About Sts. Peter and Paul [Ruthenian] · Patton, Pennsylvania
Saints Peter and Paul Byzantine Catholic Church is a Ruthenian (Byzantine) Catholic parish in Patton, Pennsylvania, in the bituminous-coal country of northern Cambria County. It belongs to the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh and is administered jointly with Saint John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church in Northern Cambria. The parish traces its roots to the first Greek Catholic (Carpatho-Rusyn) families who arrived in Patton in 1893 to work the mines, and it still worships in the former Methodist Episcopal church building purchased by the founders in 1900 for $1,600. Father Roman Andriitso, newly arrived from the Eparchy of Mukachevo in Ukraine, has served as Administrator of both parishes since February 1, 2022, alongside Deacon Raymond J. Zadzilko.
- Established
- 1898
- Patron
- Saints Peter and Paul (the Chief Apostles)
- Rector
- Father Roman Andriitso (Administrator, since February 1, 2022)
- Diocese
- Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh (Ruthenian Metropolitanate sui juris of Pittsburgh); geographically within the territorial Roman Diocese of Altoona–Johnstown
Why belong here
SS. Peter and Paul is a small but living Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic community with deep roots in the Carpatho-Rusyn heritage of central Pennsylvania's coal country, still worshipping in the very building its founders purchased in 1900. The parish offers the full Byzantine liturgical and sacramental life — Sunday Divine Liturgy, confession before liturgy, anointing and marriage by request, and an Eastern Christian Formation program for grades 1–12 — and shares its faith formation, adult education and social life with its sister parish of St. John the Baptist in Northern Cambria. It is a warm, family-sized community that gathers for a combined parish picnic at the end of August and a joint Feast Day dinner at the end of June to celebrate the patronal solemnity of SS. Peter and Paul.
Mass times at Sts. Peter and Paul [Ruthenian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 8:00 AM (immediately before the 8:30 AM Divine Liturgy)
History of Saints Peter and Paul Byzantine Catholic Church, Patton
The story of SS. Peter and Paul begins with the arrival of the first Greek Catholic (Carpatho-Rusyn) faithful in the Patton area in 1893, five years before Greek Catholic Union Lodge 93 organized in 1898 and became the nucleus of a future parish. In the spring of 1900 Father Cyril Gulovich of Barnesboro urged the community to build its own church; on Easter Sunday 1900 he celebrated the first Divine Liturgy in Old Fedor Hall, and on October 23, 1900 the trustees purchased the former Methodist Episcopal Church on Sixth and Palmer Avenue for $1,600 — the building still in use today.
- 1893 — first Greek Catholic faithful arrive in Patton
- 1898 — Greek Catholic Union Lodge 93 organized (parish nucleus)
- Easter Sunday 1900 — first Divine Liturgy celebrated in Old Fedor Hall
- October 23, 1900 — former Methodist Episcopal church purchased for $1,600
- 1902–1906 — bell tower, parish house and parish cemetery added
- 1916–1923 — choir loft installed, sanctuary enlarged, building encased in brick
- October 13, 1961 — Father Andrew Chura becomes Patton's first resident pastor
- 1969 — church repainted and carpeted; men of the parish build a garage
- 1967–1994 — parish administers St. Anne Church in Clymer, PA
- 1988 — iconostas (icon screen) installed in Byzantine tradition
- Since August 1994 — administered from St. John the Baptist, Northern Cambria
- February 1, 2022 — Father Roman Andriitso (from Eparchy of Mukachevo) appointed Administrator
Clergy and Staff
The parish is served today by an Administrator (the title currently used) and a deacon, both of whom are shared with Saint John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church in Northern Cambria.
- Father Roman Andriitso — Administrator (since February 1, 2022; newly arrived from the Eparchy of Mukachevo, Ukraine)
- Deacon Raymond J. Zadzilko — Deacon
Holy Mysteries (Sacraments)
In Byzantine Catholic usage the sacraments are known as the Holy Mysteries. The parish lists Confession (Holy Mystery of Reconciliation), Marriage (Mystery of Crowning) and Anointing of the Sick (Holy Mystery of Holy Unction) explicitly on its public page; other Mysteries — including Baptism (Christmation) and Chrismation — are coordinated through the rectory.
