St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Cathedral (Pittsburgh) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. John the Baptist Cathedral |
|
|---|---|
St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Cathedral
|
|
 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
|
|
| 40°22′56″N 79°54′55″W / 40.3821°N 79.9153°W | |
| Location | 210 Greentree Road Munhall, Pennsylvania |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Founded | 1897 |
| Past bishop(s) | Basil Schott |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | 1993 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Archeparchy of Pittsburgh |
St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Cathedral is a very important church in Munhall, Pennsylvania. It is known as the "mother church" for the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church in the United States. This means it is the main church for many people who follow this Christian faith. The cathedral is located near Pittsburgh, a big city in Pennsylvania.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
In the late 1800s, many people called Rusyns came to Pittsburgh. They came from the Carpathian Mountains in Europe. They moved to America to find work, especially in the steel factories. One famous factory was owned by Andrew Carnegie in Homestead, Pennsylvania.
In 1894, the large Rusyn community in Homestead decided to start their own church. They wanted a place to worship and gather. In January 1897, their new church was officially opened. It was named St. John the Baptist Greek Catholic Church.
The First Cathedral Building (1903)
The church quickly grew, and they needed a bigger building. In 1902, they bought land in Munhall, a town near Homestead. A Hungarian architect named Titus de Bobula designed the new church. He based his design on a cathedral in Europe.
The new church had two tall towers, reaching 125 feet (38 meters) high. They were made of white brick and sandstone. The church was officially opened on December 27, 1903. A bishop from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh helped dedicate it.
By the 1920s, the church had over 700 families. In 1929, it became a "cathedral." This meant it was the main church for the Ruthenian Greek Catholic faith in America. It was the first cathedral built just for Carpatho-Rusyns in the country.
In the 1950s, the church building was updated and made more modern. During this time, church services were held in the school hall. The renovation was finished by Msgr. John Gernat, who was the church leader at the time.
The Second Cathedral Building (1993)
In 1973, Msgr. Judson Procyk became the new leader of the cathedral parish. He had a plan to move the church and build a brand new cathedral. In 1978, the church bought 18 acres (7.3 hectares) of land on Greentree Road in Munhall.
The construction of the new cathedral was completed in 1993. This is the building that stands today. The old cathedral building, built in 1903, was sold in 2004. It is now used by the Carpatho-Rusyn Society as their main office and a cultural center.
See also
