Saint Michael Byzantine Catholic Church
Pastor:
Rev. Daniel Loya
Address:
408 Walnut Street
Pleasant City, OH 43772-9775
Phone:

740-685-3292
Fax:
740-685-3292
E-mail:
n/a
Web site:
n/a
DIVINE LITURGY SCHEDULE
Sundays:
9:00 am
Vigil of Holy Days:
7:00 pm
Holy Days:
9:00 am
Confessions:
one half hour before services
GREAT FAST (LENT) SERVICES
Wednesdays
7:00 pm - Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
HOLY MYSTERIES (SACRAMENTS)
Baptism/Chrismation/Eucharist:
by appointment
Reconciliation:
by appointment
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Eastern Christian Formation (ECF):
Sundays
October til June, after liturgy


St. Michael Church in Pleasant City was organized on June 24, 1898 to serve the Byzantine Catholic Slovaks, Hungarians and Rusins who had emigrated from Eastern Europe. They came to this area and settled in small towns all over Guernsey County. Most of the men worked in the coal mines, which provided the best wage at the time. Some farmed or worked at other jobs to support their families and their church.

The first church was a small wooden structure which served not only Byzantine Catholics, but also Roman Catholics and Russian Orthodox. The church was consecrated in 1899 by the Most Reverend John Ambrose Watterson, the Roman Catholic bishop of Columbus, Ohio. Fr. Nestor Volensky was the first pastor. The church soon became too small to serve the growing congregation. In 1916 a larger brick church was built and consecrated by Bishop Soter Ortinsky. St. Michael's was built with a full icon screen and beautiful stained glass windows depicting Christ, the Mother of God, apostles and saints. Many of the stained glass windows and icons on the walls and ceiling were specifically donated by groups and individuals.

Later, some of the Roman Catholics established Holy Trinity Parish in Byesville, but St. Michael's still had a large congregation of Byzantine Catholics. The biggest changes in the size of the parish began in the late 1920's and early 1930's as the coal mines began to close during the Great Depression. Many individuals and families moved to Cleveland, Akron, Detroit, Pittsburgh and other major metropolitan areas. The Second World War also took its toll on St. Michael's. Over one hundred and fifty young men and women were called to serve in the Armed Forces.

The parish, besides building a large new church, also acquired other property over the years. In 1910, land for a cemetery was attained. When an old hall near the church burned down, property near Pleasant City was purchased. It included a building for a hall and a five acre picnic grove. The building was destroyed by strong winds in the 1970's, but the grove continues to be used for the annual church picnic. During the 1970's a church hall was built next to St. Michael's to serve as space for ECF classrooms, church fellowship and organizational meetings.

During the centennial year of 1998, the church was renovated. The year also included special events honoring past and present parishioners and former pastors. One honoree was Anna Chervenak, 91, who was present at the 1916 consecration of the new St. Michael's Church. The high point of the year was a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy celebrated by the Most Reverend Judson Procyk, Metropolitan of Pittsburgh.

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.