Saint Mary's Byzantine Catholic Church
Founded in 1890, this Byzantine Catholic church is still active in once, bustling, Mahanoy City, PA.
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During the late 1800's, most Greek and Ukrainian Catholics were either walking to St. Michael's Ukrainian Catholic Church, in Shenandoah, PA (approx. 4 mi from Mahanoy City) or celebrating Liturgy in a shared space called Gorman's Hall.
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At this time, a movement was led by a man named Ioann Zinchak, also known as John Smith, to build St. Mary's. The parishioners did just that. In 1891, St. Mary's was constructed.
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Please continue reading below and if you would like more information about St.Mary's please contact St. Mary's Rectory at (570) 773-2631 or visit the website for the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic
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Exterior
Built in red brick, St. Mary's boasts two domes, blue in color, 4 large wooden doorways and two mosaics of Jesus Christ and Mary.
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Interior
When you walk into St. Mary's, the interior will give you the spiritual chills. Not only is the interior over a hundred years old and religiously vibrant, the Frescoes were painted by the first long term pastorate's son, Anthony Kubek, who was also a priest at this very church. For more information on Fr. Emil Kubek and Fr. Anthony Kubek, please v this link: Emil Kubek Project by Nick Kupensky
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Iconostasis
For 13 years, this church did not have an Iconostasis however, the first long term pastorate, Emil Kubek, helped import the church's first iconostasis from Austro-Hungary with the Icons painted by J. Kurilach from Krakow - Unfortunately you do not see the original icons today. They were replaced during renovation and their whereabouts are unknown.
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Our Lady of Mahanoy City
This icon is very special as it is one of its kind and currently the only icon inscribed especially to a church. This Icon was inscribed by Jorge Pineross, the parish iconographer whose icons you see on the iconostasis today.
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Our Lady of Mahanoy City was inscribed in the memory of Esther Walsonavich, blessed and named during a special Paraklisis Service on the Feast of the Theophany by Bishop Michael Dudick.
