About Patronage of Mother of God · Arbutus, Maryland
Patronage of the Mother of God is a Byzantine (Ruthenian) Catholic parish in Arbutus, Maryland, serving the Baltimore area with the liturgical traditions of the Eastern Catholic Church. Founded in 1966 by a small group of families, the community belongs to the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic and gathers weekly for the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, celebrated in English with occasional hymns in Old Church Slavonic. The parish is known for its warm welcome of visitors, its iconic gold dome, and its active religious-education program for children and adults.
- Established
- 1966
- Patron
- The Mother of God under the title of her Patronage (Protection)
- Rector
- Very Reverend Father Vasyl Symyon (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic
Why belong here
Patronage offers a rare chance in the Baltimore area to worship as an Eastern Catholic in the Byzantine (Ruthenian) tradition, with the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom celebrated almost entirely in sung plainchant by the whole congregation. The parish is small enough that every face is known, but full of life — adult and youth religious-education classes for all ages, a Saint Nicholas charity and service ministry, an active Maintenance Ministry, and coffee-hour fellowship every Sunday after liturgy. Visitors are explicitly welcomed, confession is offered before every liturgy, and any Catholic in good standing may receive communion distributed on a spoon under both kinds.
Mass times at Patronage of Mother of God
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 8:00 AM – 8:45 AM
- Available one hour before the start of any liturgy, stopping about 15 minutes before the celebration begins
Welcome and Parish Identity
Patronage of the Mother of God Byzantine Catholic Church describes itself as a Christian community that traces its origins to a group of families who came together in 1967 (with liturgy dating to 1966) to establish a Byzantine Catholic church in the Baltimore area. It is dedicated to Mary under the title of the Patronage (Protection) of the Mother of God, and the parish describes its mission as inviting visitors to 'experience the beauty of Eastern Catholic worship in Baltimore.' The current administrator is Very Reverend Father Vasyl Symyon, and Sunday Divine Liturgy begins at 9:00 AM with confessions heard beforehand.
- Byzantine (Ruthenian) rite Catholic parish
- Sunday Divine Liturgy at 9:00 AM
- Confession 8:00 – 8:45 AM before liturgy
- Visitors always welcome
Our History
The parish's own history page walks readers through its founding journey from a mission liturgy in 1966 to a dedicated Byzantine church in Arbutus. Bishop Stephen Kocisko blessed the mission at Christmas 1966, and Bishop Michael Dudick later gave it the name Patronage of the Mother of God. The community moved through St. Joseph Passionist Monastery, the Polish Sisters of St. Joseph Nursing Home chapel, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Woodlawn before purchasing the former Nativity Lutheran Church in Arbutus in 1972–1973.
- October 2, 1966: first Byzantine Divine Liturgy in the Baltimore area, at St. Joseph Passionist Monastery, Catonsville
- Christmas 1966: Bishop Stephen Kocisko blesses the mission
- Parish served from St. Gregory Church in Washington in early years
- April 17, 1972: contract signed for the former Nativity Lutheran Church in Arbutus
- January 30, 1973: official settlement on the Feast of the Three Holy Hierarchs
- First Sunday of March 1973: community takes possession of the church
- October 7, 1973: formal dedication of the church
- 1993: major renovation adds an elevator, chapel, meeting areas, exterior gold dome, and expanded kitchen and hall
Architecture and Sanctuary
The parish makes its home in a former Lutheran building that was carefully fitted out for Byzantine worship, then expanded in a 1993 renovation. Today the building is recognizable by its exterior gold dome and houses a sanctuary outfitted with an icon screen, altars, and a baldacchino. A 1993 interior elevator connects the basement hall to the sanctuary, making the church fully accessible — an investment that proved unexpectedly personal for the long-serving pastor, Father Conan Timoney, who relied on it after a 2016 fall.
