About Saint John Chrysostom [Ruthenian] · Seattle, Washington
Saint John Chrysostom Byzantine Catholic Church is a Ruthenian (Byzantine) Catholic parish serving Seattle, Washington, and the broader Pacific Northwest from its location at 1305 South Lander Street in the Beacon Hill / North Rainier neighborhood (98144). The parish is in full communion with the Bishop of Rome and belongs to the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Protection of Mary of Phoenix, which covers the western United States. The community celebrates the Byzantine (Divine) Liturgy in English, embraces the iconographic and liturgical traditions of the first millennium of Christianity, and supports an additional outreach to the Skagit Valley in Burlington, Washington. The current pastor is Rev. Fr. Thomas Donlin.
- Established
- 1981
- Patron
- Saint John Chrysostom (Archbishop of Constantinople, c. 347–407 AD, Church Father and Doctor of the Church)
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Thomas Donlin
- Diocese
- Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Protection of Mary of Phoenix (formerly the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Van Nuys); Ruthenian Byzantine tradition
Why belong here
Saint John Chrysostom offers Western Washington Catholics a small, family-oriented Byzantine Catholic home rooted in the Church of the first millennium and the liturgical spirituality of Saints Cyril and Methodius, with sung Divine Liturgies celebrated almost entirely in English and Communion distributed by spoon from the chalice to all ages. The parish is known for its warm welcome of Roman-rite Catholics and converts, a strong iconographic prayer environment (including the icon screen separating the sanctuary from the nave), and active youth programming such as the ByzanTEEN Rally. For Byzantine Catholics in the Pacific Northwest, it is a foundational community — the second parish Ruthenian missionary priest Fr. Joseph Stanichar founded in the region in 1981 — and the launching point for the parish's Skagit Valley outreach in Burlington.
Mass times at Saint John Chrysostom [Ruthenian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM (Holy Mystery of Repentance), and by appointment
Parish Identity & Byzantine Catholic Tradition
Saint John Chrysostom is a Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic parish, in full communion with the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church, but worshiping according to the Byzantine liturgical tradition that traces its roots to Constantinople (ancient Byzantium) and was carried into Central and Eastern Europe by Saints Cyril and Methodius. The parish community frames itself around the description of the early Church in the Acts of the Apostles — 'unity in faith, communion in prayer, and in the Eucharistic breaking of bread, and the common life of charity.' Although Byzantine-rite, the parish presents itself as family-oriented and accessible: liturgies are sung but mostly in English, there is no kneeling (parishioners stand or sit), and Communion is given to all ages by spoon (the Host is dipped into the chalice).
- Byzantine (Ruthenian) rite, in full communion with Rome
- Family-oriented community rooted in the Church of the first millennium
- Liturgies sung, mostly in English
- No kneeling — standing or sitting for prayer
- Communion distributed by spoon (intinction) to all ages
History & Founding
The parish was founded in 1981 by Father Joseph (Josef) Stanichar, a Byzantine Catholic priest from New York who was then serving as a U.S. Air Force chaplain at Fairchild AFB in Spokane. Father Stanichar had already founded Saints Cyril and Methodius in Spokane in 1979 and went on to found Saint George in Olympia/Lacey (1989) and the Saint Irene the Martyr mission in Portland, Oregon (1988). In 2013 he founded Duchovny Dom Byzantine Catholic Monastery in the Blue Mountains of Western Oregon, where he now serves as hegumen (abbot). The parish was founded the same year the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Van Nuys was erected (December 3, 1981) by the Holy See to serve Ruthenian Byzantine Catholics across the western United States; that eparchy was renamed the Holy Protection of Mary Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix in 2009.
- Founded 1981 by Father Joseph (Josef) Stanichar
- Second Byzantine Catholic parish Father Stanichar founded in Washington (after Spokane, 1979)
- Co-founded the same year as the Eparchy of Van Nuys (December 3, 1981)
- Eparchy renamed Holy Protection of Mary of Phoenix in 2009
- Washington State corporate entity formed June 12, 2014
Pastor & Clergy
Saint John Chrysostom is currently served by Rev. Fr. Thomas Donlin, who signs the parish's online welcome message ('Glory to Jesus Christ!'). The current parish is the third pastoral generation after founder Father Joseph Stanichar and Father Michael Mandelas, who served as pastor in the mid-2010s through the early 2020s and is listed as registered agent and governor of the parish's Washington nonprofit corporation.
