About Saint Mary · Coatesville, Pennsylvania
Blessed Virgin Mary Byzantine Catholic Church (commonly known as St. Mary Byzantine) is a small Byzantine (Ruthenian) Catholic parish at 88 Gap Road in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, founded in 1918 by devout Hungarian Catholic immigrants who wanted to worship God in their own Byzantine rite and customs. The parish belongs to the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic and gathers weekly for the Vigil Divine Liturgy on Saturday at 3:00 PM. It is currently served as a mission-linked community with its sister parish, St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Church in Mont Clare, PA, under Very Reverend Andriy Kovach, JCL, Parochial Administrator, and celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2018.
- Established
- 1918
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary (under the title of the Dormition of the Theotokos)
- Rector
- Very Reverend Andriy Kovach, JCL — Parochial Administrator
- Diocese
- Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic (Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic) — currently led by Most Rev. Kurt Burnette
Why belong here
Blessed Virgin Mary Byzantine Catholic Church offers a living witness to the Eastern Christian heritage in the heart of Chester County, celebrating the same Byzantine (Ruthenian) liturgical tradition shared across the Eparchy of Passaic parishes — including Pascha (rather than Easter) and the Nativity in place of Christmas — all in full communion with the Pope of Rome. The parish shares its clergy and bulletin with its sister parish, St. Michael's in Mont Clare, and offers a weekly Vigil Divine Liturgy on Saturday afternoons, plus online streaming for those who cannot attend in person. For Hungarian-American faithful, Byzantine Christians in the Coatesville area, or anyone drawn to the icons, chanting and ancient customs of the Byzantine rite, this is a small, historic community that has kept the faith of its founders alive for more than a century.
Mass times at Saint Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Welcome & About Our Parish
The parish's website opens under the heading 'Under the protection of the Dormition of the Theotokos' and invites visitors to its Weekly Vigil Divine Liturgy on Saturday at 3:00 PM, with an online streaming option for those who cannot attend in person. A link to the parish's bulletin (jointly published with sister parish St. Michael's) and a slide show of the 2018 100th Anniversary celebration are highlighted on the home page.
- Weekly Vigil Divine Liturgy: Saturday at 3:00 PM
- Online streaming of the Divine Liturgy available via the parish site
- Bulletin published jointly with sister parish St. Michael's (stmichaelbyzantine.org)
- Slide show of the 2018 100th Anniversary event archived on the website
Our Story — Hungarian Founders on Gap Road
A detailed 'About Us' history on the parish website traces the founding of the community to the wave of devout Hungarian Catholic families who settled in Coatesville in the early 1900s. Uncomfortable in neighboring Byzantine churches, they petitioned the Very Rev. Gabriel Martyak of Lansford, PA, and the local Roman Catholic pastor Father Alfred Walsh of St. Cecilia's to help them build a parish of their own. Their persistence through the obstacles of World War I led to formal approval of building plans in April 1918.
- Early 1900s: Group of devout Hungarian Catholics settles in Coatesville, PA
- Petition sent to Very Rev. Gabriel Martyak (Lansford, PA), Apostolic Administrator for Greek Catholics of Ruthenian, Hungarian and Croatian extraction
- Father Alfred Walsh of St. Cecilia's Roman Catholic Church, Coatesville, offered advisory assistance
- April 20, 1918: Final building plans approved by Very Rev. Gabriel Martyak; construction begins
Blessing of the Church & Charter
Less than a year after the plans were approved, the completed church was solemnly blessed. Very Rev. Michael Balog, Dean of Cleveland, Ohio, officiated the blessing on Sunday, May 4, 1919. Three weeks later, on May 30, 1919, the parish charter was formally signed by all 150 founding families, legally establishing the parish under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary with the title of the Dormition of the Theotokos.
