About Sts. Cyril and Methodius [Ruthenian] · Girard, Pennsylvania
Saints Cyril and Methodius Byzantine Catholic Church is a Ruthenian-rite (Byzantine Catholic) parish in Girard, Pennsylvania, canonically part of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh of the Byzantine Catholic Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh sui iuris, though geographically within the Roman Diocese of Erie. The community traces its roots to about 35 Byzantine Catholic families — immigrants from Austria-Hungary — who settled on farms around Girard in the early 1920s and were served for decades by visiting priests from SS. Peter & Paul in Erie before building their own church in 1952–54. It is currently administered by Father John J. Mihalco, pastor of SS. Peter & Paul in Erie, and offers a single Sunday Divine Liturgy at 8:30 AM with confessions beforehand.
- Established
- 1954
- Patron
- Saints Cyril and Methodius
- Rector
- Reverend John J. Mihalco (administrator; also pastor of SS. Peter & Paul Byzantine Catholic Church, Erie)
- Diocese
- Archeparchy of Pittsburgh of the Byzantine Catholic Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh sui iuris (Ruthenian); geographically within the territory of the Roman Diocese of Erie
Why belong here
Saints Cyril and Methodius is a small Byzantine (Ruthenian) Catholic community with deep Carpatho-Rusyn immigrant roots, served by a stable, long-tenured priest who also pastors the Erie sister-parish of SS. Peter & Paul. It offers the Byzantine Divine Liturgy in the American Catholic tradition, with traditional Byzantine mosaics, a stone altar, and a parish history built literally by the hands of its own founders in 1952–54. For Byzantine Catholics in the Girard area and visitors seeking a quiet, historic Eastern-rite parish, it provides a faithful Sunday worship and sacramental life rooted in over a century of local Rusyn heritage.
Mass times at Sts. Cyril and Methodius [Ruthenian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sundays 7:45 – 8:10 AM
Parish Identity and Jurisdiction
Saints Cyril and Methodius is a Byzantine (Ruthenian) Catholic parish. Canonically it belongs to the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh of the Byzantine Catholic Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh sui iuris — the self-governing Eastern Catholic church in full communion with Rome that serves the American descendants of the Rusyn/Carpatho-Rusyn Greek Catholics of the Union of Uzhhorod (1646). Although located in Girard, Pennsylvania, the parish sits geographically within the territory of the Roman (Latin) Diocese of Erie; in pastoral practice it is twinned with SS. Peter & Paul Byzantine Catholic Church in Erie, whose pastor, Father John J. Mihalco, serves as administrator of both parishes.
History
The parish community was founded in the early 1920s by about 35 Byzantine Catholic families from Austria-Hungary who had moved from steel-mill and mining towns of western Pennsylvania to farms around Girard. For three decades they were served by visiting priests from SS. Peter & Paul in Erie, 25 miles away. The decision to build their own church came in 1952, the land was a gift of the Erie parish, and ground was broken on August 12, 1952. The first Divine Liturgy in the basement was celebrated January 12, 1954, and the congregation moved into the main church in October 1954. The first resident pastor was then-Father Judson M. Procyk, later Metropolitan Archbishop.
- Early 1920s — ~35 Austria-Hungarian immigrant families settle on farms in the Girard area.
- Father Eugene Volkay — first priest to visit the scattered faithful from SS. Peter & Paul in Erie.
- 1925–1928 — Father Andrew Kaminsky's attempt to use the Community Hall at Plateau fails.
- 1938 — Father John Pipik begins celebrating the Divine Liturgy at Francis Corners for the Byzantine families, assisted by Fathers Andrew Dzmura and Paul Dano through 1954.
- August 12, 1952 — groundbreaking for the new church on a seven-acre site on U.S. Route 20, a gift of SS. Peter & Paul Erie.
- January 12, 1954 — first Divine Liturgy celebrated in the completed basement.
- October 1954 — congregation moves into the unfinished church proper.
- Father Judson M. Procyk — first resident pastor; later Metropolitan Archbishop of Pittsburgh, 1995–2001.
Architecture and Interior
The church is a 56-foot by 89-foot structure built of cement block and faced with Ohio sandstone. Inside, the main altar is constructed of the same Ohio sandstone as the exterior, and the side altar together with two shrines displays three mosaics in the traditional Byzantine style — a tangible expression of the parish's Eastern Catholic identity.
- Dimensions: 56′ × 89′
- Construction: cement block faced with Ohio sandstone
- Main altar of Ohio sandstone
- Three traditional Byzantine mosaics in the side altar and two shrines
Clergy and Leadership
The parish is currently administered by Reverend John J. Mihalco, who is also the pastor of SS. Peter & Paul Byzantine Catholic Church in Erie, the mother parish of the Girard community. Earlier pastorates are listed under Pastor History.
- Reverend John J. Mihalco — administrator; also pastor of SS. Peter & Paul, Erie
Pastor History
Listed in approximate order of service to the Girard-area Byzantine Catholic faithful.
- Father Eugene Volkay — earliest known mission visitor (1920s).
- Father Andrew Kaminsky — 1925–1928; attempted Community Hall parish in Plateau.
- Father John Pipik — from 1938, served Girard via the Francis Corners mission.
- Father Andrew Dzmura — with Pipik and Dano, 1938–1954.
- Father Paul Dano — with Pipik and Dzmura, 1938–1954.
- Father Judson M. Procyk — first resident pastor (c. 1954); later Metropolitan Archbishop of Pittsburgh, 1995–2001.
Worship and Schedule
The parish celebrates the Byzantine (Ruthenian) Divine Liturgy — not the Roman-rite Mass — in English. Confessions are heard each Sunday before the Divine Liturgy.
- Sunday Divine Liturgy: 8:30 AM
- Confessions: Sundays 7:45 – 8:10 AM
Holy Mysteries (Sacraments)
Information published on the parish's Archeparchy listing for the Holy Mysteries is summarized below. Couples requesting marriage must be active parish members and begin preparation one year in advance.
- Confessions: Sundays 7:45 – 8:10 AM
- Marriage: preparation one year prior (active member)
- Anointing of the Sick: upon request
Contact and Location
The parish is located in the small city of Girard in Erie County, northwestern Pennsylvania. Inquiries and confession requests go through the rectory phone line; there is no separate parish email published.
- Address: 1022 Tilden Avenue, Girard, PA 16417
- Phone (rectory): (814) 774-3281
- Email: not published
- Website: archpitt.org/place/girardpa-2/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Eugene Volkay1920s (mission visits)
First priest to travel from SS. Peter & Paul in Erie to minister to Girard-area Byzantine Catholic families — heard confessions, distributed Holy Communion, blessed homes, and taught the children.
- Father Andrew Kaminsky1925–1928
Attempted to establish a parish church in the Community Hall at Plateau; effort failed because a Latin-rite congregation also wanted the hall.
- Father John Pipik1938–(1954)
Invited by Father Dearing to celebrate the Divine Liturgy at Francis Corners for the Byzantine families; with Fathers Dzmura and Dano administered SS. Peter & Paul Erie and the mission from 1938 to 1954.
- Father Andrew Dzmura1938–1954
Served SS. Peter & Paul Erie and the Francis Corners mission alongside Frs. Pipik and Dano.
- Father Paul Dano1938–1954
Served SS. Peter & Paul Erie and the Francis Corners mission alongside Frs. Pipik and Dzmura.
- Father Judson M. Procykc. 1954 (first resident pastor)
First resident pastor of SS. Cyril & Methodius; later Metropolitan Archbishop of Pittsburgh from 1995 to 2001.