About St. Nicholas [Ruthenian] · McKeesport, Pennsylvania
St. Nicholas of Myra Byzantine Catholic Church is a Ruthenian (Byzantine) Catholic parish in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, belonging to the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh. Founded in 1901 by Carpatho-Rusyn immigrants who came to work the coal mines and steel mills of the Monongahela Valley, it is one of the earliest Byzantine Catholic parishes in western Pennsylvania. The current church building, the third on the same Sixth Avenue site, was dedicated on June 21, 1964. Today the parish is served by Father Christopher R. Burke and continues the Byzantine Divine Liturgy in English (with its Carpatho-Rusyn heritage), offering Saturday Vigil and Sunday liturgies along with a midweek Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts.
- Established
- 1901
- Patron
- St. Nicholas of Myra
- Rector
- Rev. Christopher R. Burke
- Diocese
- Archeparchy of Pittsburgh (Ruthenian Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh, sui juris)
Why belong here
St. Nicholas of Myra offers Byzantine Catholics in the Mon Valley a place to pray the Divine Liturgy in the Carpatho-Rusyn tradition that has shaped this community since 1901, while still being a welcoming parish family of modest size today. Parishioners can receive the Holy Mysteries (Confession Saturdays before Vigil Liturgy, Anointing and Marriage by appointment) and pass on the faith to children through Eastern Christian Formation (ECF) classes held Fridays September through May. The parish also sustains community life beyond the altar with a Marian society, the Society of SS. Cyril & Methodius, and a long tradition of social organizations (Holy Name, scouts, folk dance, choir) — and an Annual Parish Festival each July that keeps the Rusyn heritage visible in the Tri-State area.
Mass times at St. Nicholas [Ruthenian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:30 – 3:15 PM
Parish History
St. Nicholas of Myra was founded in 1901 when Carpatho-Rusyn immigrants to the McKeesport area — drawn by jobs in the coal mines and steel mills of the Monongahela Valley — pooled their resources to buy a former Methodist Episcopal building. That first church burned only weeks after the parish moved in, and a replacement church on the same Sixth Avenue site served the congregation until it was razed in 1963. The present Byzantine church, dedicated on June 21, 1964, retains two stained-glass windows from the earlier building that had been purchased in Munich, Germany. The original flock was overwhelmingly Rusyn but also included Ukrainian, Hungarian, and Romanian faithful; over time many of these branched off to form their own ethnic parishes. In 1903 St. Nicholas parishioners helped found the United Societies of America, a Byzantine Catholic fraternal organization that still serves the Church nationwide.
- Founded 1901 by Carpatho-Rusyn immigrants
- First church: former Methodist Episcopal building, destroyed by fire weeks later
- Second church on same site, built after the fire
- Third (present) church dedicated June 21, 1964
- Stained-glass windows from earlier church, bought in Munich, installed in 1964 building
- 1903: parishioners helped found the United Societies of America
The Monastery Connection (Holy Trinity Priory, 1948)
In the early 1940s, after the ordination of the first two Byzantine Catholic Benedictine priests, Benedictine monks began serving St. Nicholas parish. In 1948, when Holy Trinity Monastery was founded as a priory, St. Nicholas served as its temporary headquarters: for four months the young monastic community lived at the parish, chanting the full monastic office of the Church before moving to a property in suburban Forest Hills. The parish thus played a foundational role in the establishment of Byzantine Benedictine monastic life in the United States.
- Benedictine monks began serving St. Nicholas in the early 1940s
- 1948: parish housed Holy Trinity Monastery priory for four months
- Community later relocated to suburban Forest Hills
Parish School (1947–1996)
For many years before 1947, parish children received their Catholic religious education — Byzantine tradition and Rusyn language — during summer vacation classes. In 1947 a full-time parochial school for grades 1–5 was opened in an existing older building, staffed initially by Sisters of the Order of St. Basil the Great. In 1959 a new school building was constructed and the program expanded to eight grades, with the Byzantine Benedictine Sisters taking over the teaching apostolate for thirteen years. Falling enrollment forced the parish school to close in 1996.
- Summer religious and Rusyn-language classes before 1947
- 1947: full-time school for grades 1–5 opened
- 1959: new school built; expanded to eight grades
- Staffed by Order of St. Basil the Great; later Byzantine Benedictine Sisters for 13 years
- School closed in 1996 due to declining enrollment
Parish Organizations & Community Life
Across more than a century, St. Nicholas has nurtured a deep bench of parish societies and organizations for the religious, social, and cultural life of its members. Historical groups include an altar society, rosary society, sodality, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, folk dance ensembles, Holy Name society, and church choir. Active today are a Marian society and the Society of SS. Cyril & Methodius. Monthly Coffee and Donuts on the second Sunday, and the Annual Parish Festival each July, anchor ongoing parish fellowship.
