About St. John the Baptist [Ruthenian] · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Saint John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church is a Ruthenian (Rusyn) Byzantine Catholic parish on Pittsburgh's South Side, belonging to the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh. Founded in 1900 by Rusyn immigrants who separated from the older Ukrainian parish organized in 1891, it has worshipped at 1720 Jane Street since Christmas Eve 1958 in a modern church built in classic Byzantine lines. The parish is the home parish of Bishop Emil Mihalik, founding bishop of the Eparchy of Parma, and owns the 20-acre Byzantine Catholic Cemetery in Bethel Park where Andy Warhol and his parents are buried.
- Established
- 1900
- Patron
- Saint John the Baptist
- Rector
- Father Tyler Wisniewski
- Diocese
- Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh (Ruthenian Metropolitanate sui juris)
Why belong here
This is the historic Ruthenian (Rusyn) Byzantine Catholic parish of Pittsburgh's South Side, where Transcarpathian Rusyn immigrants have worshipped in the Byzantine rite for more than a century. Worshippers today pray in a mid-century church built in classic Byzantine lines, beneath an extraordinary Vatican II–inspired ceiling mural and before an original Ruthenian iconostasis, beside the only candle-lit crystal chandelier still operating in a Metropolia church. The parish also maintains the 20-acre Byzantine Catholic Cemetery in Bethel Park that is the final resting place of Andy Warhol — a touchstone for both the local Rusyn community and visitors from around the world.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist [Ruthenian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Parish Identity & History
Saint John the Baptist is the Ruthenian (Rusyn) Byzantine Catholic parish of Pittsburgh's South Side, founded in 1900 by Transcarpathian Rusyns who separated from the original 1891 parish they had shared with Ukrainian immigrants. The parish first worshipped in a residence near South Tenth and Sarah Streets, then moved into the former St. Casimir's Lithuanian Catholic Church at 613 East Carson Street in 1901. The community has worshipped at its current home, 1720 Jane Street, since Christmas Eve 1958.
- Founded 1900 as 'Second St. John the Baptist Greek Catholic Church'
- Roots in 1891 Rusyn-Ukrainian parish at South 7th and E. Carson Streets
- First Ruthenian home: South 10th and Sarah Streets
- Second home: 613 East Carson Street (1901–1958)
- Present church dedicated Christmas Eve 1958
The Church Building
The present church was built in 1958 in a modern motif with classic Byzantine lines on the site of the former 'Rooster' Church (so named for the ornament on its steeple). Its icon screen — the original from the 1901 East Carson Street church — was rescaled and refinished to blend the sanctuary and nave into a single space. The central crystal candle chandelier, also transferred from the old church, is believed to be the only candle-lit chandelier still in use in a Byzantine church in the Byzantine Catholic Metropolia of Pittsburgh.
- Modern Byzantine design (1958)
- Original Ruthenian iconostasis, rescaled and refinished
- Crystal candle chandelier (only candle-lit chandelier of its kind in use in a Metropolia church)
- Located at the center of the reinvigorated South Side
Church Unity Ceiling Mural
A defining feature of the sanctuary is the 'Church Unity' ceiling mural, inspired by the Second Vatican Council's emphasis on Christian unity. The 36-by-50-foot painting weaves the major historical events of the Church into a twentieth-century memorial, making the worship space itself a catechetical work of art.
- 36 ft × 50 ft
- Theme: Church Unity / Vatican II
- Weaves major historical events of the Church into a 20th-century memorial
St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Cemetery
In 1923 the parish purchased a 20-acre farm in the Castle Shannon area of Allegheny County as a cemetery. The cemetery has since been used by other Byzantine parishes in the county. Suburban development closed in around the property; the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania took part of the land to expand Connor Road, and the Port Authority used another portion for a nearby trolley terminal. In 1975 the parish built a chapel at the cemetery.
- Established 1923 on a 20-acre farm in Castle Shannon/Bethel Park
- Chapel built 1975
- Serves Ruthenian, Ukrainian and other Byzantine Catholic faithful of the region
Andy Warhol's Burial Site
St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Cemetery is best known as the burial place of the Rusyn-American pop artist Andy Warhol (d. 1987), who is interred alongside his parents Andrew and Julia Warhola. Fans make pilgrimage to the grave and leave tokens — including cans of Campbell's soup — in tribute. The Andy Warhol Museum and EarthCam stream the gravesite 24 hours a day through a project called Figment.
- Andy Warhol (1928–1987) buried here with his parents
- Pilgrimage site for fans worldwide
- Live 24/7 Figment webcam by the Warhol Museum and EarthCam
Clergy & Pastoral Care
Saint John the Baptist is administered jointly with St. John Chrysostom Byzantine Catholic Church in Greenfield. Father Tyler Wisniewski was appointed administrator of both parishes by Metropolitan Archbishop William C. Skurla and serves as the parish priest, reachable through the parish rectory at (412) 431-1090.
- Administrator: Father Tyler Wisniewski
- Shared pastoral team with sister parish St. John Chrysostom, Greenfield
- Parish rectory: (412) 431-1090
Bishop Emil Mihalik — Home Parish Son
Bishop Emil John Mihalik (1920–1984), founding bishop of the Byzantine Ruthenian Eparchy of Parma, was raised in St. John the Baptist parish on the South Side. Ordained a priest in 1945, he went on to serve in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, and New Jersey before being named first bishop of the new Eparchy of Parma in 1969. He died of lung cancer in 1984. The parish takes particular pride in his witness.
- Bishop Emil John Mihalik (1920–1984)
- Founding Bishop of the Eparchy of Parma (1969)
- Born in Pittsburgh; raised in this parish
Archeparchy of Pittsburgh
The parish belongs to the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, the metropolitan see of the Ruthenian Metropolitanate sui juris, headed by Metropolitan Archbishop William C. Skurla. As an Eastern Catholic church sui iuris, the Byzantine-Ruthenian Church is self-governing and equal in dignity to the Roman Catholic Church, in full communion with the Bishop of Rome, while retaining its own clergy, laws, liturgy, spirituality, and theological method.
- Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh
- Ruthenian Metropolitanate sui juris
- Metropolitan Archbishop: Most Rev. William C. Skurla