About Sts. Peter and Paul [Ruthenian] · Braddock, Pennsylvania
Sts. Peter and Paul Byzantine Catholic Church is a Ruthenian (Carpatho-Rusyn) Catholic mission in Braddock, Pennsylvania, within the Metropolitan Archeparchy of Pittsburgh. Founded in 1896 by immigrant Byzantine Catholics who purchased the old First Presbyterian Church on George Street, the parish has worshiped in its striking current church — modeled after Holy Cross Cathedral in Uzhhorod, Transcarpathia — since 1924. Today the parish is served by Father Vitalii Stashkevych, who also pastors nearby St. Elias Byzantine Catholic Church in Munhall, and continues its Carpatho-Rusyn heritage through Divine Liturgy, traditional fundraisers (fish fry, nut rolls, pirohi, picnic days), and a 125-year legacy of faith on George Street.
- Established
- 1896
- Patron
- Saints Peter and Paul (Holy, Glorious and Illustrious Supreme Apostles)
- Rector
- Father Vitalii Stashkevych
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archeparchy of Pittsburgh (Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic)
Why belong here
Sts. Peter and Paul offers a rare opportunity to worship in a Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic tradition in the heart of the Mon Valley, in a church built in 1924 and modeled on the Holy Cross Cathedral in Uzhhorod, Ukraine — the very city where the present pastor was born and raised. The community gathers for Divine Liturgy three days a week, observes the Great Fast with the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts on Fridays, and stays connected through adult education, periodic coffee and donut socials, the annual feastday celebration in June, and beloved Carpatho-Rusyn fundraisers (fish fry, nut rolls, pirohi, picnic days). For Byzantine Catholics and anyone drawn to the Eastern liturgical tradition, it is a small, enduring, immigrant-rooted parish where every visitor is welcomed.
Mass times at Sts. Peter and Paul [Ruthenian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before Divine Liturgy
- After Divine Liturgy
- By appointment
Parish History
Sts. Peter and Paul was founded in 1896 when Byzantine Catholic immigrants in Braddock pooled resources to purchase the old First Presbyterian Church on George Street. Chartered on August 29, 1896 and dedicated on September 26, 1896 under first pastor Father Nicholas Szcetovich, the parish grew so quickly that within two decades a larger building was required. The present church — modeled on Holy Cross Cathedral in Užhorod, Transcarpathia, and built to span a dramatic 28-foot change in elevation between George and John Streets — was completed in 1923 and dedicated on November 2, 1924. The parish has marked its centennial (1996, with Metropolitan Judson Procyk) and 125th anniversary (2021, with Metropolitan Archbishop William C. Skurla and the Archeparchial Choir), and remains a living monument to the Carpatho-Rusyn Catholic community of the Mon Valley.
- Chartered August 29, 1896 as SS. Peter and Paul Greek Catholic Church of Braddock
- Dedicated September 26, 1896 (original building)
- First pastor: Father Nicholas Szcetovich
- Parish house built 1900
- John Street school built 1915, operated until 1970
- New church dedicated November 2, 1924
- 100th anniversary: October 6, 1996, with Metropolitan Judson Procyk
- 125th anniversary: September 26, 2021, with Metropolitan Archbishop William C. Skurla
- Chapel at Monongahela Cemetery (Byzantine Catholic section) built in the early 1900s
Our Pastor — Father Vitalii Stashkevych
Father Vitalii Stashkevych was born on April 2, 1990 in Uzhhorod, Ukraine — the very city whose Holy Cross Cathedral inspired the design of Sts. Peter and Paul. He earned a Bachelor's in Theology from the Theodore Romzha Theological Academy of the Greek Catholic Eparchy of Mukachevo under the blessing of Bishop +Milan Shashik, and in 2017 received a License in Dogmatic Theology in Rome. He was ordained to the Diaconate on November 8, 2017 and to the Priesthood on January 14, 2018. He married Mary Elizabeth Kacsur on September 15, 2017 at Holy Ghost Byzantine Catholic Church in McKees Rocks, PA; they have four children — Nikolai, Olga, Eleonora, and Agnes. Father Vitalii pastors both Sts. Peter and Paul in Braddock and St. Elias in Munhall, teaches Liturgical Practicum at the seminary (since September 2023), and serves as a Catholic chaplain at UPMC Mercy hospital.
- Born April 2, 1990, Uzhhorod, Ukraine
- B.A. Theology, Theodore Romzha Theological Academy, Uzhhorod
- License in Dogmatic Theology, Rome (2017)
- Ordained to the Diaconate: November 8, 2017
- Ordained to the Priesthood: January 14, 2018
- Married Mary Elizabeth Kacsur, September 15, 2017
- Children: Nikolai, Olga, Eleonora, Agnes
- Also pastors St. Elias Byzantine Catholic Church, Munhall, PA
- Teaches Liturgical Practicum at the seminary (since 2023)
- Catholic chaplain, UPMC Mercy hospital
The Building & Architecture
The present Sts. Peter and Paul church building was completed in 1923 and dedicated on November 2, 1924, replacing the original 1896 structure on George Street. Its design was modeled on the Holy Cross Cathedral in Uzhhorod, Transcarpathia, connecting the parish visually to its Carpatho-Rusyn spiritual homeland. The site posed a notable engineering challenge: a 28-foot difference in elevation between George Street and John Street, which the architects and builders successfully incorporated into the design. The result is described by the parish itself as 'one of the most impressive churches in the area.'
