Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh

Last updated
Byzantine Catholic
Archeparchy of Pittsburgh

Archieparchia Pittsburgensis
Ritus Byzantini
St.JohntheBaptistByzantineCatholicCathedral.jpg
St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Cathedral
Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh Logo.png
Logo
Location
CountryUnited States
Ecclesiastical province Metropolis of Pittsburgh
Statistics
Population
- Total
(as of 2009)
58,997
Parishes79
Information
Denomination Catholic Church
Sui iuris church Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church
Rite Byzantine Rite
EstablishedMay 8, 1924 (99 years ago)
Cathedral St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Cathedral
Current leadership
Pope Francis
Metropolitan Archbishop William C. Skurla
Metropolitan of Pittsburgh
Map
Archeparchy of Pittsburgh map.png
Website
www.archpitt.org

The Archeparchy of Pittsburgh (Latin : Archieparchia Pittsburgensis Ritus Byzantini) is an archeparchy (or archdiocese) of the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church that is located in the southern part of the United States of America. It is part of the Metropolis of Pittsburgh. The geographical remit of the archeparchy includes the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia. The incumbent archeparch is the Most Reverend William C. Skurla. The episcopal seat is situated in the city of Pittsburgh.

Contents

History

Exarchate

In 1924, the church had been established by the Holy See as an exarchate, known as the '"Apostolic Exarchate of Pittsburgh for Faithful of the Oriental Rite (Ruthenian)'". Exarchate is an ecclesiastical term which indicates a "missionary diocese" or territory.

This move separated the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church in the United States into two distinct groups: one for those originating from Galicia (in modern-day Ukraine) with its see in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the other for those who were from the Carpathian Mountain region (in modern-day Ukraine and Slovakia), as well as those from Hungary and Croatia. In time, the two groups would come to be known as Ukrainian Greek Catholics and Ruthenian Greek Catholics, respectively.

(Arch)Eparchy

The Exarchate of Pittsburgh was elevated to the status of an eparchy in 1963.

Byzantine Catholics in the United States were given sui iuris (self-governing) status as a Metropolia (archdiocese) by Pope Paul VI in 1969. Archbishop Stephen Kocisko was installed as the first Metropolitan-Archbishop on June 11, 1969, at Holy Spirit Church in Oakland (Pittsburgh). He was the first prelate in the history of people from the Subcarpathian Rus region (of present-day Ukraine and Slovakia) to hold this rank.

Operations

The seat of the Archeparchy is the St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Cathedral in Munhall, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh.

The Archeparchy of Pittsburgh also operates SS. Cyril and Methodius Byzantine Catholic Seminary in the North Side section of the city, for the training of candidates for the priesthood and diaconate, cantors and those in other ministries. Established in 1950 by Bishop Daniel Ivancho, the seminary serves all four eparchies of the Byzantine Catholic Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh.

Parishes

As of 2010, the Archeparchy has 85 parishes under its canonical jurisdiction.

The majority of the archepachy's parishes are located in Western Pennsylvania, particularly in the Pittsburgh and Johnstown metropolitan areas.

Although most Ohio parishes are under the jurisdiction of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma, 5 churches in metropolitan Youngstown and 5 churches in Ohio River communities are governed by the archeparchy.

Additionally, there are churches in the following states: Louisiana (1), Tennessee (1), Texas (4), and West Virginia (2).

Hierarchs

The current chancery office and residency is on 66 Riverview Avenue, Pittsburgh.

Apostolic Exarchs
Eparchs
Archeparchs
Other priests of this eparchy who became bishops

See also

Metropolia of Pittsburgh map Metropolia of Pittsburgh for the Ruthenians map.png
Metropolia of Pittsburgh map

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metropolis of Pittsburgh (Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church)</span> Metropolitan province for Byzantine Rite Catholics in the North America

The Metropolis of Pittsburgh is a sui juris metropolitan see of the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church that is located in the United States of America and Canada. The Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church is one of 23 sui juris Eastern Catholic particular churches in the Catholic Church that is in full communion with the Holy See. The metropolis uses the Byzantine Rite in its liturgies. It was erected as a metropolis (archdiocese) by Pope Paul VI in 1969. The metropolis has jurisdiction over those communities that originated from the regions of Carpathian Ruthenia, Slovakia, Hungary and the former Yugoslavia. Worshipers come from several Byzantine Catholic groups: Rusyn Americans, Slovak Americans, Hungarian Americans, and Croatian Americans. In 2022, governance of the Exarchate of Saints Cyril and Methodius of Toronto in Canada passed to the metropolis of Pittsburgh from the Slovak Greek Catholic Church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia</span> Archeparchy in the eastern United States

The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia is a Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church ecclesiastical territory or archeparchy of the Catholic Church in the Eastern United States. Its episcopal see is Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Archeparchy of Philadelphia is a metropolitan see with three suffragan eparchies in its ecclesiastical province. The Archeparchy of Philadelphia's territorial jurisdiction includes the District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, and the eastern and central portions of Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruthenian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Protection of Mary of Phoenix</span> Eastern Catholic eparchy in Western United States

