About St. John the Baptist [Ukrainian] · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church is the oldest Ukrainian Catholic parish in Pittsburgh, founded in 1891 by immigrants from Western Ukraine who came to work the South Side Flats' steel mills, factories and mines. Located at 109 S. 7th Street in the shadow of downtown, the parish worships in the Byzantine (Ukrainian Greek Catholic) rite under the Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma, Ohio, and its iconic multi-domed brick church — a defining feature of the Pittsburgh skyline since 1895 — was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. Today it is served by Fr. Yaroslav Koval and remains both a spiritual home and a cultural anchor for Ukrainian-Americans on the South Side, including a fresh wave of faithful arriving from Ukraine in recent years. Saturday Vigil Divine Liturgy at 4:00 PM and Sunday Divine Liturgy at 8:30 AM are celebrated in English with Ukrainian liturgical elements.
- Established
- 1891
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist (Forerunner / Prodromus)
- Rector
- Rev. Yaroslav Koval (Administrator, appointed November 1, 2018 by Bishop Bohdan Danylo)
- Diocese
- Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma (Ohio)
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist is a Ukrainian Catholic parish with deep South Side roots and a national historic landmark church whose eight gilded onion domes are part of Pittsburgh's skyline. It offers the Byzantine (Eastern) liturgical tradition celebrated in English, a real community around its legendary Pyrohy (pierogi) kitchen, and tangible outreach — supporting Ukrainian orphans, refugees and disaster victims, partnering with recovery programs, and feeding neighbors in need. For Ukrainian-Americans seeking the Divine Liturgy in the traditions of their ancestors, for newcomers from Ukraine finding a home in Pittsburgh, or for anyone drawn to Eastern Catholic worship, it offers warmth, history and purpose.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist [Ukrainian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday, December 24 (Eve of Nativity): 4:30 PM (seasonal Christmas confessions, per parish website). No regular weekly confession times are published on the site.
Adoration times
- Good Friday Exposition of the Holy Shroud, 2:00 PM (seasonal).
About St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church
St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church, Pittsburgh, PA — established in 1891 by Ukrainian immigrants to the South Side Flats — is the oldest Ukrainian Catholic parish in Pittsburgh and worships in the Byzantine (Ukrainian Greek Catholic) rite under the Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma. The parish continues to gather in its historic 1895 / 1917-era multi-domed brick church at 109 S. 7th Street and to serve both long-standing Ukrainian-American families and newcomers who have emigrated from Ukraine in recent years. Saturday Vigil Divine Liturgy at 4:00 PM and Sunday Divine Liturgy at 8:30 AM form the backbone of parish life, supplemented by Reader's Vespers, the full cycle of Holy Week and Christmas services, an active Pyrohy Kitchen, and outreach to Ukrainian orphans, refugees and South Side neighbors in need.
- Parish founded 1891
- Under the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma, Ohio
- Tied to the National Register of Historic Places (1974) and PHLF landmark (1968)
- Divine Liturgy Saturday 4:00 PM and Sunday 8:30 AM
History of the Parish
Ukrainian immigrants coming to Pittsburgh's steel mills, factories and mines in the late nineteenth century organized the parish in 1891. The first worship site was a wooden frame hall at South 7th and East Carson that had served Grace Evangelical English Lutheran Church. By 1895 the brick church now standing on the site was completed from designs by architect Gothard Weiss, and it was enlarged roughly twenty years later (circa 1917–1919, by R. Lang) to its present size. The parish was associated with the early Ukrainian independence movement in America and, in the 1910s, with labor-rights activism for South Side miners and steelworkers. The Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation designated the church a landmark in 1968 and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
- 1891 — Parish organized; first worship site acquired from Grace Evangelical English Lutheran Church.
- 1895 — Brick church built to designs by Gothard Weiss.
- c. 1917–1919 — Major expansion by R. Lang, nearly doubling the building and adding its signature domes.
- 1968 — Designated a Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation landmark.
- October 29, 1974 — Added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP #74001747).
- 2024 — Awarded $200,000 National Fund for Sacred Places grant to restore the central golden dome and roof.
Clergy and Staff
The parish is currently led by Fr. Yaroslav Koval, appointed Administrator on November 1, 2018 by Bishop Bohdan Danylo. Fr. Yaroslav was ordained to the priesthood in 2010 in Ukraine, came to the United States that same year, served earlier as assistant priest at St. John the Baptist in Pittsburgh, and was administrator of St. Vladimir in Arnold, PA and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Latrobe, PA before returning to lead the South Side parish. Emergency contact is via the parish office number (412-431-2531), where a recorded message directs callers to reach Fr. Yaroslav directly.
