About St. Andrew the Apostle [Ruthenian] · Gibsonia, Pennsylvania
St. Andrew the Apostle is a Byzantine (Ruthenian) Catholic parish serving the North Hills suburbs of Pittsburgh from its home at 235 Logan Road in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania (Pine Township). Founded in 1975 as a mission of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh with just 25 families, the parish was officially elevated to parish status in 1976 and built its present church in 1979–1980. It is a small, active Eastern Catholic community where the Byzantine Divine Liturgy — chanted, frequently incensed, and celebrated with icons — is the heart of parish life.
- Established
- 1975
- Patron
- St. Andrew the Apostle
- Rector
- Father Radko Blichar
- Diocese
- Archeparchy of Pittsburgh (Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic Metropolitanate of Pittsburgh), geographically within the Roman Diocese of Pittsburgh
Why belong here
St. Andrew's offers a small, warm Byzantine Catholic home in Pittsburgh's North Hills where the entire Divine Liturgy is sung or chanted, incense is used in blessings, and holy icons are venerated — all in full communion with the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church. The parish runs a busy life beyond the altar too: a thriving Eastern Christian Formation (ECF) program for its youth, and signature pirohy and nut roll baking programs that both raise significant income for the parish and feed its identity as a Slavic-Carpatho-Rusyn community. Newcomers are greeted personally at the door, and parking is easy in the front or back lot.
Mass times at St. Andrew the Apostle [Ruthenian]
Weekly Mass schedule
About St. Andrew the Apostle Byzantine Catholic Church
St. Andrew the Apostle is a Byzantine (Ruthenian) Catholic parish in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, in the North Hills of the Pittsburgh area. As Byzantine Catholics, the community professes the Nicene Creed, lives according to the teachings of Our Lord, His Apostles, and the Church Fathers, and shares full communion with the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church. The parish takes Holy Communion and makes the Sign of the Cross in the Eastern manner, and warmly welcomes Roman Catholics, Protestants, and newcomers to share in the sacraments and holy mysteries.
- Byzantine Catholic parish in full communion with Rome
- Welcomes cradle Byzantine, Roman-rite, Protestant, and other backgrounds
- Founding pastor: Father James Spontak; assigned by Metropolitan Stephen Kocisko
- Current pastor: Father Radko Blichar; deacon: Deacon Lawrence G. Hruska
Our History
The parish traces its origins to November 23, 1975, when Father James Spontak was sent to found a new Byzantine mission for the North Hills. The first 25 families met in the former Ascension Lutheran Church on Babcock Boulevard, which was remodeled for Byzantine worship. Within seven months, on June 6, 1976, the community was elevated to parish status.
- 1975 – Mission founded Nov. 23 with 25 families in the former Ascension Lutheran Church on Babcock Blvd
- 1976 – Mission elevated to parish on June 6
- 1977 – Lost lease on first building; Archeparchy donates 5.5-acre site in Pine Township
- 1979 – Outdoor groundbreaking Divine Liturgy on July 22; construction begins in November
- 1980 – First Divine Liturgy in the new church on November 2
- 1982 – Cornerstone officially dedicated and blessed on June 13
- 2025 – Parish celebrates its 50th anniversary in November
Byzantine Worship and Beliefs
St. Andrew the Apostle celebrates the ancient Eastern Christian Divine Liturgy in a setting designed to draw the faithful into prayer through chant, incense, and icons. The parish sings or chants nearly the entire liturgy, uses incense in its blessings, and venerates holy icons. As a Byzantine Catholic parish in full communion with Rome, it shares the Nicene Creed and the sacraments with Roman-rite Catholics while keeping the distinctive Eastern liturgical, devotional, and sacramental patrimony of the Ruthenian tradition.
- Divine Liturgy sung or chanted almost in full
- Frequent use of incense
- Veneration of holy icons
- Full communion with the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church
Worship Schedule
Weekly Divine Liturgy is celebrated on Sundays at 11:30 a.m. and on Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. Holy Day and weekday services vary; the parish asks visitors to contact the rectory for the Holy Day schedule. The parish calendar (June 2026 as published on the website) shows consistent Thursday evening and Sunday morning Divine Liturgies throughout the month, plus a Monday Divine Liturgy on June 29.
- Sunday Divine Liturgy – 11:30 a.m.
- Thursday Divine Liturgy – 7:00 p.m.
- Holy Days – contact the rectory
- Anointing – by appointment via the rectory
Ministries and Parish Life
Parish life at St. Andrew's reaches well beyond Sunday liturgy. The Eastern Christian Formation (ECF) program provides religious education for the parish's youth, and parishioners are encouraged to take part in regular social gatherings. The parish also keeps up active pirohy and nut roll baking programs — beloved Slavic-Carpatho-Rusyn traditions — which produce significant annual income that helps the parish meet its operating expenses.
- Eastern Christian Formation (ECF) – youth religious education
- Pirohy baking program
- Nut roll baking program
- Parish socials (monthly gatherings)
- Young adult retreat
- Archeparchy-wide youth ministry connection
Your First Visit
The parish prides itself on being a small, welcoming community where visitors are personally greeted at the door. Deacon Larry and Father Radko are usually on hand to welcome newcomers, parking is easy in either the front or back lot, and the liturgy is fully sung or chanted with incense and icons — making a first visit a rich sensory experience of Byzantine worship.
- Friendly greeters at the door
- Easy, plentiful parking in front or back
- Full sung/chanted Byzantine Divine Liturgy
- Incense and veneration of icons
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the Byzantine-rite sacraments (holy mysteries) and, being in full communion with Rome, welcomes Roman Catholics to share in them. Routine preparations for the Anointing of the Sick and for Marriage are coordinated through the rectory.
- Divine Liturgy (Sunday 11:30 a.m.; Thursday 7:00 p.m.)
- Anointing – please contact the rectory
- Marriage – please contact the rectory
- Holy Communion shared with Roman-rite Catholics
Contact and Location
St. Andrew the Apostle Byzantine Catholic Church sits at 235 Logan Road, Gibsonia, PA 15044, in Pine Township between Pearce Mill Road and Babcock Boulevard, near Pine-Richland High School. The parish can be reached by phone at (724) 625-1160 or by email at [email protected].
- Address: 235 Logan Road, Gibsonia, PA 15044
- Phone: (724) 625-1160
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.standrewbyzantine.com/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father James Spontak1975–founding
Assigned by Metropolitan Stephen Kocisko to found the new mission on November 23, 1975 with 25 families.