The Holy Protection of Mary Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix, commonly known as the Eparchy of Phoenix and formerly known as the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Van Nuys, is a Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church territory jurisdiction or eparchy of the Catholic Church in the western United States. Its episcopal see is Phoenix, Arizona. The last bishop was the Most Reverend John Stephen Pazak.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Byzantine Catholic Seminary of Ss. Cyril and Methodius</span>

The Byzantine Catholic Seminary of Ss. Cyril and Methodius is an American degree-granting school of theology in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The seminary prepares candidates for priestly ministry to the Byzantine Catholic churches of North America. As of 2019, this includes the Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic Church, the Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Newton, the Romanian Catholic Eparchy of St George's in Canton, and the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saint Josaphat in Parma

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slovak Greek Catholic Church</span> Eastern Catholic Church

The Slovak Greek Catholic Church or Byzantine Catholic Church in Slovakia, is a sui iuris (autonomous) Eastern Catholic church based in Slovakia. As a particular church of the Catholic Church, it is in full communion with the Holy See. The church is organised as a single ecclesiastical province with one metropolitan see. Its liturgical rite is the Byzantine Rite. In 2008 in Slovakia alone, the Greek Catholic Church in Slovakia had some 350,000 faithful, 374 priests and 254 parishes. In 2017, the Catholic Church counted 207,320 Greek Catholics in Slovakia worldwide, representing roughly one percent of all Eastern Catholics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Winnipeg</span> Eastern Catholic archeparchy in Manitoba, Canada

The Archeparchy of Winnipeg is a Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church ecclesiastical territory or archeparchy of the Catholic Church in Manitoba, a province of Canada. Currently, its archeparch is Lawrence Huculak.

Basil Takach was the first bishop of the Byzantine Catholic Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh, the American branch of the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church.

Nicholas Thomas Elko was an American Ruthenian Greek Catholic and the third bishop of the Byzantine Catholic Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh. At the age of 46 he became the first American-born bishop of the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church. He later served as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, a Latin Church archdiocese.

Stephen John Kocisko was the first Metropolitan Archbishop of the Byzantine Catholic Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh, the American branch of the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church

Thomas Victor Dolinay was the second Metropolitan Archbishop of the Byzantine Catholic Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh, the American branch of the Ruthenian Catholic Church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruthenian Catholic Eparchy of Passaic</span> Eastern Catholic eparchy in eastern United States

The Eparchy of Passaic is an eparchy (diocese) of the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church on the Atlantic seaboard of the United States. Its episcopal seat is the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel in Passaic, New Jersey. As an Eastern Catholic church, it uses the Byzantine Rite in its services. The Eparchy was erected July 6, 1963.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruthenian Catholic Eparchy of Parma</span> Eastern Catholic eparchy in Midwest United States

The Eparchy of Parma is an eparchy (diocese) of the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church in the midwestern part of the United States. Its episcopal seat is the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Parma, Ohio. As an Eastern Catholic Church, it uses the Byzantine Rite in its services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint Anne Byzantine Catholic Church</span>

Saint Anne Byzantine Catholic Church is a Catholic Christian parish of the Byzantine Ruthenian Tradition located in the City of San Luis Obispo, California. It was founded in 1986. It is a parish of the Holy Protection of Mary Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emil John Mihalik</span>

Emil John Mihalik was the first Eparch of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma, Ohio. His appointment occurred simultaneously with the erection of the see. At that time, his jurisdiction encompassed central and western Ohio, Arizona, California, Colorado, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, Alaska and Hawaii.

William Charles Skurla is the Archeparch of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh in the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church. He is also, ex officio, the metropolitan bishop of the Metropolis of Pittsburgh whose geographic remit includes the entire United States and Canada. He succeeded Archbishop Basil Myron Schott. Skurla was appointed as metropolitan on 19 January 2012, by Pope Benedict XVI and enthroned at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Munhall, Pennsylvania, on April 18, 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kurt Burnette</span>

Kurt Richard Burnette is an American Catholic prelate who serves as the Eparch of Passaic in the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church. He succeeded Bishop William C. Skurla. Burnette was appointed on October 29, 2013, by Pope Francis, and enthroned in a Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel in Passaic, New Jersey on December 4.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exarchate of Saints Cyril and Methodius of Toronto</span> Eastern Catholic ecclesiastical jurisdiction in Canada

The Exarchate of Saints Cyril and Methodius of Toronto is a ecclesiastical territory or exarchate that serves the Slovak Greek Catholic Church — a sui juris or self governing Eastern Catholic Church. Its geographical remit includes the whole territory of Canada. In 2022, Pope Francis transferred the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the exarchate from the Slovak Greek Catholic Church to the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church. It became part of the ecclesiastical Metropolis of Pittsburgh. This changed the territory's status from an eparchy to an exarchate at the same time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Stephen Pazak</span>

John Stephen Pazak, C.Ss.R. is an American-born member of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, commonly known as the Redemptorists, who served as an eparch of the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church. He served as the Eparch of the Eparchy of Phoenix, which is based in Phoenix, Arizona from July 2016 until his retirement in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Mark Pipta</span> American Greek Catholic bishop-elect

Robert Mark Pipta is an American Greek Catholic bishop, who serves as eparch of Parma. He was previously rector of Byzantine Catholic Seminary of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

References