About Saint Emilian [Ruthenian] · Brunswick, Ohio
St. Emilian Byzantine Catholic Church is a Ruthenian (Byzantine rite) parish in Brunswick, Ohio, southwest of Cleveland, that has served the Byzantine faithful of Medina County since 1975. It belongs to the Ruthenian Catholic Eparchy of Parma and worships in the Byzantine liturgical tradition, with the Divine Liturgy celebrated primarily in English. Today the parish is led by Administrator Fr. Peter Boksay, with Fr. Deacon John Petrus assisting, and it is known for a strong program of community outreach, ethnic-food fundraisers, and parish social life alongside its distinctive onion-domed church built on Substation Road.
- Established
- 1975
- Patron
- St. Emilian, Bishop-Confessor
- Rector
- Fr. Peter Boksay (Administrator, 2022–present)
- Diocese
- Ruthenian Catholic Eparchy of Parma (Byzantine rite, suffragan of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh)
Why belong here
St. Emilian is the Byzantine Catholic home for families in Brunswick and the surrounding Medina County suburbs, celebrating the Divine Liturgy in the Ruthenian Byzantine tradition for nearly fifty years. A small, close-knit parish, it pairs a rich liturgical life — Pre-Sanctified Liturgy and Lenten Prayers during Great Fast, an annual patronal feast on August 8, and the Byzantine liturgical year of four penitential seasons — with a striking onion-domed church and a deep calendar of outreach to the poor. Newcomers and visitors are welcomed into men's fellowship, ladies' nights, the annual St. Nicolas celebration, parish picnic, ethnic-food sales, and ministries that stock local food banks and serve the Hospitality House every Thanksgiving.
Mass times at Saint Emilian [Ruthenian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- First Saturday of the month at 3:00 PM
- Every Saturday during the four penitential seasons (Great Fast, Philip Fast Nov 15–Dec 24, Dormition Fast Aug 1–14, Peter and Paul Fast All Saints Monday–June 28), except Holy Saturday and Christmas Eve if it falls on Saturday
- Other special times during the Great Fast and Philip Fast (see weekly bulletin)
- By appointment with Fr. Peter at (330) 225-9857 ext. 0 or [email protected]
History & Founding
St. Emilian traces its roots to 1974, when Byzantine Catholics from St. Mary (Cleveland), Holy Spirit, and the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (Parma) — now living in Brunswick, Strongsville and Medina — organized the 'Brunswick Byzantine Mission.' The first Divine Liturgy was offered on January 5, 1975 in the basement of the First National Bank by Bishop Emil J. Mihalik, and on February 9, 1975 the patron St. Emilian was adopted. The present 10½-acre Substation Road site was purchased in January 1976, and for the next 24 years the parish hall doubled as the worship space.
- Organizational meeting: September 11, 1974 at Edwards Middle School
- First Divine Liturgy: January 5, 1975, First National Bank basement
- First pastor: Fr. Donald Petyo (newly ordained)
- First cantors: John Marushin and David Demko
- Original committeemen: William Strippy, Andrew Washlock Jr., Nicholas Yadlovsky, Robert Long, Nicholas Kozik
- Site purchased January 1976 with help from St. Mary Parish (Cleveland) and an Eparchy of Parma Mission Gift
Building the Church (1999)
Planning began with the support of St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church in Marblehead and St. Gregory Byzantine Catholic Church in Lakewood. Fr. John Keblesh and the parish coordinators engaged Architect Stephen Gaspar of Gaspar and Associates (Lakewood); Eikona Studios of Cleveland designed the interior and iconography; Lakeland Management Systems, Inc. of Mentor oversaw construction. The 7,500-square-foot, 250-seat church, with its three Slavic-style onion domes and Italian-imported mosaic of St. Emilian, was dedicated on August 8, 1999 by Bishop Basil Schott.
- Architect: Stephen Gaspar, Gaspar and Associates, Lakewood
- Interior/iconography: Eikona Studios, Cleveland
- Construction manager: Lakeland Management Systems, Inc., Mentor
- Altar, preparation tables and tetrapod donated by St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Church, Lorain
- Pews donated by St. Joseph Byzantine Catholic Church, Brecksville
- Dedicated August 8, 1999 by Bishop Basil Schott
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently led by Administrator Fr. Peter Boksay (since 2022), assisted by Fr. Deacon John Petrus. Lay staff and coordinators handle faith formation, ethnic foods, hall rentals and property — and the Eparchy of Parma's Sexual Abuse Victim Assistance Coordinator is reachable through the parish office.
