About St. Mary [Ruthenian] · Weirton, West Virginia
Assumption of the Mother of God Byzantine Catholic Church, also known as St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic Church, is a Ruthenian (Byzantine) Catholic parish at 3116 Elm Street in Weirton, West Virginia. Founded in November 1924 by Eastern European immigrants drawn to Weirton by steel-mill jobs, it is one of the small Byzantine Catholic communities in the northern panhandle and belongs to the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh. The parish offers the Divine Liturgy and a full cycle of Byzantine liturgical services in English, and is currently led by Rev. Luke Iyengar with Deacon Nathanael Kline, in a parish that marked its 100th anniversary in August 2024.
- Established
- 1924
- Patron
- The Mother of God (under the special patronage of the Assumption / Dormition of the Theotokos)
- Rector
- Rev. Luke Iyengar (Administrator; installed October 2025)
- Diocese
- Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh (Ruthenian Metropolitanate sui juris of Pittsburgh)
Why belong here
St. Mary's is a small but deeply rooted Byzantine Catholic family where four generations have worshipped together for a century. Parishioners gather for the full cycle of Byzantine liturgical services — the Divine Liturgy, Matins, Vespers, the Akathist, and Presanctified Liturgies during Great Lent — and stay afterward for coffee and doughnut socials, parish picnics, and an active program of fundraisers like pirohi, haluski, paska and nut roll sales. The community also feeds the wider Weirton area through monthly food drives and a partnership with the Community Bread Basket, making it a welcoming home for anyone drawn to Eastern Christian spirituality in the northern panhandle of West Virginia.
Mass times at St. Mary [Ruthenian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM (or by appointment)
Parish History
St. Mary's traces its roots to 1920, when Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic families came to Weirton for steel-mill work. Unable to travel easily to Byzantine parishes in Mingo Junction and Toronto, they formed a St. Nicholas of Myra fraternal society and began monthly Liturgies in the Finnish Hall in North Weirton, with Father George Simchak of Avella as the first celebrant. The parish was officially founded in November 1924 and the church was dedicated a year later by Bishop Basil Takach. Father Michael Warady was installed as the first resident pastor. By 1952 the parish had grown to 500 members. Major milestones include the 1940s Silver Jubilee upgrades, a 1951 interior fire, the 1974 Golden Anniversary remodel, a 1978 rectory fire repaired by Monsignor Andrew Pataki, the 1989 installation of the icon screen under Father Daniel Magulick, and the April 3, 2016 solemn rededication by Metropolitan Archbishop William under Father Vasyl Symyon. The parish marked its 100th anniversary on August 18, 2024 with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy celebrated by Cardinal William C. Skurla.
- 1920 — Ruthenian faithful begin gathering in Weirton
- 1924 (November) — Parish officially founded from a 75-member fraternal society
- 1925 — Church dedicated by Most Rev. Basil Takach; Fr. Michael Warady installed as first resident pastor
- 1940s — Silver Jubilee upgrades (roof, furnace, altar, stained glass)
- 1951 — Interior fire damages the church; Liturgy continues during repairs
- 1952 — Parish reaches 500 members
- c. 1950s–1970s — Annual Palm Sunday Passion Play performed for ~25 years
- 1974 — Golden Anniversary remodeling, attended by Archbishop Stephen J. Kocisko
- 1978 — Fire nearly destroys the rectory; repaired 1979 under Msgr. Andrew Pataki
- 1989 — Icon screen installed under Fr. Daniel Magulick
- April 3, 2016 — Solemn rededication by Metropolitan Archbishop William
- August 18, 2024 — 100th anniversary celebrated with Hierarchical Divine Liturgy by Cardinal William C. Skurla
Clergy & Pastoral Succession
St. Mary's has been led by 15 pastors across its first century. The current administrator, Rev. Luke Iyengar, was installed in October 2025 and also serves the sister parish of St. John the Baptist in Avella, Pennsylvania. He succeeded Rev. Brian Norrell, who led the parish from July 2022 through September 2025 and oversaw the centennial year. The parish is also served by Deacon Nathanael Kline.
