjoining the church
- Late 1980s – Icon screen restored by the late Fr. George Mihalke; interior refurbished in Eastern Christian tradition
- 1993 – Unused parish properties sold
- 1994 – New social hall completed
- 1995 – Classrooms for religious education completed
Byzantine Heritage and Archeparchy
Holy Trinity is a parish of the Byzantine-Ruthenian Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, an Eastern Catholic (sui juris) church in full communion with the Bishop of Rome. The parish came under the jurisdiction of Bishop Basil Takach, head of the newly established Byzantine-Ruthenian Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh, during Fr. Joseph Shakaley's pastorate in the early 1920s. Geographically the parish sits within the territory of the Roman (Latin) Diocese of Erie, but ecclesiastically it belongs to the Ruthenian Metropolitanate. Holy Trinity celebrated its 110th anniversary on September 17, 2017, with a concelebrated Divine Liturgy by Archbishop William Skurla, who praised the parish for being 'rich in the number of children it has.' Four new icons written by the hand of Father Mark were blessed during the liturgy, along with all ECF students in attendance.
- Byzantine-Ruthenian Catholic (in communion with Rome)
- Archeparchy of Pittsburgh
- Within the geographic territory of the Roman Diocese of Erie
- 110th anniversary celebrated September 17, 2017 with Archbishop William Skurla
- Founding families from Slovinky and Helcmanovce, Spiš County
Clergy and Staff
Holy Trinity is currently served by pastor Rev. Nathaniel Tapsak (since 2024) and Deacon Lucas Crawford. The parish shares some liturgical and pastoral services with the neighboring Nativity of the Mother of God Byzantine Catholic Church in DuBois (200 McCullough Street, DuBois, PA 15801), whose services are marked (N) on the shared parish calendar. Holy Trinity maintains a long and well-documented succession of pastors going back to 1907.
- Rev. Nathaniel Tapsak – Pastor (2024–)
- Deacon Lucas Crawford
- Cooperative ministry with Nativity of the Mother of God, DuBois
Divine Liturgy and Weekly Services
Holy Trinity celebrates the Byzantine (Ruthenian) Divine Liturgy on Sundays at 9:00 AM. On Saturdays at 5:00 PM, the parish prays Vespers together with the Divine Liturgy. During Great Lent (the Great Fast), the Wednesday evening service at 7:00 PM is the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, a distinctive Byzantine Lenten devotion. On non-Lenten Wednesdays the parish offers Vespers or the Akathist Hymn, according to the calendar. The full weekly and monthly schedule is published on the parish calendar page; users are asked to check the bulletin or website for any changes tied to the liturgical year.
- Sunday 9:00 AM – Divine Liturgy
- Saturday 5:00 PM – Vespers with Divine Liturgy
- Wednesday 7:00 PM – Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts (during Great Fast)
- Wednesday – Vespers or Akathist (see calendar for time)
- Schedule subject to change per the liturgical year; consult the bulletin
Holy Mysteries (Sacraments)
The parish celebrates the Byzantine-Ruthenian Holy Mysteries (sacraments). Confessions are heard on Saturday afternoons from 4:00 to 4:30 PM; the bulletin and website announce additional times during the year. Marriages and the Anointing of the Sick are arranged by appointment with the pastor. The Sunday Divine Liturgy and the Saturday Vigil with Vespers are the regular liturgical center of parish life.
- Confessions: Saturday 4:00–4:30 PM (additional times as announced)
- Marriage: by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick: by appointment
- Sunday Divine Liturgy and Saturday Vigil with Vespers
Faith Formation: Eastern Christian Formation (ECF)
Children of the parish receive religious education through Eastern Christian Formation (ECF), the Byzantine equivalent of CCD, held on Sundays at 10:30 AM from September through May. The program is staffed by parish catechists and is one of the most visible signs of the parish's life; at the 110th anniversary, all ECF students in attendance were blessed by the Metropolitan during the Divine Liturgy.
- Sundays 10:30 AM, September through May
- Staffed by parish Catechists
- Students blessed at major anniversaries
Parish Organizations and Community Life
A tradition of cooperation and generosity has sustained Holy Trinity since its founding. Today that tradition continues through the Rosary Society, the Social Club, the Catechists, the Parish Advisory Board, and parishioners of all ages. The Parish Social Committee organizes parish dinners and celebrations, and the parish grounds include a social hall (completed 1994) and classrooms (completed 1995) for fellowship and formation.
- Rosary Society
- Social Club
- Catechists
- Parish Advisory Board
- Parish Social Committee
- Social hall (1994) and classrooms (1995)
Contact and Location
Holy Trinity Byzantine Catholic Church is located at 104 Shaffer Street in Sykesville, PA 15865, in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania. The rectory phone is (814) 894-5440, and email is [email protected]. The parish maintains an official website and a Facebook page for news, bulletins, and schedule updates.
- Address: 104 Shaffer Street, Sykesville, PA 15865
- Phone: (814) 894-5440
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://holytrinitysykesville.org
- Facebook: Holy Trinity Byzantine Catholic Church
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Myron Danilovitch1907
First pastor; assigned by Bishop Soter Ortinsky, OSBM.
- Rev. Nestor Volensky1908
- Rev. John Theodorovich1910
- Rev. Myron Crefursky1913
- Rev. Vladimir Kopytezak1914
- Rev. Theodore Dwulit1915
- Rev. Sigmund Brinsky1916
- Rev. Paul Mankovich1918
- Rev. Joseph Shakaley1918-1925
Under his pastorate the church was expanded to twice its size; parish came under Bishop Basil Takach's jurisdiction.
- Rev. Hilarion Dzubay1925
- Rev. Constantine Auroroff1926
- Rev. John Loya1926
- Rev. Demetrius Yackanich1931
- Rev. Augustine Kamporday1934
- Rev. Theodosius Volkay1936
- Rev. Joseph Kovalchik1939
- Rev. Joseph Slaboda1940
- Rev. Eugene Ustie1941
- Rev. Ivan Tylawsky1943
- Rev. Michael Krivonyak1944
- Rev. J. William Fetzko1947
- Rev. John Bobby1950
- Rev. Michael Macarchick1965
- Rev. George Lukaczyk1966
- Rev. Michael Mokris1968-1984
Longest pastorate; oversaw social hall remodeling, parking lot, property purchases, and 1976 arson rebuilding.
- Rev. Ronald Larko1984
- Rev. George Mihalke1987-1993
Late pastor; by his own hand restored the icon screen in the late 1980s.
- Rev. Simeon Sibenik1993
- Rev. John Mihalco2002
- Rev. Robert Yetsko, TOR2012
- Rev. Robert Karl2013
- Rev. Vasyl Banyk2016-2024
Pastor at the 110th anniversary celebration in 2017; resides with wife Natalia, daughter Nadia, and son Vasyl.
- Rev. Nathaniel Tapsak2024-
Current pastor.