- Fr. Peter Boksay, Administrator — [email protected], ext. 0
- Fr. Deacon John Petrus — [email protected], ext. 0
- Natalie Washlock, Eastern Christian Formation Coordinator — (330) 741-0451
- Chuck Fricke, Ethnic Foods Coordinator — [email protected], ext. 1
- Beth Popil, Hall Rentals — [email protected], ext. 2
- Nicholas Soika, Property Manager — (330) 273-3020
- Dr. Sharon DiLauro Petrus, Eparchy of Parma Sexual Abuse Victim Assistance Coordinator — (330) 958-9630
Faith Formation — Eastern Christian Formation (ECF)
Religious education at St. Emilian is offered through the Eastern Christian Formation (ECF) program, coordinated by Natalie Washlock. Classes begin in the parish and draw children from Brunswick and the surrounding Byzantine Catholic community, while the parish regularly welcomes scout troops and religious education classes from neighboring parishes to experience the Byzantine Divine Liturgy.
- Coordinator: Natalie Washlock — (330) 741-0451
- Welcomes visiting scouts and religious education classes from other parishes
Community Outreach
Outreach has been a growing part of parish life, serving Medina County and beyond. Activities include grocery assistance for families, eyeglass collections, support for the Battered Women's Shelter, the Baby Bottle Campaign for young mothers, men's clothing drives for St. Herman's House, and the Super Bowl weekend collection for St. Martin's food bank.
- Grocery assistance for individuals and families
- Used prescription eyeglasses collection
- Battered Women's Shelter item collection
- Baby Bottle Campaign for Medina County young mothers
- Men's clothing drives for St. Herman's House
- Super Bowl weekend collection for St. Martin's Catholic Church food bank
- Adopt-a-Family Christmas program (two Medina County families)
- Hospitality House Thanksgiving dinner ministry
Parish Life & Social Activities
The parish's social calendar is open to parishioners and visitors alike and is built around Byzantine and Slavic traditions as well as simple community gatherings. The annual golf outing is held in memory of former pastor Fr. John Keblesh.
- Men's fellowship
- Ladies' Night Out
- Ladies' Tea Party
- Movie nights
- Bonfires
- Walking socials in Cleveland Metroparks
- Winter tobogganing
- Annual parish bowling
- Annual golf outing in memory of Fr. John Keblesh
- Annual craft fairs
- Potluck dinners including a St. Nicolas celebration
- Annual church picnic
- Sales of homemade ethnic foods
Facilities & Hall Rentals
The parish hall was remodeled in 2007 and, together with the grounds, is rented by the day or hour to members of the wider Brunswick-area community.
- Hall rentals contact: Beth Popil — [email protected], (330) 225-9857 ext. 2
- Used for weddings, graduation parties, baptism celebrations, organizational meetings, picnics, family reunions and business meetings
Ruthenian Catholic Eparchy of Parma
St. Emilian is one of 36 parishes of the Ruthenian Catholic Eparchy of Parma, a Byzantine-rite diocese erected by Pope Paul VI on February 21, 1969, with its mother church, the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, in Parma, Ohio. The Eparchy is a suffragan of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh and currently under the leadership of Bishop Robert M. Pipta (since 2023), the diocese's sixth bishop.
- Established February 21, 1969 by Pope Paul VI
- Cathedral: Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Parma, Ohio
- Suffragan of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh
- Current bishop: His Grace, The Most Rev. Robert M. Pipta (sixth bishop, since 2023)
- Geographically located within the territory of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland
Visit, Contact & Directions
The parish sits on a 10½-acre campus on Substation Road in Brunswick, Ohio, southwest of Cleveland. Visitors can join the Divine Liturgy on Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning, and may contact the parish office for confession appointments, hall rentals, ethnic-food orders, or information about Eastern Christian Formation.
- Address: 1231 Substation Road, Brunswick, OH 44212
- Phone: (330) 225-9857
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.stemilian.com
- Hall rentals: Beth Popil, ext. 2 / [email protected]
- Faith formation: Natalie Washlock — (330) 741-0451
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Donald Petyo1975–1980
First pastor; newly ordained when the mission was founded.
- Fr. Nicholas Rachford1980–1982
- Fr. Emil Masich1982–1986
- Fr. John Zolota, S.J.1986–1987
Jesuit priest.
- Fr. David Hannes1987–1991
- Fr. Brian St. Germain1991
- Fr. David Hannes, Administrator1991–1995
Returned as Administrator.
- Fr. John Keblesh1995–2003
Designed the new church; memorialized by the parish's annual golf outing in his name.
- Very Rev. Dr. Bryan Eyman, Administrator2003
- Fr. Terrence Farmer, Administrator2003–2005
- Fr. Marek Visnovsky2005–2015
- Fr. Andrew Nagrant, Administrator2015–2017
- Fr. Jan Cizmar2017–2021
- Fr. Deacon John Petrus, Administrator2021–2022
- Fr. Peter Boksay, Administrator2022–present
Current Administrator.