- Rev. Michael Warady — first resident pastor (from 1925)
- Rev. John Zavalla
- Rev. Joseph Shakaley
- Rev. John Kurty
- Rev. Michael Pipik
- Rev. George Billy — originated the Palm Sunday Passion Play
- Rev. Michael Kushner
- Monsignor Andrew Pataki — oversaw rectory repairs after 1978 fire
- Rev. Jerome Botsko
- Rev. Daniel Magulick — led 1989 icon screen renovation
- Rev. Edward Lucas — retired November 2015
- Rev. Vasyl Symyon — began 2016 renovation stage; oversaw rededication
- Rev. Robert Jones
- Rev. Brian Norrell — pastor/administrator July 2022 – September 2025
- Rev. Luke Iyengar — current administrator (installed October 2025); also serves St. John the Baptist, Avella, PA
- Deacon Nathanael Kline
Byzantine Liturgical Life & Schedule
The parish celebrates the full range of Byzantine Catholic liturgical services in English, following the Ruthenian tradition. The regular Divine Liturgy is offered on Sunday morning, Saturday evening, and Wednesday evening, with weekday Matins, Vespers, the Akathist, and Presanctified Liturgies during Great Lent making the parish a genuine center of Eastern Christian worship in the northern panhandle of West Virginia.
- Sunday Divine Liturgy — 11:00 AM
- Saturday Divine Liturgy — 5:00 PM
- Wednesday Divine Liturgy — 6:30 PM (Vespers or Presanctified during Great Lent)
- Thursday — 7:30 AM Matins; 6:30 PM Divine Liturgy or Presanctified
- Tuesday — 7:30 AM Matins; 6:30 PM Akathist or Presanctified
- Friday — 7:30 AM Matins
- Confessions — Saturday 3:00–4:30 PM or by appointment
Holy Mysteries (Sacraments)
Beyond the Divine Liturgy, the parish celebrates the Byzantine Holy Mysteries by appointment. Confessions are heard Saturday afternoons before the vigil Liturgy, and the Anointing of the Sick and Marriage are arranged through the rectory. Byzantine Catholics typically receive Baptism, Chrismation, and First Holy Communion together as infants, and the parish welcomes families preparing for any of the Mysteries.
- Confessions — Saturday 3:00–4:30 PM or by appointment
- Marriage — by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment
- Baptism and Chrismation — by appointment through the rectory
Parish Ministries & Organizations
St. Mary's has a tight-knit network of lay organizations that have accompanied the parish for most of its history. The Altar and Rosary Society dates back nearly to the parish's founding, and today operates jointly with the Men's Club to lead most parish activities. The parish choir and the C.C.D. religious education program round out the formal ministries, and a robust schedule of food-based fundraisers and fellowship events knit the community together.
- Altar and Rosary Society
- Men's Club (combined with the Altar Society for many activities)
- Parish Choir
- C.C.D. (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) religious education program
Fellowship, Fundraisers & Byzantine Food Traditions
Food is at the heart of life at St. Mary's. Parishioners gather after Liturgy for coffee and doughnut socials, and the parish is well known regionally for its pirohi, haluski, paska and nut roll sales. On Lazarus Saturday each year, four generations of volunteers — from children to parishioners in their 70s and 80s — bake more than 225 loaves of paska (Paschal sweet bread) to be blessed at the Resurrection Matins and shared at home. The annual Easter Ham and Lamb Dinner, parish picnic, Mother's and Father's Day breakfasts, children's Christmas parties, and pastor's birthday and ordination celebrations are fixtures of the year.
- Pirohi, haluski, paska and nut roll sales
- Annual Paska baking on Lazarus Saturday (225+ loaves)
- Easter Ham and Lamb Dinner
- Annual parish picnic
- Mother's Day, Father's Day and First Holy Communion breakfasts
- Children's Christmas parties
- Pastor's birthday and ordination celebrations
- Post-Liturgy coffee and doughnut socials
Outreach & Charity
The parish is an active partner in feeding the wider Weirton community. Monthly food drives and a standing relationship with the Community Bread Basket — the food pantry serving Brooke and Hancock counties — have made the parish a reliable donor. In 2025, parishioners collected $650 for the pantry, exceeding a $500 matching-funds threshold set by the Greek Catholic Union. Outgoing pastor Fr. Brian Norrell also served as treasurer of the Community Bread Basket during his time at St. Mary's.
