About Saint Nicholas [Ruthenian] · Clinton Township, Michigan
St. Nicholas of Myra is a Byzantine (Ruthenian) Catholic parish in Clinton Township, Michigan, part of the Byzantine Eparchy of Parma and in full communion with Rome. Founded in 1921 by Carpatho-Ruthenian immigrants on Detroit's east side, the parish worships in the Byzantine liturgical tradition — English and the Church Slavonic/Byzantine chant — and is known locally as 'St. Nick's.' After decades of moves within the Detroit metropolitan area, the parish settled in Clinton Township in 2009. On October 26, 2025, St. Nicholas formally merged with neighboring St. Basil the Great Byzantine Catholic Parish (Sterling Heights) under a decree from Bishop Robert Pipta, creating one strengthened Byzantine Catholic community north of Detroit.
- Established
- 1921
- Patron
- Saint Nicholas of Myra
- Rector
- Rev. Mykhailo Solianyk (Administrator since July 1, 2022; continuing as pastor of the merged St. Nicholas / St. Basil parish from October 26, 2025)
- Diocese
- Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma (Ruthenian); geographically within the territory of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit
Why belong here
St. Nicholas offers a fully Byzantine Catholic liturgical and spiritual life — Divine Liturgy in the Ruthenian tradition, the Jesus Prayer, regular confession before each liturgy, Eastern Christian Bible Study, and an Eastern Christian Formation (E.C.F.) program for children from preschool through grade 12 — all in communion with Rome. The parish is small enough that members know each other and large enough to sustain an active Parish Life Committee that hosts socials, outreach, and visitor welcome. After the 2025 merger with St. Basil the Great, the community is pooling its resources to keep Byzantine Catholic faith, chant, and tradition alive for the next generation of families north of Detroit.
Mass times at Saint Nicholas [Ruthenian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Before each Divine Liturgy
- Saturday 3:00 pm
- By appointment
About St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church
Saint Nicholas of Myra Byzantine Catholic Church is a Ruthenian (Byzantine) Catholic parish located north of Detroit, part of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma and in full communion with the Bishop of Rome. The community worships in the Byzantine liturgical tradition, singing the hymns and chanting the prayers of the Eastern Church Slavonic and English heritage. The parish's welcome page opens with the Eastern Christian greeting: 'Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him Forever!' After more than a century of ministry — first on Detroit's east side, then in several metro locations, and since 2009 in Clinton Township — the parish formally merged in October 2025 with St. Basil the Great Byzantine Catholic Church of Sterling Heights. The combined Byzantine Catholic community continues today under the spiritual care of Fr. Mykhailo Solianyk.
- Jurisdiction: Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma (Ruthenian)
- Geographically within the territory of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit
- Greeting: 'Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him Forever!'
History of the Parish
Founded in 1921 by about twenty Carpatho-Ruthenian immigrant families, the parish built its first worship space — a basement — on the east side of Detroit in 1923, dedicated a church in 1939, and flourished through the 1940s–1960s with choirs, scouts, men's and women's societies, feather parties, and parish picnics. When the Detroit neighborhood began to decline in the 1970s under Rev. Nicholas Ivan, the parish bought land in Harrison Township and relocated temporarily to a former Protestant church a few miles north, bringing along the original church bell. In 1987 Rev. Robert Barter became pastor; by 1996 the parish council had decided that a full move was necessary. After approval from Bishop John Kudrick, the parish purchased the recently closed St. Valerie Roman Catholic Church from the Archdiocese of Detroit in August 2009 and celebrated its first Divine Liturgy at the Clinton Township site on October 11, 2009, transplanting its marble fixtures, murals, and iconography.
- 1921 — parish founded by Carpatho-Ruthenian immigrants
- 1923 — basement worship space completed
- 1938 — cornerstone laid; 1939 — church dedicated
- 1944 — interior redecorated; refinements in the early 1960s
- 1970s — under Rev. Nicholas Ivan, parish buys land in Harrison Township and relocates north
- 1987 — Rev. Robert Barter arrives as pastor
- 2009 — purchase of former St. Valerie Roman Catholic Church; first Divine Liturgy Oct. 11, 2009
- December 2014 — Fr. Barter retires; Fr. Joseph Repko becomes pastor
- July 1, 2022 — Fr. Mykhailo Solianyk named Administrator
- Sept. 26, 2025 — Bishop Robert M. Pipta decrees merger with St. Basil the Great (Sterling Heights)
- Oct. 26, 2025 — first Divine Liturgy as the merged parish
Clergy & Pastoral Staff
The parish is currently led by Fr. Mykhailo Solianyk, who became Administrator on July 1, 2022 after serving as parochial vicar of the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Mother of God in Cleveland. He continues to lead the merged St. Nicholas / St. Basil community following the October 26, 2025 decree of Bishop Robert M. Pipta.
