Saint Mary [Ruthenian]

History of St. Mary Church

The parish was born in 1938 from the determination of a handful of Rusyn and Carpatho-Rusyn immigrant families in Cleveland's Brooklyn district who wanted a church of their own Byzantine rite. Their August 15, 1938 founding under the patronage of Mary, the Dormition of the Mother of God, launched a community that built the present State Road church (1950), founded the only Byzantine Catholic K-8 school in America (1956), and produced a remarkable lineage of priestly and diaconal vocations. In 2021 it became part of the merged Dormition of the Mother of God parish of the Eparchy of Parma.

• 1938: Founded August 15 under patronage of Mary, Dormition of the Mother of God; 72 founder families present
• 1938: Wooden shop at W. 35th & Stickney rented, converted into a church for $1,143; blessed September 25, 1938
• 1939: Father Daniel Ivancho arrives as first permanent pastor
• 1946: Father Ivancho named Bishop of Europus by Pope Pius XII; consecrated in Pittsburgh by Monsignor Fulton J. Sheen
• 1947: Father Nicholas Elko appointed pastor
• 1948-1950: Present church on State Road built — groundbreaking October 3, 1948; cornerstone May 9, 1949; dedication April 30, 1950
• 1952: Monsignor Joseph Bodnar installed as pastor (25 years of service)
• 1955: Old church and hall demolished to create off-street parking
• 1956: St. Mary School opens with Sister Servants of Mary Immaculate (Toronto)
• 1960: New school building blessed (Feb 28); enrollment reaches 374 in 1961-62
• 1960: St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Credit Union founded
• 1981: Producers Dairy property purchased; becomes Crystal Chalet hall, daycare, preschool
• 1985: Father Dennis Hrubiak becomes pastor
• 1988: Parish celebrates 50th anniversary
• 1989: St. Mary Hospitality House opens, serving weekly hot meals
• 2002: Hospitality House relocates to Holy Spirit Parish, Parma
• 2012: Byzantine Catholic Credit Union merges with Unity Catholic Credit Union
• 2013: Parish celebrates 75th anniversary
• 2021: Merged with Holy Spirit and Cathedral of St. John the Baptist under the name Dormition of the Mother of God

Clergy & Pastoral Leadership

Fr. Michael Lee was appointed Rector effective July 1, 2025, following Fr. Peter Boksay's one-year term as Administrator (July 2024-July 2025). Fr. Marek Visnovsky, a native of Slovakia ordained in Presov in 2004, served as pastor from 2015 until his 2024 release to the Eparchy of Passaic after 20 years of service in Parma. The parish has historically been served by clergy formed in both the United States and the ancestral Slavic homelands of Ruthenian Byzantine Catholics.

• Fr. Michael Lee — Rector (effective July 1, 2025)
• Fr. Peter Boksay — Administrator (July 2024 – July 2025)
• Fr. Marek Visnovsky — Pastor (2015–2024)
• Deacon Joseph Hnat — serving at Dormition

Pastor History

The succession of pastors who have served the parish traces the community's growth from a rented wooden shop to one of the most established Byzantine Catholic parishes in the Eparchy of Parma. The first pastor's elevation to the episcopate remains a singular distinction in American Ruthenian Catholic history.

Liturgical Schedule

Following the 2021 merger, the combined Dormition parish shares its liturgical life between the Dormition site at 4600 State Road (Sunday and weekday services) and the Cathedral/Holy Spirit site at 5500 W. 54th Street, Parma (Saturday and Holy Day eve services). The schedule reflects the Byzantine tradition of Matins preceding the Divine Liturgy.

• Saturday 4:00 pm — Great Vespers (Cathedral/Holy Spirit)
• Saturday 5:00 pm — Divine Liturgy (Cathedral/Holy Spirit)
• Sunday 8:30 am — Matins (Dormition)
• Sunday 9:30 am — Rosary (Dormition)
• Sunday 10:00 am — Divine Liturgy (Dormition)
• Holy Day (eve) 6:00 pm Vespers / 7:00 pm Divine Liturgy (Cathedral/Holy Spirit)
• Holy Day (day) 9:00 am Festal Matins / 10:00 am Divine Liturgy (Dormition)
• Daily 8:00 am Matins / 8:30 am Divine Liturgy (Dormition)
• Live-streaming via parma.org/live and logos.tv

Education: St. Mary Byzantine Catholic School

St. Mary Byzantine Catholic School opened September 3, 1956 with 84 students taught by Sister Servants of Mary Immaculate from Toronto and lay teacher Mrs. Eleanor Bushi. By 1961-62 enrollment had grown to 374 pupils, and in 1958-60 Father Bodnar oversaw construction of a new school building on State Road, blessed February 28, 1960 and staffed by the Sisters of St. Basil the Great of Uniontown, Pennsylvania. The school has long been recognized as the only Byzantine Catholic K-8 school in the United States and serves children from a wide range of backgrounds. In late 2025 the Eparchy of Parma announced that Mr. Patrick Biller will become principal for the 2026-2027 school year, succeeding Mrs. Rita Basalla after 23 years of distinguished service.

