About St. John Chrysostom [Ruthenian] · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
St. John Chrysostom Byzantine Catholic Church is a Ruthenian Greek Catholic parish in Pittsburgh's Greenfield neighborhood, specifically the small valley known as 'Four Mile Run' or 'Rus'ka Dolina' ('the Rusyn Valley'). Founded in 1910 by Carpatho-Rusyn immigrants who had come to work in the Pittsburgh steel mills, it belongs to the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh and serves descendants of Rusyns as well as Slovaks, Ukrainians, Hungarians, and Romanians. Best known today as the family parish where artist Andy Warhol was baptized and worshipped as a child, the parish sits facing Interstate 376 (Parkway East) and is a familiar landmark to commuters thanks to its onion domes and gilded crosses.
- Established
- 1910
- Patron
- St. John Chrysostom (Archbishop of Constantinople, Doctor of the Church)
- Rector
- Father Tyler Wisniewski
- Diocese
- Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh (Ruthenian Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh, sui juris)
Why belong here
St. John Chrysostom is a small, multigenerational Byzantine Catholic parish that has worshipped in the same Greenfield valley for more than a century and welcomes descendants of Rusyn, Slovak, Ukrainian, Hungarian, and Romanian families alongside anyone drawn to the Eastern Christian liturgical tradition. Worship is centered on the Sunday Divine Liturgy (chanted in English) and a robust cycle of weekday services, the Wednesday Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts in Lent, and Eastern Christian Formation for children and adults. The parish is also a living piece of Pittsburgh history — the family church of Andy Warhol — and its illuminated Byzantine domes serve as a visible landmark on the Parkway East for thousands of commuters each day.
Mass times at St. John Chrysostom [Ruthenian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before weekday liturgies
- By appointment (call the rectory)
- After Sunday liturgies when no social gathering follows
Parish Story & Heritage
St. John Chrysostom Byzantine Catholic Church was founded in 1910 by Rusyn (Carpatho-Rusyn) immigrants who came to work in the steel mills of Pittsburgh and settled in a small valley in lower Greenfield they called 'Rus'ka Dolina' — the Rusyn Valley. Originally they walked to the Second Saint John the Baptist Greek Catholic Church on the South Side, but distance and weather pushed the community to found their own parish on Saline Street in 1910.
- Founded August 7, 1910 — first Liturgy celebrated by Rev. Alexis Petrasovich in a hall on Saline Street
- Settled by Rusyn immigrants from the Carpathian Mountains working for Jones & Laughlin Steel
- Neighborhood known as 'Four Mile Run' / 'The Run' / 'Rus'ka Dolina'
The Buildings — 1910 Hall, 1910 Frame Church, 1935 Present Church
From a modest hall to the present Byzantine-style church on the corner of Saline and Anthony Streets, the parish's buildings tell the story of its growth. The current church was built in 1932, dedicated in 1935, and returned to a 'truly Byzantine' appearance in a 1994–1997 renovation.
- 1910 — five lots purchased on Saline Street; first wooden church completed by year's end
- 1917 — church and parish rectory dedicated by Very Rev. Gabriel Martyak, Apostolic Administrator
- 1919 — iconostasis completed and dedicated October 12, 1919
- 1932 — cornerstone of present church blessed December 11, 1932
- 1935 — present church dedicated May 26, 1935 (silver anniversary year)
- Old frame church served as a social hall / auditorium for 30+ years (GCU Lodge and parish events) until the 1960s
- 1994–1997 — Byzantine-style renovation (painting, lighting, sound, icons) by New Guild Studios, Braddock; blessing Feb 9, 1997
- 2010 — facade illuminated for the parish's 100th anniversary
Iconography, Architecture & Landmark Status
The church is famous for its onion domes and Slavic-style crosses, which are easily seen by the tens of thousands of commuters who pass each day on the Parkway East (I-376). The interior features icons painted by New Guild Studios of Braddock and a Pantocrator image on the ceiling that became the centerpiece of the 2010 centennial Panachida vigil.
- Onion domes and gilded Slavic-style crosses
- Interior iconography by New Guild Studios (Braddock, PA), installed 1994–1997
- Christ the Pantocrator ceiling image — focal point of the 2010 candlelight vigil
- Illuminated facade installed 2010 for the 100th anniversary
Divine Liturgy & Worship Schedule
The parish celebrates the Byzantine Divine Liturgy (the Eastern-rite equivalent of the Mass), chanted in English. The main Sunday Liturgy anchors parish life; weekday services rotate and some are held at the sister church of St. John the Baptist on the South Side. The full monthly schedule is posted on the parish website and in the weekly bulletin.
- Sundays — 10:30 AM Divine Liturgy
- Wednesdays (Lent) — 7:00 PM Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
- Holy Days — typically 7:00 PM the evening before (see bulletin)
- Weekdays — see monthly schedule on sjcbcc.com
Holy Mysteries (Sacraments)
The Byzantine Catholic tradition calls the sacraments the 'Holy Mysteries.' Baptisms, Chrismations, weddings, anointings, confessions, and ordinations are arranged through the pastor.
- Baptism and Chrismation — arranged with the pastor (infants and converts)
- Marriage (Holy Matrimony) — contact the pastor
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the pastor
- Confession — 30 minutes before weekday liturgies, after Sunday Liturgy (when no social follows), and by appointment
- Holy Orders / lectorate ordinations hosted at the parish over the years
Faith Formation & Youth
Children are formed in the Byzantine faith through the Eastern Christian Formation (ECF) program, which meets once a month before Sunday Divine Liturgy and continues with a one-week Summer Camp in July. Adult catechesis is offered monthly (see bulletin for details). The parish also participates in archeparchial-wide youth and young adult events such as the ByzanTEEN Hikes.
