Saints Peter and Paul Byzantine Catholic Church
Pastor:
Rev. Andrew J. Deskevich
Address:
3415 Wallace Street
Erie, PA 16504
Phone:

814-825-8140
Fax:
814-825-7582
E-mail:
Web site:
n/a
DIVINE LITURGY SCHEDULE
Saturdays:
5:30 pm
Sundays:
11:00 am
Holy Days:
9:00 am
Confessions:
Saturdays, 4:45 - 5:15 pm
GREAT FAST (LENT) SERVICES
Wednesdays
7:00 pm
Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
HOLY MYSTERIES (SACRAMENTS)
Baptism/Chrismation/Eucharist:
by appointment (active member)
Reconciliation:
by appointment (active member)
Marriage:
contact pastor one year prior to date (active member)
Anointing:
upon request
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Eastern Christian Formation (ECF):
Sundays
10:00 - 11:00 am
SOCIAL/ANNUAL EVENTS
Parish Festival:
Second Sunday in October


Immigrant Byzantine Catholics began to settle in the three-state area on the shores of Lake Erie around 1885.  Some of these unskilled individuals did farm work, while others found employment in the paper industry on the East side of the city of Erie.  Without any religious or social leaders, they organized their religious communities and adapted to life in America.  Although unfamiliar with the Latin Rite devotions and language, they affiliated themselves with the Holy Family Catholic Church of the Latin Rite on Fulton Street.  At one of their meetings after the Sunday Liturgy, fifteen families decided to organize a congregation of Byzantine Catholics, build their own church and seek a resident pastor.

In 1912, the trustees invited Fr. J. Danilovich, pastor of St. Michael's Church in Sharon, Pa., to accept a temporary assignment to administer the sacraments to the faithful.  The most significant organizational work was done by Fr. Nestor Volensky, pastor of St. Michael's Church in Sheffield, Pa.  The growing congregation purchased the abandoned Emmanuel Evangelical Congregational Church on East 23rd Street.  The interior was remodeled and the church was blessed and dedicated as SS. Peter & Paul Greek Catholic Church on Thanksgiving Day, November 18, 1912 by Fr. Emil Burik.  When he was transferred in 1914, the leaders of the congregation were once again supported by the pastor at the Sheffield parish.  Fr. Nicholas Sabo came to Erie every third Sunday of the month to celebrate Matins, the Divine Liturgy and Vespers.  He also administered the sacraments and funeral services.  In 1915, Lodge 487 of the Greek Catholic Union was organized.  This active organization contributed to the appointment of the first resident pastor, Fr. Theophile Zatkovitch in 1918.

In 1953 the church was remodeled during the pastorate of Father Paul Dano and was rededicated by Bishop Daniel Ivancho.  A new SS. Peter & Paul Church was built on Wallace Street while Father John Onesko was pastor.

Dedicated on May 1, 1960 by Bishop Nicholas T. Elko, the church's interior decoration was completed and celebrated on August 8, 1960.  A Parish Center was built in 1969.
During the pastorate of Fr. J. Kubinyi, STD, a new copper roof was installed (1982), the mortgage burning took place (1984), and an asphalt parking lot was added to the church and Parish Center complex (1987).  The parish has a group of Religious Education teachers, a Parish Council, Altar-Rosary Society, Baking Group, Acolytes-Altar Servers, and Get-Together Workers.

The Official Website of the
Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh
66 Riverview Avenue • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15214
Telephone: 412-231-4000 | Fax: 412-231-1697

The Archeparchy of Pittsburgh Website is an Official Publication of the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh. © 2003, Office of Communications. Neither any part of this site nor its content may be reproduced, transmitted, copied, or used in any way without the expressed permission of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh Office of Communications. This site may be linked freely.