• Only Byzantine Catholic K-8 school in the United States
• Founded 1956 with Sister Servants of Mary Immaculate (Toronto)
• New school building dedicated February 28, 1960; architect Nicholas Lesko; builder M. Glagola, Inc.
• Staffed for many decades by Sisters of St. Basil the Great (Uniontown, PA)
• Three Sisters honored with the Eparchy's Holy Forerunner Award in 2012 for 30+ years of combined service
• Mrs. Rita Basalla — principal for 23 years (until 2025-26)
• Mr. Patrick Biller — incoming principal for 2026-2027 school year

Preschool, Daycare & Church Hall

The Producers Dairy property adjacent to the church was purchased in January 1981 for $325,000 and reopened in November 1982 as the Crystal Chalet, a catering hall that also housed the day care program, preschool and two kindergarten classes. By 2013 the preschool and daycare had moved into the main school/church complex so that all children could learn under one roof.

• Crystal Chalet hall (former Producers Dairy) — opened November 1982
• Daycare program (on site)
• St. Mary Preschool (on site)
• Church Hall available for parish events

Eastern Christian Formation (ECP) / Catechism

The parish offers an Eastern Christian Formation (ECP) and Catechism program for parish children, continuing the religious-education tradition begun with the school in 1956 and the early Parent Teachers Unit.

• Eastern Christian Formation (ECP)
• Catechism classes
• Parent Teachers Unit (PTU)

Outreach & Charitable Works

St. Mary Hospitality House was opened in March 1989 in the front of the former Producers building, serving hot meals every Tuesday to anyone who walked through the doors — whether in need of food, friendship, or simply support. After 13 years at State Road it relocated in July 2002 to Holy Spirit Byzantine Catholic Church on W. 54th in Parma, where it continues to operate every Tuesday, organized for many years by Dorothy and Ken Papke and a wide circle of volunteers.

• St. Mary Hospitality House — weekly Tuesday hot-meal outreach (since 1989)
• Hospitality House relocated to Holy Spirit Parish, Parma (July 2002)
• Founded and maintained by Dorothy and Ken Papke and hundreds of volunteers over the decades

Parish Vocations

The parish has been remarkably fruitful in priestly and diaconal vocations. Five priests and two permanent deacons — along with a subdeacon studying in Rome — have come from St. Mary's over the decades, a testament to the prayer life fostered in the parish.

• †Fr. George Evancho (ordained 1964)
• Fr. John Lucas (ordained 1966)
• †Fr. Joseph Zombor, S.J. (ordained 1967)
• Fr. James Batcha (ordained 1985)
• Fr. Joseph Repko (ordained 1995)
• Deacon Joseph Hnat (ordained 2008; serving at Dormition)
• Deacon John Petrus (ordained 2001; serving at St. Emilian, Brunswick)
• Subdeacon Andrew Summerson (parishioner, school graduate, studying in Rome)

Byzantine Catholic Credit Union

Founded in 1960 by parishioners including John Dragan and others who served 50 years as board members, the St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Credit Union eventually expanded to include all parishes of the Eparchy of Parma and became the Byzantine Catholic Credit Union. After competition from banks reduced membership, it merged with Unity Catholic Credit Union in 2012, which continues to maintain the Byzantine office at 4682 State Road.

• Founded 1960 at St. Mary parish
• Renamed Byzantine Catholic Credit Union when membership opened to the entire Eparchy
• Merged with Unity Catholic Credit Union in 2012
• Byzantine branch office remains at 4682 State Road

Eastern Churches — Our Roots

The parish belongs to the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church, an Eastern Catholic (Byzantine rite) church in full communion with Rome. Its liturgical, spiritual, and devotional life follows the Byzantine tradition as practiced by Rusyn and Carpatho-Rusyn Catholics whose ancestors emigrated from the Carpathian region.

• Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church (Byzantine rite, in communion with Rome)
• Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma
• Patronal heritage rooted in Carpatho-Rusyn immigrant community

Get Involved

An active Pastoral Council, established over a decade ago, serves as the backbone of parish activity and fundraising. Parishioners are invited to support the school's mission, the Hospitality House outreach, and liturgical life, and to enroll children in the ECP/Catechism program and the K-8 school.

• Pastoral Council (active)
• Parish fundraising
• Hospitality House volunteer corps
• PTU (Parent Teachers Unit)
• ECP/Catechism volunteer catechists

Location & Contact

Worship site: 4600 State Road, Cleveland, OH 44109. Parish office phone (216) 741-7979. Mail may also be sent to the shared parish office at 5500 West 54th Street, Parma, OH 44129.

• Address: 4600 State Road, Cleveland, OH 44109
• Phone: (216) 741-7979
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: http://www.stmarybyz.com/
• Mailing address: 5500 West 54th Street, Parma, OH 44129