About Sts. Peter and Paul · Cleveland, Ohio
Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church, located in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood, is the Mother Church of Ukrainians in the greater Cleveland area and the first Ukrainian Catholic parish in Northeast Ohio, founded in 1909 by immigrants from Galicia. The parish is part of the Ukrainian Diocese of Saint Josaphat in Parma (an Eastern Catholic eparchy) and is geographically within the territory of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland. The current red-brick church at 2280 West 7th Street was completed in 1910 and designed by architect Stephen Paliwoda in a Byzantine style with Romanesque touches, featuring an iconostas and a bell tower. Sunday Divine Liturgy is celebrated at 10:00 am in Ukrainian, with several elements (Epistle, Gospel, Homily, Creed, Our Father, and prayer before Holy Communion) offered in both Ukrainian and English.
- Established
- 1909
- Patron
- Saints Peter and Paul (Chief Apostles)
- Rector
- Very Rev. Canon Andrew G. Hanovsky
- Diocese
- Ukrainian Diocese of Saint Josaphat in Parma (Eparchy); located geographically within the territory of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland
Why belong here
Sts. Peter and Paul is a living link to the Ukrainian Catholic heritage of Greater Cleveland — a small but devoted parish that has, for more than a century, sustained Byzantine-rite worship, Ukrainian language and culture, and a tight-knit community in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood. Worshippers experience Divine Liturgy in Ukrainian with several parts in English, an active church life organized around the church year, and a parish that has served as the mother church of five other Ukrainian parishes in the region. For Ukrainian Catholics and for anyone drawn to Eastern-rite spirituality, it offers a rare, historic home in Cleveland.
Mass times at Sts. Peter and Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
About Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church
Sts. Peter and Paul is a Ukrainian Greek Catholic parish in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood, founded in 1909 by immigrants from Galicia as the first Ukrainian church in greater Cleveland. It is the Mother Church of Ukrainians in Greater Cleveland, having given rise to a school, convent, orphanage, two cathedrals, and three other parishes. Sunday Divine Liturgy is celebrated at 10:00 am in Ukrainian, with several elements offered in both Ukrainian and English to welcome non-Ukrainian-speaking visitors.
- Founded 1909; church completed June 30, 1910
- Mother Church of Ukrainians in the Greater Cleveland area
- Sunday Divine Liturgy 10:00 am (Ukrainian, with English elements)
- Under the Ukrainian Diocese of Saint Josaphat in Parma; within territory of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland
Parish History
The parish was organized in 1909 when Ukrainian Byzantine-Rite Catholics withdrew from St. John the Baptist Byzantine Cathedral and formed the Brotherhood of Saints Peter and Paul. The first Holy Liturgy was held at the German Association on Jefferson Avenue and West 10th Street. After petitioning Bishop Soter Ortynsky, the community built a brick church on West 7th Street under first pastor Rev. Wolodymyr Dowhowycz. Subsequent pastors built the parish into the institutional center of Cleveland's Ukrainian community, with schools, a convent, an orphanage, and a savings association.
- 1909: Parish organized by Rev. Joseph Chaplynsky; first church built under Rev. Wolodymyr Dowhowycz
- 1910: Church completed and visited by Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky
- 1915: Ruthenian Savings and Loan Company founded
- 1916–23: Sisters of St. Basil the Great convent and orphanage established under Rev. Philemon Tarnawsky
- 1947: Parish day school opened
- 1951: New school building in Parma opened with 135 pupils
- 1983: Parma Eparchy created by Pope John Paul II
- 2010: Centennial celebration; major interior renovation
- 2025: 115th anniversary Pontifical Liturgy with Bishop Bohdan Danylo
The Church Building
The current church, designed by architect Stephen Paliwoda and completed in 1910, is a brick edifice in a Byzantine style with semicircular arches and a front rose window showing Romanesque influence. Originally topped by a single onion dome, it received a bell tower in 1956. The interior features murals of Christ's life (1943), stained glass commemorating the Millennium of Ukrainian Christianity (1978), and an iconostas restored during a major 2010 interior renovation.
- Architect: Stephen Paliwoda
- Style: Byzantine with Romanesque elements
- 1910 brick church on West 7th Street
- Onion dome replaced with bell tower in 1956
- Murals of Christ's life added 1943
- Millennium of Ukrainian Christianity stained glass 1978
- Iconostas and interior restored 2010
Daughter Parishes
Sts. Peter and Paul is the mother church from which five other Ukrainian parishes in Northeast Ohio were formed, reflecting the geographic spread of Cleveland's Ukrainian community westward into Parma and eastward toward Solon.
- St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, Parma (1924)
- Patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary, East Cleveland (now Solon, 1956)
- St. Josaphat Cathedral, Parma (1959)
- St. Andrew, Parma (1972)
- Pokrova, Parma (1973)
Clergy and Pastoral Succession
Across more than 115 years the parish has been served by 14 pastors, 17 administrators, and 21 assistants. The current pastor, Very Rev. Canon Andrew G. Hanovsky, is the 14th pastor and began his work on October 1, 2008. He is assisted by visiting clergy including Rev. Petriw, Archdeacon Jeffrey Smolilo, and Rev. Subdeacon Joseph Zappernick.