- Marian Society
- Society of SS. Cyril & Methodius
- Holy Name Society
- Altar Society, Rosary Society, Sodality (historical)
- Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts (historical)
- Folk dance groups (historical)
- Church choir (historical and continuing)
- Coffee and Donuts — 2nd Sunday of the month
- Annual Parish Festival — July
Liturgy & Holy Mysteries
As a parish of the Ruthenian Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, St. Nicholas celebrates the Byzantine Divine Liturgy in the Carpatho-Rusyn usage, today in English. Saturday Vigil Liturgy is at 4:00 PM, Sunday Divine Liturgy at 10:30 AM, and the Wednesday evening service is the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts at 6:30 PM. The Holy Mysteries (Confession) are heard Saturday afternoons from 2:30 to 3:15 PM; Anointing of the Sick and Marriage are arranged by appointment.
- Saturday Vigil — 4:00 PM
- Sunday Divine Liturgy — 10:30 AM
- Wednesday — 6:30 PM (Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts)
- Confessions: Saturday 2:30 – 3:15 PM
- Anointing: by appointment
- Marriage: by appointment
Faith Formation & Education
Following the closure of the parish school in 1996, religious education continues through the Eastern Christian Formation (ECF) program for the parish's children. Classes meet on Fridays from 4:30 to 5:30 PM, September through May. The historic Rusyn-language and Byzantine-tradition teaching that long characterized the parish is carried on in this program, supplemented by parish family activities and sacramental preparation.
- Eastern Christian Formation (ECF) — Fridays 4:30–5:30 PM, September–May
- Heritage of Rusyn-language and Byzantine-tradition teaching going back to the parochial school era
Radio Apostolate
St. Nicholas Church played a pioneer role in the young Pittsburgh Archeparchy's radio apostolate. The Divine Liturgy was broadcast over a local McKeesport radio station, reaching shut-ins throughout the Tri-State area. Originally shared with other parishes, the broadcast soon became the exclusive mission of St. Nicholas. After thirteen years, the radio apostolate was transferred to Holy Ghost Church in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, where Byzantine Catholic radio broadcasting continues.
- Pioneered Byzantine Catholic radio liturgy in the Tri-State area
- Broadcast from St. Nicholas for 13 years
- Later relocated to Holy Ghost Church, McKees Rocks
Clergy & Pastoral Succession
The current pastor is Rev. Christopher R. Burke. Documented rectors and pastors of St. Nicholas include Father Valentine Gorzo (named to Bishop Basil Takach's first Board of Consultors for the Exarchate), Father Michaylo (from August 4, 1936), Msgr. Nicholas Elko (Summer 1954–1955, who went on to become the first American-born Greek Catholic bishop), Father George Bonchonsky (1955–1956), Father John Pipik (1956–1959), Msgr. John Gernat (November 1, 1959 – September 26, 1963), Msgr. John Bilock (from September 12, 1963, later auxiliary bishop of the Roman Archdiocese of Pittsburgh), and Msgr. Judson Procyk (1973).
- Current pastor: Rev. Christopher R. Burke
- Fr. Valentine Gorzo — early pastor; Board of Consultors
- Fr. Michaylo — from August 4, 1936
- Msgr. Nicholas Elko — Summer 1954–1955 (later first American-born Greek Catholic bishop)
- Fr. George Bonchonsky — 1955–1956
- Fr. John Pipik — 1956–1959
- Msgr. John Gernat — Nov 1, 1959 – Sep 26, 1963
- Msgr. John Bilock — from September 12, 1963 (later Roman Catholic auxiliary bishop)
- Msgr. Judson Procyk — 1973
Visit, Contact & Practical Information
St. Nicholas of Myra Byzantine Catholic Church is located at 410 Sixth Avenue, McKeesport, PA 15132. The parish rectory can be reached by telephone at (412) 664-9131. The Archeparchy of Pittsburgh directory page at archpitt.org/place/mckeesportpa carries the parish's current schedule, history, and contact information.
- Address: 410 Sixth Avenue, McKeesport, PA 15132
- Phone: (412) 664-9131
- Archeparchy directory: archpitt.org/place/mckeesportpa/
- GCatholic Church ID: 17300
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Valentine Gorzo
Early pastor; named to Bishop Basil Takach's Board of Consultors for the new exarchate.
- Father Michaylofrom August 4, 1936
Pastor of St. Nicholas, McKeesport
- Benedictine monksearly 1940s onward
Following ordination of the first two Byzantine Catholic Benedictine priests, monks began serving the parish.
- Msgr. Nicholas ElkoSummer 1954 – 1955
Rusyn-born (Donora, PA) parish priest; later became the first American-born Greek Catholic bishop.
- Father George Bonchonsky1955–1956
Served as pastor
- Father John Pipik1956–1959
Pastor; church renovation begun, services held in school auditorium during the work.
- Msgr. John GernatNovember 1, 1959 – September 26, 1963
Rector; renovation of the church completed.
- Msgr. John Bilockfrom September 12, 1963
Appointed rector of the new (1964) church; subsequently named auxiliary bishop of the (Roman) Archdiocese of Pittsburgh in 1973.
- Msgr. Judson Procyk1973
Named rector succeeding Bishop Bilock.
- Rev. Christopher R. Burkepresent
Current pastor (per Archeparchy directory).