- Former Holy Nativity Lutheran Church, Arbutus
- Icon screen, altars, and baldacchino in the sanctuary
- Gold dome added in 1993
- Interior elevator, chapel, and meeting areas from 1993 renovation
Our Clergy
The parish is served by an administrator, a deacon, and the eparchial bishop. Father Vasyl Symyon was born in Mukachevo in Ukraine's Transcarpathia region, studied at the Theological Academy in Uzhhorod and the Pontifical Academy Alfonsiana in Rome, and was ordained a priest in 2014. He was appointed administrator of St. Gregory in Beltsville and Patronage of the Mother of God in August 2023 and is now pursuing doctoral studies at The Catholic University of America. The parish deacon, Father Deacon Tony Kotlar, was ordained in 2003 at Patronage itself and previously served as a professor for the Eparchy of Passaic Diaconal Formation Program. Bishop Kurt Burnette is the fifth bishop of the Eparchy of Passaic.
- Very Reverend Father Vasyl Symyon — Administrator; born in Mukachevo, Ukraine; ordained 2014; appointed 2023
- Father Deacon Tony Kotlar — ordained October 19, 2003 at Patronage; former Army research physicist
- Bishop Kurt Burnette — Fifth Bishop of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic
Religious Education — Eastern Catholic Formation
Patronage runs a robust Eastern Catholic Formation program serving children, teens, and adults. Classes for children run during the parish year and are organized by age group, while Adult Enrichment sessions run September through May on Sunday mornings after Divine Liturgy. The curriculum covers Scripture, the Church Fathers, Eastern Christian spirituality, and Byzantine theology and liturgical practices, with hands-on activities like icon-making and baking prosphora for the Eucharist.
- Toddler Class (up to age 5) — Sharon Kotula
- Grade School Class (ages 6–11) — Kevin Ross
- Teen Class (ages 12–18) — Loui Villanueva
- Adult Enrichment — Sunday mornings after liturgy, September through May
Parish Organizations and Outreach
Two named parish organizations anchor lay life at Patronage. The Saint Nicholas Ministry takes its inspiration from the patron of the Byzantine Catholic Church in America, focusing on charity and service both within the parish and beyond. The Maintenance Ministry is a hands-on group of parishioners who keep the church grounds and facilities in good repair. The parish also runs an active hospitality ministry, hosting coffee and light fare after each Sunday liturgy.
- Saint Nicholas Ministry — charity and service, Mother's Day Brunch, support for elderly parishioners
- Maintenance Ministry — repairs and beautification of the church
- Coffee hour after Sunday liturgy
Plan Your Visit
The parish's own 'Plan Your Visit' page addresses newcomers' most common questions directly. There is no on-site parking lot, but street parking is available in the neighborhood. Visitors can enter through the side door on Highview Road into the church hall (with restrooms), or through the front door facing Linden Avenue. Children of all ages worship with the congregation; a nursery/cry room is available at the entrance of the church for those who want it. After liturgy, everyone is invited to coffee and light fare in the hall. The parish also sells icons, books, candles, and devotional items in person (cash or check).
- Street parking in the neighborhood — no parish parking lot
- Two entrances: side door on Highview Road and front door on Linden Avenue
- Nursery / cry room available at the church entrance
- Cash or check for icons, books, candles, devotionals
Contact Us
The rectory mailing address is 1260 Stevens Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21227, and the parish can be reached by telephone at 410-247-4936. Email inquiries go to [email protected]. The parish's listing in the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic directory was last updated August 21, 2025.
- Mailing Address: 1260 Stevens Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21227
- Rectory Telephone: 410-247-4936
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish listed in the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic directory
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Conan TimoneyThrough at least 2017
Long-serving pastor in the Arbutus parish; the 1993 elevator renovation occurred under his tenure. After a 2016 spinal-cord injury from a fall, parishioners helped push his wheelchair from his Stevens Avenue home around the corner to the church, and a motorized lift was installed at his residence so he could continue celebrating liturgy.