About St. Elias [Ruthenian] · Munhall, Pennsylvania
St. Elias Byzantine Catholic Church is a Ruthenian (Byzantine rite) Catholic parish in Munhall, Pennsylvania, just outside Pittsburgh in the Monongahela Valley. Founded in 1907 by Hungarian immigrants who had settled along the Monongahela River, the parish is a member of the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh and is served today by Rev. Fr. Vitalii Stashkevych. The current church on Homestead-Duquesne Road was dedicated in 1966 and remains a center of Eastern Christian worship, faith formation, and community life — including a long-running Lenten Kitchen fish fry, an annual parish festival, ECF classes, and a youth organization (S.E.Y.O.). Weekly Divine Liturgy is celebrated Saturday evening, Sunday morning, and on Great Fast Wednesdays.
- Established
- 1907
- Patron
- St. Elias (the Prophet / Elijah the Tishbite)
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Vitalii Stashkevych
- Diocese
- Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh (Ruthenian Metropolitanate sui juris of Pittsburgh)
Why belong here
St. Elias is a parish with deep roots in the Mon Valley's Hungarian Byzantine Catholic heritage and a vibrant present-day life: weekly Saturday and Sunday Divine Liturgy (with weekday Presanctified Liturgies during the Great Fast), a robust Eastern Christian Formation program for Pre-K through 12th grade, and an active youth organization (S.E.Y.O.) for grades 8 through 12. The community gathers around beloved traditions like the 21st Annual Lenten Kitchen fish fries, the parish festival, the Champagne Lunch & Bingo, the Christmas Market, and ministry to shut-ins through the Bethany Ministry — all grounded in Byzantine-rite devotion and a strong sense of family.
Mass times at St. Elias [Ruthenian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30–4:00 PM
- 20 minutes before Divine Liturgy
- After Divine Liturgy (Sunday)
Our Heritage & Founding Story
St. Elias was born from the Hungarian Greek Catholic (Byzantine Rite) community that settled along the Monongahela River in the late 1800s. In 1904 they organized the St. Mary Sick and Benefit Society, renamed the next year the St. Anthony Sick and Benefit Society of Homestead and Vicinity, with 325 family and 650 single members voting to establish a church. On May 4, 1905, a convention of Mon Valley Hungarians led by Rev. Andrew Hodobay, Apostolic Administrator and Visitator, launched the new parish, originally to be named St. Anthony Hungarian Greek Catholic Church. After eighteen delegations to the chancery, ecclesiastical approval came in April 1907, and the name was changed to St. Elias at Bishop Regis Canevin's request. St. Elias (Elijah) was a natural patron — long venerated as patron of good crops among the rural Hungarian faithful.
- Sick & Benefit Society formed 1904–05; 325 family and 650 single members
- Founding convention: May 4, 1905, led by Rev. Andrew Hodobay
- Ecclesiastical approval: April 1907
- Name changed from St. Anthony to St. Elias at request of Bishop Regis Canevin
- Formal occupancy of first property: December 29, 1907
- First Divine Liturgy celebrated: January 1908
Early Years: Ninth Avenue and the Fire of 1928
Father Julius Orosz, the first pastor, opened St. Elias in rented space at Markovics Hall on Eighth Avenue, then purchased a rectory and church at Ninth Avenue and McClure Street from St. Matthew Episcopal Church. In 1917 the interior was liturgically decorated by well-known artists, and in 1920 the parish acquired a cemetery on Jane Street in Homeville. In March 1928 an early-morning fire destroyed the church, but community, businesses, and the congregation rebuilt it within the same year. Mid-1940s brought three parish missions by noted European and American clergy, a Holy Name Society, and a Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary; the 50th Anniversary was celebrated September 21, 1958.
- First services at Markovics Hall, Eighth Avenue
- Rectory/church at Ninth Avenue & McClure Street purchased from St. Matthew Episcopal Church, 1907
- Cemetery on Jane Street, Homeville, purchased 1920
- Church destroyed by fire March 1928 — rebuilt the same year
- Holy Name Society and Sodality of the BVM formed, mid-1940s
- 50th Anniversary: September 21, 1958
The New Church on Homestead-Duquesne Road
As Homestead's population moved to the suburbs, the parish purchased a 13-acre parcel on Homestead-Duquesne Road in 1961–62 for a new church and rectory. Architect Edward F. Horley drew the plans; a Building Fund committee, a Loyalty Day Dinner (November 1962), and the new Boosters Club funded and built the project. Groundbreaking was May 19, 1963, the first Liturgy in the partially completed building was October 24, 1964, and on July 24, 1966, the Most Reverend Nicholas T. Elko, D.D., dedicated the new St. Elias Byzantine Catholic Church. A Mortgage-Burning Ceremony followed on July 22, 1973. On July 27, 1974, Cardinal Joseph Mindszenty, Primate of Hungary, visited during his American exile and blessed the Mindszenty Garden on the grounds. Interior decoration ran 1980–1984, and the icon screen was blessed during the 75th Anniversary. On June 24, 2007, the parish marked its 100th Anniversary.