- May 4, 1919 — Blessing of the new church by Very Rev. Michael Balog, Dean of Cleveland, OH
- May 30, 1919 — Parish charter formally signed by all 150 founding families
- Patron: Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of the Dormition of the Theotokos
Byzantine Catholic Heritage & Faith
The parish website explains that the Byzantine Catholic Church is united with Catholics of the Roman (Latin) Rite in faith and in allegiance to the Pope of Rome, while practicing the Byzantine rite and tradition shared with the Orthodox Churches. Many original Christian traditions dating back centuries are preserved: the parish celebrates Pascha (from a Hebrew word meaning 'the passing over') rather than Easter, and the Nativity rather than Christmas.
- In full communion with the Pope of Rome
- Practices the Byzantine (Ruthenian) rite, shared with the Orthodox Churches
- Celebrates Pascha and the Nativity using traditional Christian terms
The Building & Its Architecture
The Coatesville church reflects the classic arrangement of a Byzantine church: Narthex (vestibule), Nave and Sanctuary (the 'Holy Place'), with the latter two divided by the Iconostasis bearing the four Evangelists on its doors. Crowning the dome is the distinctive three-barred cross that is the best-known symbol of Byzantine Christianity — the upper bar bearing 'I.N.R.I.' and the lower slanted plank traditionally understood as a footrest for Jesus. A Tetrapod table in the nave displays the icon of the feast or saint being honored.
- Three-barred cross with I.N.R.I. bar and slanted footrest bar atop the dome
- Three-part interior: Narthex, Nave and Sanctuary (Holy Place)
- Iconostasis doors depict the four Evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)
- Tetrapod table in nave displays the icon of the current feast or saint
Clergy & Eparchy
The parish is part of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic, currently shepherded by Most Rev. Kurt Burnette. Blessed Virgin Mary Byzantine Catholic Church is currently administered by Very Reverend Andriy Kovach, JCL, who also serves the sister parish of St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Church in Mont Clare, PA. The previous administrator, Rev. James Badeaux, went on to become Pastor of St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church in Hillsborough, NJ.
- Eparchy: Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic
- Bishop: Most Rev. Kurt Burnette
- Current Parochial Administrator: Very Rev. Andriy Kovach, JCL
- Sister parish: St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Church, 203 Jacob St, Mont Clare, PA 19453 (610-933-2819)
Worship, Streaming & Bulletin
The parish's primary weekly gathering is the Vigil Divine Liturgy on Saturday at 3:00 PM. For those unable to attend in person, the parish provides a live-streamed Divine Liturgy online through its website. A joint bulletin is published with sister parish St. Michael's, keeping both communities informed of the liturgical calendar and announcements.
- Vigil Divine Liturgy: Saturday at 3:00 PM
- Online streaming of the Divine Liturgy via the parish site
- Joint parish bulletin with St. Michael's Byzantine Catholic Church, Mont Clare, PA
Visit, Contact & Mailing Address
Parishioners and visitors can reach the community by phone, email or postal mail. Because Blessed Virgin Mary shares its clergy and bulletin with St. Michael's in Mont Clare, the contact email currently routes through the sister parish's pastor. The mailing address is 88 Gap Road, Coatesville, PA 19320.
- Phone: 610-933-2819
- Email: [email protected]
- Mailing address: 88 Gap Road, Coatesville, PA 19320
- Website: http://www.bvmdormition.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Very Rev. Gabriel Martyak1918–1919
Apostolic Administrator for Greek Catholics of Ruthenian, Hungarian and Croatian extraction, based in Lansford, PA; approved the parish's building plans on April 20, 1918.
- Very Rev. Michael Balog, Dean of Cleveland, OH1919
Officiated at the blessing of the new church on May 4, 1919.
- Father Alfred Walshcirca 1917–1918
Pastor of St. Cecilia's Roman Catholic Church, Coatesville, who served as founding-era advisor to the Hungarian Byzantine community.
- Rev. James Badeauxprior to 2022
Served as Administrator of Blessed Virgin Mary Byzantine Catholic Church, Coatesville, before becoming Pastor of St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church, Hillsborough, NJ.
- Very Rev. Andriy Kovach, JCLpresent
Current Parochial Administrator, also serving St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Church, Mont Clare, PA.