St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church
1720 Jane Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203
10 am - 1 pm
Wheelchair Accessible Entrance: NO
Wheelchair Accessible Restrooms: NO
Public Restrooms: NO
Photography Allowed: YES
YOUR EXPERIENCE
Visitors will experience the beauty of the Byzantine Catholic Church including…
The spectacular "Church Unity" ceiling mural, painted in 1966 by Stephen Juraros of Sedona, AZ, which was inspired by the Second Vatican Council's emphasis on that theme. The mural weaves historic events of the Universal Church into a twentieth-century memorial.
The extensive 2001 wall installations of Byzantine Icons, faithful to the rich theology and traditions of the Church.
The central, crystal, candlelit chandelier, which is the only one of its kind still in use in Byzantine Metropolita.
ABOUT THIS BUILDING
The history of St. John the Baptist parish began in 1891, when the present-day St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Byzantine Catholic Church, located at South Seventh and East Carson Streets, was organized. At that time – having the same religious identity – Rusyns and Ukrainians from the Transcarpathian area of Eastern Europe formed one parish. As membership grew, the Ruthenian (Rusyn) immigrants organized a separate parish in 1900 under the name “Second St. John the Baptist Greek Catholic Church,” the present parish.
The parish initially met in a residence near South Tenth and Sarah Streets. In 1901 the membership purchased St. Casimir’s Lithuanian Catholic Church at 613 East Carson Street and used this church until 1958.
In 1958 St. John the Baptist parish relocated its church from 613 East Carson Street to 1720 Jane Street, the site of the former “Rooster” Church, so-named because of the ornament on its steeple. The first Divine Liturgy in the new church was celebrated on Christmas Eve 1958.The present church was constructed in a modern motif with classic Byzantine lines. The icon screen is the original from the old church. It was reduced to scale and completely redone to help blend the sanctuary and the nave into an integral whole. transferred from the old church
St. John the Baptist Church was the home parish of Bishop Emil Mihalik, Eparch of Parma. The present parish complex at 1720 Jane Street is well-located at the center of the dramatically reinvigorated South Side section of Pittsburgh.