About Saint Mary · Hazleton, Pennsylvania
St. Mary's (Dormition) Byzantine Catholic Church is a Byzantine-rite Catholic parish located at 227 East Beech Street in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, belonging to the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic. Founded in July 1889 by immigrants from the Carpathian Mountains of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (modern-day Slovakia and parts of eastern Europe), it served as the mother church of Byzantine Catholic life in the Hazleton area and gave rise to the neighboring St. John the Baptist parish in 1893. The parish remains an active center of Byzantine worship, offering the Divine Liturgy in English (with traditional Byzantine chant) and continuing the spiritual heritage of the Ruthenian/Ukrainian Catholic tradition in Pennsylvania's coal-region communities.
- Established
- 1889
- Patron
- The Most Holy Dormition of the Mother of God (Byzantine feast of the 'Falling-Asleep' of the Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Yevhenii Hradil (Parochial Administrator, per Eparchy of Passaic listing last updated August 21, 2025)
- Diocese
- Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic
Why belong here
St. Mary's is the historical mother church of Byzantine Catholic life in Hazleton, founded by Carpatho-Rusyn immigrants in 1889 and still serving faithful four generations later. Visitors are welcomed into a beautifully restored Byzantine-rite sanctuary — including a restored 1880s-era iconostasis — for the Divine Liturgy celebrated in the English Byzantine chant tradition. With weekly Sunday services, Saturday evening liturgy, and Saturday confessions, it offers an accessible point of entry for anyone seeking to experience the spiritual depth of the Eastern Christian tradition in northeastern Pennsylvania.
Mass times at Saint Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:15 PM – 4:45 PM
About St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic Church
St. Mary's (Dormition) Byzantine Catholic Church is an Eastern-rite Catholic parish at 227 East Beech Street in Hazleton, Pennsylvania. Founded by Carpathian immigrants in 1889, it is the oldest Byzantine Catholic parish in the Hazleton area and the mother church from which the nearby St. John the Baptist Byzantine parish was later spun off.
History
Founded in July 1889 by approximately 350 souls from the Carpathian Mountains of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, St. Mary's grew rapidly as waves of Ruthenian and Rusyn immigrants came to work in the anthracite coal region. The first church was dedicated in 1894 by Bishop William O'Hara of Scranton; a larger second church followed in 1901; and the present church was completed in 1942 and dedicated by Bishop Basil Takach. The parish spawned St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church in 1893 and contributed vocations to the priesthood and religious life, including to the Sisters of St. Basil the Great.
- 1889 – Parish founded; Rev. Nicholas Stecovich first pastor
- 1894 – First church erected and dedicated by Bishop William O'Hara
- 1901 – Larger second church completed and dedicated by Bishop Michael J. O'Hara
- 1942 – Present church building completed; dedicated by Bishop Basil Takach
- Mid-20th c. – Sisterhood of St. Basil the Great assigned to parochial school duties
- Recent years – Iconostasis and interior icons restored under Fr. Peter Donish
Byzantine Catholic Heritage & Architecture
As a Byzantine-rite parish within the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic, St. Mary's preserves the Eastern Christian liturgical and artistic tradition. The parish's most treasured architectural element is its iconostasis — the carved screen separating nave from sanctuary — which survives from the original late-1880s church and was painstakingly restored along with all interior paintings and icons by Judy Dotzel. The dome and ambient lighting were also refurbished to showcase the restored screen.
- Iconostasis dating from the original 1880s church
- Dome restoration
- Interior iconography restoration by Judy Dotzel
- New holy doors and deacon doors crafted during restoration
Divine Liturgy & Worship Schedule
St. Mary's offers the Byzantine-rite Divine Liturgy on weekends in English. Saturday evening services follow the Roman-catholic Vigil pattern, with two Sunday morning liturgies on the Lord's Day.
- Saturday Vigil – 5:00 PM
- Sunday – 9:00 AM
- Sunday – 10:15 AM
- Saturday Confessions – 4:15 PM to 4:45 PM
Clergy & Parish Leadership
According to the Byzantine Catholic Eparch of Passaic's official directory (last updated August 21, 2025), the parish is currently led by Parochial Administrator Rev. Yevhenii Hradil. Earlier in the 2020s the parish was led by Rev. Peter Donish, who oversaw the major iconostasis and iconography restoration project.
- Rev. Yevhenii Hradil – Parochial Administrator (current per Eparchy listing)
- Rev. Peter Donish – previous pastor; led the iconostasis and icon restoration
Parish Organizations & Societies
Throughout the twentieth century, St. Mary's maintained the classic panoply of Byzantine-rite Catholic parish societies, which both fostered devotion and raised funds for the parish's buildings, school, and cemetery. These organizations historically included the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Rosary Society, the Holy Name Society, the League of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the Altar Society.
- Rosary Society
- Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Holy Name Society
- League of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Altar Society
Diocese & Eparchy
St. Mary's is one of the parishes of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic, the Eastern-Catholic (Ruthenian/Byzantine) diocese serving faithful across much of the eastern United States. The eparchy itself is a sui iuris church in full communion with Rome.
- Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic
- Sui iuris Byzantine Catholic Church in communion with Rome
- Eparchial directory: eparchyofpassaic.com
Visiting & Contact
The church is located at 227 East Beech Street, Hazleton, PA 18201. The parish office can be reached at (570) 455-3232 (fax 570-455-5654). Updated parish information is published on the parish's official Facebook page, which serves as the community's primary online hub.
- Address: 227 East Beech Street, Hazleton, PA 18201
- Phone: (570) 455-3232
- Fax: (570) 455-5654
- Facebook: facebook.com/StMarysByzantineCatholicChurch
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Nicholas Stecovich1889 (founding, first pastor)
Founded the parish in July 1889 with about 350 souls from Carpathian Mountain immigrants.
- Rev. John Koval
Listed as pastor at the time of the 1949 Eparchial Silver Jubilee publication.
- Rev. Peter Donishthrough ~2024
Oversaw the major restoration of the iconostasis, icons, dome, and lighting during his tenure.