- Rev. Mykhailo Solianyk — Administrator / Pastor (since July 1, 2022)
- Rev. Joseph Repko — Pastor (December 2014 – July 1, 2022); transferred to St. Mary Byzantine, Marblehead, OH
- Rev. Robert Barter — Pastor (1987 – December 2014); led the 2009 move from Detroit to Clinton Township
- Rev. Nicholas Ivan — Pastor, 1970s; oversaw the relocation from Detroit to the former Protestant church
Sacraments & Services
The parish's Services page lists the full range of Byzantine Catholic mysteries (sacraments). Confessions are heard before each Liturgy and by appointment; weekday and Holy Day services are arranged through the parish office.
- Divine Liturgy (the Byzantine Catholic Eucharistic celebration)
- Confession — before each Liturgy or by appointment
- Holy Mysteries of Initiation — Baptism, Chrismation, and First Eucharist
- Marriage
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders
Religious Education: Eastern Christian Formation (E.C.F.)
St. Nicholas runs an Eastern Christian Formation (E.C.F.) program for children from preschool through 12th grade. The parish explains its philosophy clearly: 'the primary classroom for Christian formation is the church, and, with the Eucharist as our most necessary nourishment, the primary guides in formation are the prayers and hymns of our tradition, especially those that are written in Sacred Scripture and proclaimed in the Liturgy of the Word.' Class sessions provide a less formal setting for reading, studying, questioning, and discussing Byzantine Catholic spirituality.
- Open to children Preschool through Grade 12
- Adult catechesis also available (A Byzantine Catechism for Adults)
- Rooted in the prayers, hymns, and Scripture of the Byzantine Liturgy of the Word
Eastern Christian Bible Study
The parish hosts an Eastern Christian Bible Study with on-site classes and an extensive online archive of lessons. Topics have included the Gospels of St. Mark, St. Luke, and St. John, and a multi-part series through the Apocalypse of St. John (more than twenty installments archived on the website).
- Series on the Gospel of St. Mark
- Series on the Gospel of St. John
- Series on the Gospel of St. Luke
- Multi-part series on the Apocalypse (Book of Revelation)
- Archived lessons available on the parish website
Parish Life & Community
The Parish Life Committee is described on the website as 'a very vibrant, active group of enthusiastic and energetic parishioners who share a common interest in helping to secure a future for the parish by planning and hosting a wide variety of events and activities, of either a social or a spiritual nature, to engage and enrich the lives of parishioners as well as the community.' The committee organizes its work around three areas: Social/Fellowship, Community Service/Relations, and Visitors/New Memberships.
- Social / Fellowship events
- Community Service / Relations outreach
- Visitors / New Memberships welcome ministry
- Parish Choir
- Prayer Ministry (mailing list for parish emails and prayer intentions)
2025 Merger with St. Basil the Great (Sterling Heights)
On September 26, 2025, Bishop Robert M. Pipta of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma issued a formal decree merging St. Nicholas Parish (Clinton Township) and St. Basil the Great Parish (Sterling Heights) into a single new parish entity. The merger was made after pastoral consultation and aims to strengthen the Byzantine Catholic community north of Detroit by consolidating resources and ministries. The new parish assumed all assets, obligations, and responsibilities of the former parishes, including property, finances, and sacramental records. The first Divine Liturgy of the newly combined parish was celebrated on Sunday, October 26, 2025, with Fr. Mykhailo Solianyk — who had administered both parishes for over a year — continuing to lead the unified community.
- Decree issued September 26, 2025 by Bishop Robert M. Pipta
- First combined-pastoral Divine Liturgy: Sunday, October 26, 2025
- St. Basil history traces back to a 1960s mission from St. Nicholas for families moving to the suburbs
- Pastoral leader of merged parish: Rev. Mykhailo Solianyk
Contact & Visiting
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone or email. The parish invites visitors to worship with them and to join the parish mailing list for news and prayer intentions.
- Address: 4700 Metro Parkway, Sterling Heights, Michigan 48310
- Phone: (586) 791-1052
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.stnicksdetroit.com
- Confessions before each Liturgy or by appointment
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Nicholas Ivan1970s
Led the parish as the surrounding Detroit neighborhood began to decline; oversaw purchase of land in Harrison Township and the move to a former Protestant church a few miles north.
- Rev. Robert Barter1987 – December 2014
Long-serving pastor who led the move from Detroit to Clinton Township in 2009 by purchasing the closed St. Valerie Roman Catholic Church from the Archdiocese of Detroit.
- Rev. Joseph RepkoDecember 2014 – July 1, 2022
Succeeded Fr. Barter; transferred in 2022 to pastor of St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Parish, Marblehead, Ohio.
- Rev. Mykhailo SolianykJuly 1, 2022 – present
Came from the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Mother of God in Cleveland where he was parochial vicar; arrived with his wife Zita and five children. Continues as pastor of the merged St. Nicholas / St. Basil parish (effective Oct. 26, 2025).