About St. Stephen [Ruthenian] · North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania
St. Stephen Byzantine Catholic Church is a Ruthenian (Byzantine) Catholic parish in North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, serving Byzantine Catholic faithful in Pittsburgh's eastern suburbs. The parish was canonically established on June 28, 1972 by Archbishop Stephen Kocisko of the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh to meet the spiritual needs of Byzantine Catholics moving outward from the city. Over its first half-century the community has grown into a spiritual home for cradle Byzantine Catholics and converts alike, celebrated Divine Liturgy and Holy Week services in the Byzantine tradition, and is currently led by Father Vasyl Yakubych.
- Established
- 1972
- Patron
- St. Stephen the First Martyr
- Rector
- Father Vasyl Yakubych
- Diocese
- Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh (Ruthenian Metropolitan Church sui juris of Pittsburgh)
Why belong here
St. Stephen offers Byzantine Catholics in the eastern Pittsburgh suburbs — and those discerning the Ruthenian tradition — a complete liturgical life rooted in the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom and the Great Fast services such as the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. The parish combines cradle-Byzantine heritage with convert-friendly welcome, weekly Eastern Christian Formation for children on Sunday mornings, an active Parish Advisory Council, beloved seasonal pirohi fundraisers, and the ordinary round of Holy Mysteries (Confession before every service, Anointing, and Marriage preparation). Its setting on Bethel Road in North Huntingdon makes it an accessible spiritual home for anyone exploring the Eastern Christian Catholic tradition in Westmoreland County.
Mass times at St. Stephen [Ruthenian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- One hour prior to all liturgical services
Parish History
St. Stephen Byzantine Catholic Church was canonically established on June 28, 1972 by Archbishop Stephen Kocisko to serve Byzantine Catholics moving into the suburban areas of Pittsburgh. The parish acquired its Bethel Road property from the merged Bethel United Presbyterian Church on July 20, 1972, with seed funding from St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church in McKeesport. Father Russell Duker was appointed as organizer and first pastor, and on August 28, 1972 the first Divine Liturgy was celebrated along with the blessing of the buildings. The parish celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1997 and its 50th anniversary in 2022.
- Founded June 28, 1972 by Archbishop Stephen Kocisko
- Property purchased July 20, 1972
- First pastor: Father Russell Duker
- 25th anniversary celebrated 1997
- 50th anniversary celebrated 2022
Church Building and Sacred Art
The parish occupies a campus that includes the main church, a parsonage, and an educational building. A solemn consecration of the church was celebrated by Bishop Andrew Pataki on October 30, 1994, followed by a parish dinner-dance. In 1995 three domes were erected on the roof of the church and a new icon screen with icons was installed in the chapel, completing the distinctive Byzantine exterior and interior of the worship space.
Clergy and Staff
The parish is currently served by Father Vasyl Yakubych. The first pastor was Father Russell Duker, appointed July 18, 1972. Through the decades the parish has been served by priests assigned by the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, including the late Father Gregory J. Michalisin, who served St. Stephen in one of his assignments.
- Current Pastor: Father Vasyl Yakubych
- First Pastor: Father Russell Duker (1972)
- Parish contact: [email protected], (724) 863-6776
Service Schedule (Byzantine Liturgical Calendar)
St. Stephen follows the Byzantine Ruthenian liturgical calendar, with regular Sunday Divine Liturgy and a Saturday Vigil. Weekday services are as announced. During the Great Fast (Lent) the parish celebrates the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts on Wednesdays and Fridays in the evening. The Holy Mystery of Reconciliation is heard one hour before every service.
- Sundays: 10:30 AM Divine Liturgy (6:00 PM as announced)
- Saturdays: 5:00 PM Vigil Divine Liturgy
- Weekdays: 8:30 AM as announced
- Great Fast Wednesdays and Fridays: 7:00 PM Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
Holy Week and Pascha (Easter)
St. Stephen observes the full cycle of Great Week services in the Byzantine tradition. Great Vespers with the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is celebrated on Holy Thursday; the Vespers with Procession and Entombment of the Holy Shroud on Holy Friday; and the Resurrection Matins and Pascha Vigil Divine Liturgy with blessing of Paschal food baskets on Holy Saturday. Bright Week continues the celebration, with a Monday Divine Liturgy and the great Paschal affirmation 'Christ is Risen!'
- Holy Thursday — Great Vespers with Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great
- Holy Friday — Vespers with Procession and Entombment of the Holy Shroud
- Holy Saturday — Resurrection Matins and Pascha Vigil with basket blessing
- Pascha Sunday — 10:30 AM Liturgy
- Bright Monday — 6:00 PM Divine Liturgy
Holy Mysteries (Sacraments)
The parish celebrates the full range of Byzantine Holy Mysteries. Confessions are heard one hour before every liturgical service. Couples should contact the rectory at least six months before a wedding, and Anointing of the Sick is arranged by calling the rectory.
- Confession: one hour before every service
- Marriage: contact rectory at least six months in advance
- Anointing of the Sick: contact the rectory
- Baptism/Chrismation: by arrangement with the pastor
Eastern Christian Formation (Religious Education)
St. Stephen provides Eastern Christian Formation (ECF) for parish children on Sundays at 9:00 AM, between the hours when the community gathers for liturgical and parish life. Adult Enrichment opportunities are offered as announced.
Parish Life and Ministries
The parish's lay leadership is organized through a Parish Advisory Council, which meets at 6:30 PM on the second Tuesday of each month. St. Stephen is well known regionally for its Parish Pirohi (Pirohy) Project — handmade potato-and-cheese and sweet-cabbage pirohi sold through spring and fall fundraisers, with sales first come, first served from 10 AM to 2 PM in the church social hall.
- Parish Advisory Council — second Tuesday, 6:30 PM
- Parish Pirohi Project — Spring and Fall
- Visitors / Inquirers welcome — contact the parish
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Russell Duker1972–
Appointed July 18, 1972 by Archbishop Stephen Kocisko as organizer and first pastor; led the first Divine Liturgy on August 28, 1972.
- Father Gregory J. Michalisin
Served St. Stephen, North Huntingdon at some point as one of his assignments in the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh (Archeparchy memorial records, 2012).