- 13-acre Homestead-Duquesne Road site purchased 1961–62
- Architect: Edward F. Horley
- Groundbreaking: May 19, 1963
- First Liturgy in partially completed building: October 24, 1964
- Dedication by Bishop Nicholas T. Elko: July 24, 1966
- Mortgage-Burning: July 22, 1973
- Cardinal Mindszenty visit & blessing of Mindszenty Garden: July 27, 1974
- Interior decoration 1980–1984; icon screen blessed at 75th Anniversary
- 100th Anniversary: June 24, 2007
Pastorate of the Parish (1907–Present)
St. Elias has been served by sixteen priests in succession since its founding. The current pastor is Rev. Fr. Vitalii Stashkevych. The parish website's 'Our Heritage' page lists, in order, the priests who have served the community: Rev. Julius Orosz, Rev. S. Roskovics, Rev. J. Kovalcsik, Rev. V. Kizak, Rev. E. Suba, Rev. N. Szabo, Rev. Basil Ivancso, Rev. Albert Gajdos, Rev. Valentine Orosz, Rev. George N. Vida, Rev. E. Lucas, Msgr. R. Balta, Rev. D. Valasek, Very Rev. Archpriest Eugene Yackanich, Very Rev. Andrew J. Deskevich, and Rev. Fr. Vitalii Stashkevych. Archpriest Eugene Yackanich was ordained March 25, 1965, by Bishop Nicholas T. Elko; he was elevated to Archpriest on November 24, 2013, and retired from active ministry in 2015.
- Rev. Julius Orosz — first pastor (1907)
- Rev. S. Roskovics
- Rev. J. Kovalcsik
- Rev. V. Kizak
- Rev. E. Suba
- Rev. N. Szabo
- Rev. Basil Ivancso
- Rev. Albert Gajdos
- Rev. Valentine Orosz
- Rev. George N. Vida
- Rev. E. Lucas
- Msgr. R. Balta
- Rev. D. Valasek
- Very Rev. Archpriest Eugene P. Yackanich (retired 2015)
- Very Rev. Andrew J. Deskevich
- Rev. Fr. Vitalii Stashkevych (current pastor)
Feast of St. Elias the Prophet
St. Elias the Tishbite (Elijah) is honored as the patron of the parish. In the Byzantine calendar his feast is celebrated on July 20. According to the parish's own 'Our Heritage' page, 'the choice of our Patron Saint was named. St. Elias was a natural choice for our patron saint, as he had long been the patron of good crops among the Hungarian people of the soil.' The parish's icon of St. Elias stands in front of the church 'calling all Christians to worship the one true God according to the Gospel preached by Christ and to be a Christian at all times without compromise.' The parish's devotional teaching reflects the prophet's life — fed by ravens at the stream (1 Kings 17:4), his dramatic confrontation with Baal, his zealous declaration 'I have been most zealous for the Lord the God of Hosts' (1 Kings 19:10), and his being carried into heaven in a fiery chariot without dying — all prefigurations of the coming Kingdom of God.
- Patron of good crops among rural Hungarians
- Icon of St. Elias stands in front of the church
- Feast: July 20 (Byzantine calendar)
- Christ identifies Elias with John the Baptist (Mt. 11:14)
Divine Liturgy & Holy Mysteries Schedule
Weekly worship at St. Elias centers on the Byzantine Divine Liturgy. Services are celebrated on Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings, with the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts offered on Wednesday evenings during the Great Fast (Lent). The Mystery of Reconciliation (Confession) is heard Saturday afternoon and before/after Liturgy. The parish livestreams every Divine Liturgy on its Facebook page and YouTube channel for the homebound and those at a distance.
- Sunday Divine Liturgy: 9:00 AM
- Saturday Divine Liturgy: 4:00 PM
- Wednesday 7:00 PM — Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts (during the Great Fast only)
- Confession: Saturday 3:30–4:00 PM; 20 minutes before Liturgy; after Sunday Liturgy
- Marriage (Crowning) and Anointing: contact the rectory
- Live-streamed every week on Facebook and YouTube
Faith Formation & Religious Education (E.C.F.)
St. Elias runs a robust Eastern Christian Formation (ECF) program for children from Pre-K through 12th grade. Classes meet Sundays after the Divine Liturgy until noon and include traditional formation activities such as the blessing of teachers and students, the making of crosses, and the blessing of the crosses. The ECF community and S.E.Y.O. also collaborate to make Easter baskets for shut-in parishioners.
