St. Stephen Cathedral (Phoenix, Arizona) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids St. Stephen Cathedral
St. Stephen Byzantine Catholic Cathedral
Front view of the Cathedral
Location in Arizona Show map of Arizona Location in the United States Show map of the United States
33°33′24.36″N 112°02′51.59″W / 33.5567667°N 112.0476639°W / 33.5567667; -112.0476639
Location	8141 N. 16th St. Phoenix, Arizona
Country	United States
Denomination	Catholic Church
History
Founded	1968
Administration
Diocese	Holy Protection of Mary Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix

The St. Stephen Cathedral is a special church in Phoenix, Arizona, United States. It belongs to the Ruthenian Greek Catholic faith. This church is the main cathedral for the Holy Protection of Mary Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix, which is like a church region led by a bishop.

History of St. Stephen Cathedral
Gallery
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History of St. Stephen Cathedral

Early Beginnings in Phoenix

Many Byzantine Catholics moved to the western United States. By 1956, those in Phoenix started planning for their own church. Ten years later, in 1966, they officially asked Bishop Nicholas Elko from Pittsburgh for a new church community.

In 1968, they received permission to buy the building of the former St. Thomas the Apostle Antiochene Orthodox Church. The very first special church service, called a Divine Liturgy, was held there on Easter Sunday.

Dedication and Growth

The church was officially dedicated on June 28, 1968. Bishop Stephen Kocisko named it after St. Stephen, who was one of the first Christian martyrs. The Rev. Paul Bovankovich became the first pastor, or leader, of the church.

Over the years, the church grew. A rectory, which is a house for the priest, and a parish hall, a building for church events, were built in 1974. Later, in 1991, a columbarium was added. This is a place where urns holding ashes of deceased people are kept.

Becoming a Cathedral

In 1994, a big earthquake, known as the Northridge earthquake, caused damage to the main offices and the cathedral of the Eparchy of Van Nuys. An eparchy is like a diocese in the Byzantine Catholic Church. Because of the damage, Bishop George Kuzma and his team moved their offices to Phoenix.

As a result, St. Stephen's church was given the special title of "pro-cathedral." This means it was temporarily serving as the main church for the eparchy. In 2010, the Eparchy of Van Nuys officially changed its name to the Holy Protection of Mary Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix. At that time, St. Stephen's was officially made a full cathedral.

Recent Leadership Changes

In 2016, Father Diodoro Mendoza was appointed as the new rector and pastor of St. Stephen Cathedral. Also in 2016, Bishop John Stephen Pazak became the new bishop, taking over from Bishop Gerald Nicholas Dino. Bishop Dino passed away on November 14, 2020.

Bishop Pazak retired in August 2021. After his retirement, Bishop Thomas Olmsted served as an "Apostolic Administrator" from 2018 to 2023. This means he was temporarily in charge, appointed by Pope Francis. Bishop Kurt Burnette then took over as Apostolic Administrator in 2023. The current eparch, or bishop, is Artur Bubnevych. He officially started his role on January 28, 2025.