- Current Bishop: Most Rev. Bohdan J. Danylo, Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma
- Current Pastor: Very Rev. Canon Andrew G. Hanovsky (since 10/1/2008)
- Longest-serving pastor: Msgr. Dmytro Gresko (1940–1976)
Liturgy and Schedule
The parish follows the Byzantine (Ukrainian Greek Catholic) liturgical tradition. Sunday Divine Liturgy is celebrated in Ukrainian at 10:00 am, with the Epistle, Gospel, Homily, Creed, Our Father, and prayer prior to reception of Holy Eucharist offered in both Ukrainian and English. Weekday Divine Liturgy is celebrated at 10:00 am. Holy Day schedules are posted in the bulletin.
- Sunday Divine Liturgy: 10:00 am (Ukrainian with English elements)
- Weekdays: 10:00 am
- Holy Days: check bulletin
- Language: Ukrainian; some parts in English
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the sacraments of the Eastern Catholic Churches, with arrangements handled through the Rectory Office.
- Baptism: arrangements through the Rectory Office; Pre-Baptism classes for first child
- Weddings: arranged with a priest at least six months in advance; Pre-Cana classes normally in March
- Funerals: arranged through the Rectory Office via the funeral director before publication
- Holy Eucharist (Divine Liturgy) and other Byzantine-rite sacraments
Parish Ministries and Community Life
Beyond worship, Sts. Peter and Paul has long supported a range of community organizations that served as the institutional backbone of Cleveland's Ukrainian community. In its early decades the parish hosted a Ukrainian language school for children, adult education, fine arts classes, a benefit society, a drama club, and a church choir. A Senior Citizens Club for parishioners over 50 was formed in 1988.
- Ukrainian language school for children
- Adult education and fine arts classes
- Church choir, drama club, benefit society
- Saints Peter and Paul Senior Citizens Club (est. 1988)
- Annual Yalynka (Christmas celebration) and parish picnic
- Lenten Mission, annual Day of Healing, Feast Day celebration
Faith Formation and Education
The parish ran a day school beginning in 1947 that grew into a major K–12 complex in Parma. By 1951 it welcomed 135 children; the first graduation was held in 1955. The school was transferred to the new St. Josaphat parish in 1959 and renamed the Ukrainian Catholic School of St. Josaphat. Religious education classes and Ukrainian-language instruction remain part of parish life.
- Parish day school founded 1947
- Parma school building opened 1951 with 135 pupils
- First graduation 1955
- School transferred to St. Josaphat parish 1959
- Ongoing Ukrainian language and religious education
Institutions Founded by the Parish
Sts. Peter and Paul was the seed of a network of Ukrainian Catholic institutions across Greater Cleveland, including convents, schools, and a parish credit union.
- Convent and orphanage for the Sisters of St. Basil the Great (1916)
- Ruthenian Savings and Loan Company (1915)
- Parish day school and Parma school complex (1947–1959)
- Two cathedrals and three daughter parishes
Getting Involved and Support
The parish welcomes all who wish to worship with them. Visitors are invited to attend the Sunday Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am, and supporters can give through the parish's online and bulletin channels. Annual events such as the Yalynka, parish picnic, and Lenten Mission are major community gatherings.
- Visitors welcome at Sunday 10:00 am Divine Liturgy
- Annual Yalynka, Feast Day picnic, and Lenten Mission
- Support via parish offerings; see bulletin and website
Visit and Contact
Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church is located in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood. The pastor's office can be reached by phone or email for sacramental arrangements, parish records, and general inquiries.
- Address: 2280 West 7th Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44113
- Phone: (216) 861-2176
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.sspeterandpaulucc.com/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph Chaplynsky1909 (organizer; Autumn – 12/1/1909)
Parish organizer; arrived 1903; former pastor of St. Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Church in Elizabeth, NJ.
- Rev. Wolodymyr Dowhowycz12/1/1909 – 6/30/1910
First pastor; began construction of the brick church on West 7th Street.
- Rev. Joseph Boyarczuk7/1910 – 9/4/1911
Second pastor; completed the building of the church.
- Rev. Dmytro Dobrotwor9/17/1911 – 11/12/1916
Third pastor; established the Ruthenian Savings and Loan Company in 1915.
- Rev. Philemon Tarnawsky11/12/1916 – 11/23/1923
Fourth pastor; set up a convent for the Sisters of St. Basil the Great and an orphanage.
- Rev. Eustachy Sydoriak11/23/1923 – 9/9/1925
Fifth pastor.
- Rev. Leo Lewycky9/9/1925 – 4/30/1932
Sixth pastor.
- Rev. Basil Merenkiw6/15/1933 – 12/31/1938
Eighth pastor.
- Rev. Sylvester Zurawecky, OSBM1/1/1939 – 10/4/1940
Ninth pastor; Order of St. Basil the Great.
- Rt. Rev. Msgr. Mitred Archpriest Dmytro Gresko10/4/1940 – 6/30/1976
Tenth pastor; longest tenure; oversaw post-WWII growth, founding of the parish school in 1947 and the Parma school complex (1951).
- Rt. Rev. Msgr. Mitred Michael Rewtiuk12/1/1977 – 2/7/1984
Eleventh pastor; became first pastor of St. Josaphat Cathedral in 1984.
- Rt. Rev. Msgr. Mitred John P. Stevensky2/7/1984 – 9/2/1990
Twelfth pastor; in 1988 the Saints Peter and Paul Senior Citizens Club was formed under his pastorate.
- Rev. Steven Myron Zarichny9/2/1990 – 9/28/2008
Thirteenth pastor; 18-year pastorate including the 90th (1999) and 95th (2003) anniversaries.
- Very Rev. Canon Andrew G. Hanovsky10/1/2008 – present
Fourteenth pastor; led the 2010 interior renovation and 115th anniversary in 2025.