- Eastern Christian Formation (ECF): Sundays after Divine Liturgy until noon, Pre-K through grade 12
- Contact: Josephine Slekar — (412) 462-1998
- Annual Blessing of Teachers and Students (reception follows)
- Annual making and blessing of crosses
- ECF & S.E.Y.O. make baskets for shut-in parishioners
S.E.Y.O. — St. Elias Youth Organization
S.E.Y.O. is the parish youth organization for grades 8 through 12. The group meets Sundays in the Social Hall and is advised by Rob and Patti Monahan and Tom and Kelley Conley. Activities have included a blood drive in the Social Hall, snowtubing trips, clean-ups around the church grounds, candy-making for the Lenten Kitchen, and an annual Christmas card fundraiser with proceeds going to Auberle and to a family the youth choose to support each holiday season.
- Grades 8–12; Sundays in the Social Hall
- Advisors: Rob & Patti Monahan and Tom & Kelley Conley
- High School/Adult Education: Seminarian Michael Kunitz and Timothy Fariss
- Annual Christmas card fundraiser (proceeds to Auberle and a chosen family)
- Blood drives, Lenten Kitchen candy-making, grounds clean-ups, snowtubing
Parish Festival & Annual Events
St. Elias is known for its strong tradition of community fundraising and fellowship. The Parish Festival is a three-day weekend held usually in July or August. The Champagne Lunch & Bingo is held annually. The 21st Annual Lenten Kitchen & Bake Sale ran in 2026 on six consecutive Fridays during Great Fast (February 20, 27; March 6, 13, 20, 27) from 11:30 AM to 6:00 PM, offering baked and fried fish dinners, fish sandwiches, shrimp dinners, pirohi, mac & cheese, and noodle haluski — both take-out and dine-in.
- Parish Festival — three-day weekend, usually July or August
- Champagne Lunch & Bingo — annual
- Super Bingo
- Lenten Kitchen & Bake Sale (21st Annual in 2026) — six Fridays during Great Fast, 11:30 AM–6:00 PM
- Lenten Kitchen menu: Baked Fish, Fried Fish, Fish Sandwich, Shrimp Dinner, Pirohi, Mac & Cheese, Noodle Haluski
- Oktoberfest
- Stuffed Cabbage Dinner
- Flea Market
- New Year's Eve celebration
- Food Fest
Bethany Ministry & Care for the Sick
The parish's Bethany Ministry, facilitated by Becky Johnen, reaches out to homebound and elderly parishioners. The parish also maintains a 'Keep in Prayers' list, and S.E.Y.O. and ECF students make Easter baskets to be delivered to shut-ins — a tangible expression of intergenerational connection in the parish community.
- Bethany Ministry facilitated by Becky Johnen
- Care for homebound and elderly parishioners
- Easter baskets made by ECF & S.E.Y.O. for shut-ins
Buildings, Grounds & Facilities
The 1966 church building on Homestead-Duquesne Road houses the sanctuary, an icon screen blessed at the 75th Anniversary, and a lower level that contains a chapel to the Mother of Perpetual Help, a parish library, four ECF classrooms and an ECF coordinator's office, and a spacious social hall used for everything from bingo nights to the Lenten Kitchen and the annual Festival. Outside, the Mindszenty Garden is named in honor of Cardinal Joseph Mindszenty's 1974 visit. The parish also owns a cemetery on Jane Street in Homeville, purchased in 1920.
- Chapel of the Mother of Perpetual Help
- Parish library
- Four ECF classrooms and ECF coordinator's office
- Spacious social hall on the lower level
- Mindszenty Garden (blessed July 27, 1974)
- Cemetery on Jane Street, Homeville (purchased 1920)
Live-Streaming & Online Presence
St. Elias livestreams every Divine Liturgy on its official Facebook page and YouTube channel so that the homebound, those at a distance, and anyone unable to attend in person can join in prayer. The parish's Weebly site (steliasmunhallpa.weebly.com) carries the weekly schedule of Divine Liturgies and the Sunday bulletin.
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StEliasByzantineCatholicChurch
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKGI831ZV1XU15g3RoPyS4A
- Weekly schedule and bulletin: https://steliasmunhallpa.weebly.com/schedule-of-divine-liturgies.html
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Julius Orosz1907–
First pastor; oversaw purchase of Ninth Avenue rectory/church and first Liturgy in January 1908
- Rev. S. Roskovics
- Rev. J. Kovalcsik
- Rev. V. Kizak
- Rev. E. Suba
- Rev. N. Szabo
- Rev. Basil Ivancso
- Rev. Albert Gajdos
- Rev. Valentine Orosz
- Rev. George N. Vida
- Rev. E. Lucas
- Msgr. R. Balta
- Rev. D. Valasek
- Very Rev. Archpriest Eugene P. Yackanich
Elevated to rank of Archpriest Nov. 24, 2013 by Metropolitan William C. Skurla; retired from active priestly ministry in 2015
- Very Rev. Andrew J. Deskevich
- Rev. Fr. Vitalii Stashkevych
Current pastor