- Rev. Yaroslav Koval — Administrator (since November 1, 2018).
- Parish Office: 412-431-2531 (open Mondays and Fridays, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM).
Parish Identity and Eparchy
St. John the Baptist is part of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and falls under the Eparchy of Saint Josaphat in Parma, an Ohio-based eparchy canonically erected December 5, 1983 by Pope John Paul II and currently led by Bishop Bohdan Danylo (since November 4, 2014). Pittsburgh's Ukrainian Catholic parishes are one of several clusters within the eparchy's geographic reach across Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas.
- Eparchy of Saint Josaphat in Parma (since December 5, 1983)
- Bishop Bohdan Danylo — ruling bishop since November 4, 2014
Architecture and Landmark Status
The Byzantine-style church was originally built in 1895 by Gothard Weiss and enlarged circa 1917–1919 by R. Lang. Its most visible feature is the cluster of eight gilded onion domes — a landmark visible from across the South Side and from many points in Pittsburgh's skyline. The building has been continuously cared for by the parish and its partners, including a 2012 PHLF Historic Religious Properties grant for roof and chimney repairs and a 2024 National Fund for Sacred Places grant of $200,000 (with matching funds) to restore the central golden dome and surrounding roof area.
- Byzantine architectural style with eight onion domes
- Original 1895 design by Gothard Weiss; enlarged c. 1917–1919 by R. Lang
- Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation landmark (1968)
- National Register of Historic Places (1974), NRHP #74001747
- 2024 grant from National Fund for Sacred Places (Partners for Sacred Places / National Trust for Historic Preservation)
Pyrohy Kitchen and Food Fundraisers
St. John's Pyrohy Kitchen is one of the parish's most recognizable ministries — a working pyrohy (pierogi) line that sells frozen, uncooked pyrohy year-round and a special Lenten baked-pyrohy series, with all proceeds supporting parish and Ukrainian-aid causes. Orders are taken by phone on Tuesdays (8 AM – Noon) and Wednesdays (10 AM – Noon), and the kitchen is the centerpiece of the parish's annual Ukrainian Bazaar — a full day of ethnic foods, a flea market, a bake sale, Ukrainian goods and raffles.
- Pyrohy ordering line: 412-481-5022 (Tuesdays 8 AM–Noon; Wednesdays 10 AM–Noon)
- Frozen pyrohy sold year-round; baked pyrohy as a seasonal Lenten special ($3 each)
- Annual Ukrainian Bazaar featuring holub, stuffed cabbage, pyrohi, halushki, kobassi and kraut, hot dogs and hot sausage
- Facebook: facebook.com/stjohnspyrohy
- Twitter/X: @StJohns_Pyrohy
Outreach and Charity
Outreach has been part of St. John's identity since its earliest days, when the parish championed Ukrainian independence and supported South Side steelworkers and miners. Today the parish runs a robust effort for Ukraine — particularly orphans, refugees and those affected by the war that escalated in 2022 — through special Ukrainian fundraisers and ongoing collections routed through partner organizations such as the Rotary Club. Closer to home, the parish has also partnered with Unity Recovery, donating space for a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program that offers residential treatment, group counseling and transitional living support, and it takes part in food collections for neighbors in need across the region.
- Orphan appeal for Ukrainian special-needs children (St. Nicholas Day / Christmas giving).
- Ukrainian fundraisers (stuffed cabbage, apricot roll, nut roll) supporting Ukrainian orphans, military and refugees.
- Partner organization: Rotary Club — joint aid shipments to Ukraine.
- Partnership with Unity Recovery — donated space for a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program (residential treatment, counseling, transitional housing).
- Regional food collections for neighbors in need.
- Historically active in Ukrainian independence advocacy and 1910s-era labor-rights outreach.
Getting Involved
The parish welcomes involvement in many of the activities described above — helping in the Pyrohy Kitchen, supporting Ukrainian-aid fundraisers, joining outreach efforts, or simply attending the Divine Liturgy. The parish office is the main point of contact and is open Mondays and Fridays, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM; a recorded message at other times directs callers in emergencies to Fr. Yaroslav.
- Parish Office: 412-431-2531 (Mondays and Fridays, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM).
- Pyrohy Kitchen orders: 412-481-5022.
- Email: [email protected].
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Yaroslav KovalAdministrator since November 1, 2018
Came to the USA in 2010 from Ukraine; served as assistant priest at St. John the Baptist in Pittsburgh for almost 2 years; from November 1, 2012 served as administrator at St. Vladimir in Arnold, PA and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Latrobe, PA; appointed administrator at St. John the Baptist in Pittsburgh on November 1, 2018 by Bishop Bohdan Danylo.