- Eastern Christian Formation (ECF) — once a month before Sunday Divine Liturgy
- ECF Summer Camp — one week in July
- Adult Catechesis — monthly (see bulletin)
- Archeparchy-wide ByzanTEEN Hikes and young adult events
- Sunday bulletin — primary source for current schedule
Liturgical Music & Devotions
The Divine Liturgy is chanted in English in the Byzantine tradition. Parish life also includes special devotional practices of the Ruthenian Church — Panachida memorial services (such as the powerful 2010 centennial vigil beneath the Pantocrator), patronal processions around the interior of the church, and Lenten services like the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts on Wednesdays and the innovative drive-thru confessions offered on Saturdays during Great Lent.
- Byzantine chant (English) at the Divine Liturgy
- Panachida services — memorial prayers for the departed
- Patronal and feast-day processions around the church interior
- Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts — Wednesdays in Lent
- Drive-thru confessions during Great Lent
The Andy Warhol Connection
St. John Chrysostom is best known to the wider public as the family parish of pop artist Andy Warhol. He was baptized here and the Warhola family walked to services from their home on Dawson Street in Oakland during his formative years in Pittsburgh (1928–1949). Some art historians have speculated that the church's many repeating icons may have influenced his iconic Pop Art style.
- Andy Warhol baptized at St. John Chrysostom
- Warhola family worshipped here 1928–1949, walking from Dawson Street, Oakland
- Some scholars link the church's repeating icons to Warhol's visual style
Landmark Moments in Parish History
Several moments stand out in the parish's story beyond routine pastoral succession: the birth of the Radio Apostolate in 1956, the 1969 Pennsylvania Supreme Court case that confirmed the parish as Byzantine Catholic, and the 2010 centennial celebration.
- 1956 — birthplace of the Archieparchial Radio Apostolate (first broadcast Oct 8 on WLOA Braddock)
- 1968 — canonical visitation by Most Rev. Stephen J. Kocisko
- 1969 — PA Supreme Court ruled the parish is a Byzantine Catholic Church (Nov 11); cornerstone resealed (Nov 23)
- 2010 — 100th anniversary, with facade illumination and grand homecoming
Community Life & Outreach
St. John Chrysostom has long been a neighborhood parish — its Greek Catholic Union Lodges and parish organizations have hosted social and athletic events for over a century in the old frame church and beyond. Today the parish continues that tradition with parish-lawn picnics, anniversary gatherings, cemetery clean-up days, and archeparchy-wide events.
- GCU (Greek Catholic Union) Lodge activities hosted by the parish
- Parish picnics on the front lawn (e.g., patronal picnic, Father's first anniversary)
- Cemetery clean-up days with help from across the Archeparchy
- Panachida for deceased loved ones and former pastors
Visiting & Contact
The parish warmly invites visitors to worship with them in the Greenfield / Four Mile Run neighborhood. The church sits along the Parkway East (I-376) corridor, and some weekday liturgies are celebrated at the sister parish of St. John the Baptist on the South Side (1703 Jane St, 15203).
- Address: 506 Saline Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15207
- Rectory phone: 412-421-1709
- Pastor email: [email protected]
- Parish email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.sjcbcc.com/
- Sister parish (weekday liturgies): St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church, 1703 Jane St, Pittsburgh, PA 15203
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Alexis (Aleksij) PetrasovichAugust 1910 – c. 1911
First pastor; celebrated the inaugural Divine Liturgy on August 7, 1910 in a hall on Saline Street.
- Rev. Nestor Volenskyby 1925
Oversaw parish through the period when a larger church first became necessary.
- Rev. Stephen Kozakthrough early 1930s
Pastored the parish during construction of the present Saline & Anthony Streets church (1932).
- Rev. John M. Bilockthrough October 1963 (made Monsignor 1957; Auxiliary Bishop 1973)
Celebrant of the inaugural Archieparchial Radio Apostolate broadcast on October 8, 1956 on WLOA Braddock.
- Rev. Andrew PatakiOctober 1963 – February 1970
Led the parish through the 1968 canonical visitation and the 1969 PA Supreme Court case affirming the church as Byzantine Catholic; later Bishop of Passaic.
- Rev. John J. Borodach1970 – February 1983
13-year tenure; encouraged youthful participation in parish life.
- Rev. Regis DusecinaFebruary 1983 – c. 1992
Served 9 years; led the parish into its 75th anniversary.
- Rev. Richard LambertMarch 15, 1992 – c. December 2002
Launched the 1994–1997 Byzantine-style renovation with New Guild Studios.
- Rev. Thomas SchaeferDecember 2002 – August 2003 (interim)
Served as interim under Father Richard's direction.
- Rev. John CuccaroAugust 2003 – c. January 2010
Began preparations for the 100th anniversary celebration.
- Rev. Thomas SchaeferJanuary 2010 – c. 2021
Returned to lead the centennial year (2010), including the candlelit Panachida beneath the Pantocrator; died suddenly on July 3, 2021.
- Rev. Miron Kerul-Kmec, Jr.August 29, 2021 – August 1, 2024
Reassigned.
- Rev. Tyler WisniewskiAugust 1, 2024 – present
Current pastor; also serves St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church, South Side.