About St. Nicholas [Ruthenian] · Beaver, Pennsylvania
Saint Nicholas of Myra Byzantine Catholic Chapel is a small Ruthenian (Byzantine) Catholic chapel in Beaver, Pennsylvania, built in 1992 by the Greek Catholic Union of the USA (GCU) on its centennial and formally designated a parish of the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh in 1995. The chapel is a faithful wooden recreation of the Carpathian-Rusyn church architecture of the GCU's immigrant founders, incorporating elements drawn from three historic wooden churches of SubCarpathian Rus' (today's Slovakia). A heritage museum occupies the lower level, and the chapel continues to serve both a registered congregation and visitors drawn by GCU events, Seven Oaks Country Club gatherings, and its prayerful atmosphere.
- Established
- 1992 (chapel built); 1995 (designated a parish of the Archeparchy)
- Patron
- St. Nicholas of Myra (patron also of the Greek Catholic Union and of the Byzantine Catholic Church in America)
- Rector
- Father Anthony Costantino (Administrator, appointed November 19, 2024)
- Diocese
- Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh (Ruthenian Metropolitanate sui juris of Pittsburgh); physically located within the territory of the Roman Diocese of Pittsburgh
Why belong here
St. Nicholas Chapel offers a uniquely intimate Byzantine Catholic worship experience in a setting that is itself a living monument to the Carpatho-Rusyn heritage of America's Greek Catholic immigrants. Registered parishioners share the pews with GCU district and lodge groups and visitors from across the region, giving the small community an unusually warm, pilgrimage-like character. The chapel pairs weekly Divine Liturgy with the pastoral care of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh and a serene museum of Rusyn and Byzantine heritage just downstairs — an ideal spiritual home for Byzantine Catholics, GCU members, and anyone drawn to the prayerful beauty of Eastern Christian worship in a wooden Carpathian-style sanctuary.
Mass times at St. Nicholas [Ruthenian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 – 4:45 p.m. (before the 5:00 p.m. Divine Liturgy)
History of St. Nicholas Chapel
For decades before the chapel was built, members of the Greek Catholic Union of the USA had talked about constructing a wooden church in the style of those that stood at the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains in Central Europe — the homeland of the GCU's Rusyn immigrant founders. That dream came to life in 1992, the centennial year of the GCU's founding. In 1995, Metropolitan Archbishop Judson M. Procyk designated the chapel as a parish of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, naming Very Rev. Archpriest John G. Petro its first pastor. A small but enthusiastic community grew immediately, and the chapel has continued to serve both registered parishioners and visiting GCU groups, lodge members, and pilgrims drawn by its prayerful atmosphere.
- Chapel constructed in 1992 to mark the GCU centennial
- Designated a parish of the Archeparchy in 1995
- Founding pastor: Very Rev. Archpriest John G. Petro
- More than 120 wooden churches studied for design inspiration
Architecture & Carpathian Design
Saint Nicholas Chapel is a tri-partite wooden structure composed of three adjoining rectangles, each topped by a domed tower — a form favored in the former counties of Šariš and Zemplyn of SubCarpathian Rus', today part of Slovakia. Researchers modeled the building on three specific old-world churches: the tower of the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Mikulasova (now preserved in the open-air museum at Bardejov), the center section of the Church of St. Michael the Archangel in Nová Sedlica, and the altar area of the Church of St. Nicholas in Zboj. The result is constructed of various hardwoods and is a prayerful recreation of the sacred architecture that the GCU's founders would have known in Europe.
- Tri-partite plan with three domed towers
- Built of hardwoods in the SubCarpathian Rus' tradition
- Tower — modeled on the Church of the BVM in Mikulasova
- Center — modeled on St. Michael the Archangel, Nová Sedlica
- Altar — modeled on St. Nicholas, Zboj
Icons of St. Nicholas
Unique to the chapel are ten icons mounted on the side walls, each depicting a scene from the life of St. Nicholas of Myra. Together they form a visual hagiography for worshippers, recording the saint's example of faith, virtue, and charity to fellow humans — qualities that mirror the spiritual heritage of both the Byzantine Catholic Church and the Greek Catholic Union.
- Ten icons depicting scenes from St. Nicholas's life
- Carry teaching messages recorded for future generations
- Reinforce the chapel's theme of 'God With Us'
Heritage Museum
On the lower level of the chapel, a museum preserves and displays artifacts from the Greek Catholic Union, the Byzantine Catholic Church, and Carpatho-Rusyn history. The collection is organized into 24 themed cases and includes heritage items, publications, and photo archives. Admission is free to the public, and bus parking is available on site — though group visits are by appointment with the GCU.
- 24 themed exhibit cases
- Artifacts of GCU, Byzantine Catholic, and Carpatho-Rusyn history
- Heritage items, publications, and photo archives
- Free admission; reservations through GCU at 1-800-722-4428
Divine Liturgy & Holy Mysteries
St. Nicholas Chapel serves the Byzantine Catholic faithful of the region under the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, celebrating the Byzantine (Ruthenian) Divine Liturgy in the Eastern Christian tradition. Confessions are heard before the Saturday evening Liturgy, and the priest is available to arrange other Holy Mysteries for parishioners and visitors.
- Saturday Divine Liturgy at 5:00 p.m.
- Sunday Divine Liturgy at 10:30 a.m. (listed by Beaver County historical sources)
- Confessions: Saturday 4:00–4:45 p.m.
- Other sacraments by arrangement with Fr. Anthony Costantino
Clergy
Father Anthony Costantino currently serves as Administrator of St. Nicholas Chapel, appointed by the Archeparchy effective November 19, 2024. His office is based at St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church in Ambridge. The chapel's founding pastor, Very Rev. Archpriest John G. Petro, was appointed by Metropolitan Archbishop Judson M. Procyk when the chapel was designated a parish in 1995; Father Mykhaylo Shky previously served as the priest for the spiritual needs of the chapel before being relieved of that assignment.
- Administrator: Fr. Anthony Costantino (since November 19, 2024)
- Founding pastor: Very Rev. Archpriest John G. Petro (1995)
- Previously serving: Father Mykhaylo Shky
Greek Catholic Union Connection
Saint Nicholas Chapel sits on the property of the Greek Catholic Union of the USA, the oldest continuous fraternal benefit society serving Byzantine (Greek) Catholics in America. The GCU operates its home office and the Seven Oaks Country Club on the same complex, and GCU district and lodge groups frequently combine worship at the chapel with visits to the country club. The chapel's patron — St. Nicholas — is also the patron of the GCU and of the Byzantine Catholic Church in America, tying the chapel closely to the fraternal and spiritual mission of the Union.
- Built by the GCU on its centennial in 1992
- Located adjacent to the GCU home office and Seven Oaks Country Club
- St. Nicholas is patron of both the GCU and the Byzantine Catholic Church in America
- GCU group visits and pilgrimages are a regular feature of chapel life
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Very Rev. Archpriest John G. Petro1995 – (founding pastor)
First pastor; appointed by Metropolitan Archbishop Judson M. Procyk when the chapel was designated a parish of the Archeparchy.
- Father Mykhaylo Shkypre-November 2024
Previously serving priest for the spiritual needs of St. Nicholas Chapel; relieved of that assignment effective November 19, 2024.
- Father Anthony Costantino2024 – present
Appointed Administrator effective November 19, 2024; office based at St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church, Ambridge.