- Rev. Fr. Thomas Donlin — current pastor
- Rev. Fr. Michael Mandelas — former pastor (mid-2010s to c. 2023/2024)
- Rev. Fr. Joseph (Josef) Stanichar — founding pastor (1981) and founder of Byzantine Catholic missions across the Pacific Northwest
Skagit Valley Byzantine Catholic Outreach
In addition to its Seattle parish church, Saint John Chrysostom supports the Skagit Valley Byzantine Catholic Outreach, a mission-style gathering for Byzantine Catholics living north of Seattle. The outreach meets on Sunday evenings at St. Charles Catholic Church, 935 Peterson Road, Burlington, WA 98233, providing Divine Liturgy and community for parishioners who would otherwise face long commutes into Seattle.
- Sunday evening services
- Hosted at St. Charles Catholic Church
- 935 Peterson Road, Burlington, WA 98233
- Pastored by the Seattle parish clergy
Come & See — Introduction to the Eastern Church and Ruthenian Rite
The parish maintains a dedicated 'Come and See' page on its website that introduces visitors to the Eastern Catholic and Ruthenian tradition. It frames Byzantine Catholicism as the same faith and seven sacraments as Roman Catholicism, expressed through a different set of customs and liturgical forms rooted in the first millennium and in the missionary work of Saints Cyril and Methodius among the Slavic peoples of Central and Eastern Europe.
- Same faith and seven sacraments as the Roman Catholic Church
- Different customs and liturgical forms (Byzantine rite)
- Roots in Constantinople and the missionary work of Saints Cyril and Methodius
- Welcoming Roman-rite Catholics and visitors
Youth & Faith Formation
The parish promotes Byzantine Catholic faith formation for young people through a parish Youth Group and through participation in the biennial national ByzanTEEN Youth Rally, as well as an Eparchy of Phoenix rally. The next ByzanTEEN Youth Rally is scheduled for July 9–12, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio, and is open to all Eastern Catholic teens ages 13–18 from across the country.
- Parish Youth Group
- ByzanTEEN Youth Rally 2026 (Cleveland, OH, July 9–12, 2026)
- Eparchial rally opportunities
- Mailing list and Flocknote groups for parish communication
Sacraments & Visiting the Parish
All seven sacraments of the Catholic Church are celebrated in their Byzantine form at the parish, including the Divine Liturgy (the Byzantine-rite Mass), the Holy Mystery of Repentance (Confession), Baptism and Chrismation (often celebrated together), Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders. Communion is distributed by spoon (intinction) to all ages, and Roman-rite Catholics in good standing are welcomed to receive. There is no parish school; faith formation is offered through the parish's youth and family programs.
- Divine Liturgy — Byzantine-rite Mass
- Holy Mystery of Repentance — Saturdays 3:30–4:15 PM and by appointment
- Baptism, Chrismation, Marriage, Anointing, Holy Orders — by arrangement
- All ages receive Communion by spoon (intinction)
- No parish school; faith formation via parish youth and family programs
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Fr. Joseph (Josef) Stanichar1981 – circa late 1980s/early 1990s
Founder of the parish in 1981; Byzantine Catholic priest from New York; U.S. Air Force chaplain who retired as a full colonel at Fairchild AFB in Spokane; went on to found St. George (Lacey/Olympia, 1989), the Portland mission of St. Irene the Martyr (1988), and in 2013 Duchovny Dom Byzantine Catholic Monastery, of which he is hegumen (abbot).
- Rev. Fr. Michael Mandelasmid-2010s – c. 2023/2024
Pastor during the period when the parish formally incorporated in Washington State (June 12, 2014); listed as registered agent and governor of the parish corporation; described in a 2024 California Catholic Daily profile as the parish's pastor offering reverent liturgies.
- Rev. Fr. Thomas Donlinpresent
Current pastor; named on the parish website as pastor and signer of the pastor's welcome message ('Glory to Jesus Christ!').