- Monthly food drives
- Community Bread Basket of Brooke and Hancock counties — annual collection
- Co-fundraising partnership with the Greek Catholic Union
Iconography & Renovations
The interior of St. Mary's reflects more than a century of care and five distinct renovation stages. The most visible feature of the sanctuary is the icon screen (iconostas) installed in 1989 as the centerpiece of the renovation under Father Daniel Magulick. It was repainted, recarpeted and rededicated on Thomas Sunday, April 3, 2016 by Metropolitan Archbishop William. The current iconography places the Eastern Slavic apostle-evangelists and the Resurrection to the right of the Savior, St. Nicholas and the Nativity to the left of the Theotokos, St. John Chrysostom on the north deacon door, St. Basil on the south deacon door, and the Annunciation on the Royal Doors.
- 1940s — new roof, furnace, altar and stained glass
- 1974 — major interior remodeling for the Golden Anniversary
- 1978/79 — repair and remodel of the fire-damaged rectory
- 1989 — installation of the icon screen, new carpeting, repainting
- 2016 — repainting, recarpeting and solemn rededication by Metropolitan Archbishop William
Vocations from the Parish
St. Mary's has been blessed with four vocations to the priesthood and religious life across its history — a point of deep parish pride, especially as the community marked its centennial in 2024.
- Father John M. Dorich
- Father Daniel A. Forsythe
- Sister Euphemia, O.S.B.M. (Helen Kopa)
- Abbess Maria Michael, P.C. (Anna Plesa)
Visit, Contact & Getting Involved
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed to liturgies and to the many fellowship events throughout the year. The rectory can be reached by phone or email, and the parish's Facebook page is the easiest place to follow current activities, fundraisers and Holy Week announcements. The parish's current administrator, Rev. Luke Iyengar, also serves as pastor of the sister parish, St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church in Avella, Pennsylvania.
- Address: 3116 Elm Street, Weirton, WV 26062
- Rectory phone: 304-748-2780
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: facebook.com/StMarysByzantine
- Archeparchy page: archpitt.org/place/weirtonwv-2/
- Sister parish: St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church, Avella, PA
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Michael Waradyfrom 1925 (first resident pastor)
Appointed first resident pastor when the church was dedicated in 1925 by Bishop Basil Takach.
- Rev. John Zavalla
- Rev. Joseph Shakaley
- Rev. John Kurty
- Rev. Michael Pipik
- Rev. George Billy
Organized the annual Palm Sunday Passion Play performed by the parish for about 25 years.
- Rev. Michael Kushner
- Monsignor Andrew Pataki
Led the repair and remodeling of the rectory after the 1978 fire; the choir was re-established and Sunday Liturgy broadcasts on radio station 1430 AM WEIR began during his tenure.
- Rev. Jerome Botsko
- Rev. Daniel Magulick
Led the 1989 renovation, including installation of the icon screen, new carpeting and interior painting.
- Rev. Edward Lucas
Retired in November 2015 after many years of leadership.
- Rev. Vasyl Symyon2015–2022 (approx.)
Succeeded Fr. Lucas; began a new round of renovation projects and oversaw the April 2016 solemn rededication of the church.
- Rev. Robert Jones
Listed among pastors in the 2024 centennial coverage.
- Rev. Brian NorrellJuly 2022 – September 2025
Served as pastor/administrator; led the 2024 centennial year activities and monthly food drives; reassigned September 30, 2025 to parishes in Pennsylvania.
- Rev. Luke Iyengareffective September 30, 2025; installed October 2025
Current administrator; first pastoral assignment after ordination; also serves St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church, Avella, PA.