- Modeled on Holy Cross Cathedral, Uzhhorod, Transcarpathia
- Completed 1923; dedicated November 2, 1924
- Site has a 28-foot elevation difference between George and John Streets
Worship & Liturgy
As a Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic parish, Sts. Peter and Paul celebrates the Divine Liturgy according to the Byzantine rite and follows the liturgical calendar of the Metropolitan Archeparchy of Pittsburgh. Sunday worship is the heart of parish life, with weekday services in the Great Fast observing the ancient tradition of the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. All services are live-streamed on the parish Facebook page and website for the homebound and those at a distance.
- Sunday Divine Liturgy: 11:00 a.m.
- Tuesday Divine Liturgy: 6:30 p.m.
- Friday Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts: 6:30 p.m. (during the Great Fast)
- All services live-streamed on Facebook and the parish website
Sacraments (Holy Mysteries)
In the Byzantine tradition, the seven sacraments are called the Holy Mysteries. Sts. Peter and Paul offers the Mystery of Reconciliation (Confession) thirty minutes before or after every Divine Liturgy, or by appointment. Marriage (Crowning) and Anointing of the Sick are arranged by appointment. Baptisms, Chrismations, and other Mysteries should be arranged by contacting Father Vitalii at the rectory.
- Confession: 30 minutes before or after Divine Liturgy, or by appointment
- Marriage (Crowning): by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick: by appointment
- Baptism and Chrismation: by appointment (contact the parish)
Parish Activities & Community Life
Sts. Peter and Paul sustains a vibrant Carpatho-Rusyn community life centered on worship, food, and fellowship. The annual feastday celebration in June honors the parish's patron saints. Throughout the year, the parish hosts beloved fundraisers — a Lenten fish fry, nut roll sales, pirohi sales, and picnic days — that double as cultural touchstones of Carpatho-Rusyn heritage. Adult education is offered throughout the year (consult the bulletin for the schedule), and coffee and donut socials are held periodically to bring parishioners together.
- Adult Education — throughout the year, consult bulletin for schedule
- Coffee & Donut Socials — periodically
- Annual Feastday Celebration — June (Solemnity of Ss. Peter and Paul, June 29)
- Annual Fish Fry
- Annual Nut Roll Sales
- Annual Pirohi Sales
- Annual Parish Picnic Day
Pastoral Care for the Sick & Shut-Ins
The parish maintains a ministry of pastoral visitation to the sick and homebound, and parishioners are encouraged to contact Father Vitalii with the names of anyone who is hospitalized, ill, or unable to attend services so that they may be remembered in prayer and visited. Father Vitalii also serves as a Catholic chaplain at UPMC Mercy hospital, giving him a special capacity to bring the sacraments and pastoral care to those facing illness.
- Contact Father Vitalii with names of the hospitalized or shut-in
- Names may also be submitted through the parish bulletin
- Father Vitalii serves as Catholic chaplain at UPMC Mercy hospital
Visiting & Contacting the Parish
Sts. Peter and Paul is located at 431 George Street, Braddock, PA 15104, in the Mon Valley east of Pittsburgh. The parish rectory is shared with St. Elias Byzantine Catholic Church in Munhall (4200 Homestead-Duquesne Road, Munhall, PA 15120). Parishioners and visitors may reach the parish office at 412-461-1712 or by email at [email protected]. For those unable to attend in person, all services are live-streamed on the parish Facebook page (facebook.com/SSPeterPaulBraddock) and the website.
- Church address: 431 George Street, Braddock, PA 15104
- Mailing/Rectory address: 4200 Homestead-Duquesne Road, Munhall, PA 15120 (St. Elias Rectory)
- Phone: 412-461-1712
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://stspeterpaulbcc.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SSPeterPaulBraddock
Our Journey to 125 Years
On September 26, 2021, the parish celebrated its 125th anniversary to the very day. More than 250 faithful gathered for a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy celebrated by Metropolitan Archbishop William C. Skurla and accompanied by the Archeparchial Choir. A historical photo display was on view in the parish hall, and a celebratory banquet followed at St. John the Baptist Cathedral Center in Munhall, where a special anniversary book was distributed. The livestream reached 1,800 views from across the United States within two days — a striking sign of how far the parish's reach now extends beyond Braddock. Pictures and a commemorative video are preserved on the parish website under 'Our Journey to 125 years.'
- Hierarchical Divine Liturgy with Metropolitan Archbishop William C. Skurla, September 26, 2021
- Archeparchial Choir sang
- Historical photo display in parish hall
- Banquet at St. John the Baptist Cathedral Center, Munhall
- Commemorative anniversary book distributed
- 1,800 livestream views within two days
- Speeches by Mary Anne Ference Mistick (parish history) and Father Daniel Grigassy (tribute to Father Julius D. Grigassy)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Nicholas Szcetovich1896–
First pastor; the parish was chartered on August 29, 1896 and dedicated on September 26, 1896 under his leadership.
- Father Julius D. Grigassy1925–1959
Longest-serving pastor; operated a printing shop on John Street that produced prayer books and religious articles still in circulation; honored with a tribute by his grandson, Father Daniel Grigassy of Paterson, NJ, at the 125th anniversary in 2021.