- Confessions — Sunday 8:00 AM
- Marriage — please contact the rectory
- Anointing — please contact the rectory
Faith Formation and Education
Religious education at SS. Peter and Paul is delivered through Eastern Christian Formation (ECF), the Byzantine equivalent of CCD/religious education, covering grades 1 through 12. Classes are held on Sunday mornings at 9:45 AM at the Patton church and are combined with students from the sister parish of St. John the Baptist in Northern Cambria; the program runs from September through the first weekend in May. Adult Education is offered as announced in the parish bulletin, particularly during the 40-day fasts of Great Lent and the Nativity Fast (Philip's Fast).
- Eastern Christian Formation (ECF) — Sundays 9:45 AM, September through first weekend in May
- ECF classes combined with Northern Cambria parish
- Adult Education — see bulletin, especially during the 40-day fasts
Parish Activities and Community Life
Beyond the Divine Liturgy, the parish shares its social and devotional life with Saint John the Baptist in Northern Cambria. Two signature combined events mark the calendar: a parish picnic at the end of August and a joint Feast Day dinner at the end of June celebrating the patronal solemnity of SS. Peter and Paul on June 29.
- Combined Parish Picnic — usually end of August (with St. John the Baptist, Northern Cambria)
- Combined Feast Day Dinner — end of June (with St. John the Baptist, Northern Cambria)
- Patronal Feast of Saints Peter and Paul — June 29
The Building and Architecture
The church at 516 Palmer Avenue is a vernacular frame structure originally built as a Methodist Episcopal church and purchased by the parish on October 23, 1900 for $1,600. It was encased in brick during 1916–1923 and now displays a bell tower, stained glass windows, front steps added in 1950 with a tiled panel dedicated to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, and an iconostas (icon screen) installed in 1988 in keeping with Byzantine tradition. The building is part of the Patton Historic District in Cambria County, PA.
- Original building: former Methodist Episcopal Church, purchased October 23, 1900 for $1,600
- Brick encasement added 1916–1923
- Bell tower, stained glass windows
- Front steps added 1950 with a tiled panel of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
- Iconostas installed 1988
- Contributing structure of the Patton Historic District
Visiting, Location and Contact
SS. Peter and Paul is located at 516 Palmer Avenue, Patton, PA 16668, in the heart of the Patton Historic District in northern Cambria County. The rectory can be reached at (814) 674-5552. The parish shares its administration with Saint John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church, 719 Chestnut Street, Northern Cambria, PA 15714 (rectory (814) 948-8242). The parish also maintains a Facebook presence under the name "SS Peter & Paul Byzantine Catholic Church in Patton, PA".
- Address: 516 Palmer Avenue, Patton, PA 16668
- Rectory phone: (814) 674-5552
- Sister parish: Saint John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church, 719 Chestnut Street, Northern Cambria, PA 15714 (814-948-8242)
- Website: https://archpitt.org/place/pattonpa-2/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pattonbyzcath/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Hilarion Dzubaybefore 1900
Pastor of St. Mary Greek Catholic Church, Johnstown; answered special-service requests from the Patton faithful before they had a parish.
- Father Cyril Gulovich1900
Pastor of St. John the Baptist Greek Catholic Church, Barnesboro; celebrated the first Divine Liturgy in Patton on Easter Sunday 1900 in Old Fedor Hall and urged the faithful to build their own church.
- Father Stephen Loyaearly 20th century
Traveled to Patton from Portage (one of the few non-resident pastors not based at Barnesboro).
- Father Andrew Chura1961–
Appointed Patton's first resident pastor on October 13, 1961; the present parish house was built during his pastorate.
- Father Edward Pyountil February 1, 2022
Relieved as Priest for Liturgical Services and Spiritual Needs of SS. Peter and Paul, Patton, and St. John, Northern Cambria, effective February 1, 2022.
- Deacon Raymond J. Zadzilkountil February 1, 2022
Served as Administrator of both parishes before being relieved on February 1, 2022; continues in diaconal ministry at the parish.
- Father Roman AndriitsoFebruary 1, 2022–present
Newly arrived from the Eparchy of Mukachevo; appointed Administrator of SS. Peter and Paul, Patton, and St. John the Baptist, Northern Cambria.