Diocese: Archdiocese of Western Pennsylvania
Deanery: Northwest Deanery
Address
105 S 19th St
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15203
Email:
Website: stmaryorthodoxchurch.net
Church: 412-431-6428
Parish Contacts
Directions
General Location
Holy Assumption of St Mary Orthodox Church is located at 105 S 19th St, between E Carson and Sarah Streets in Southside Pittsburgh. It is 19 blocks up from Station Square, and is 5 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh.
From the north
Take I-279 S via Exit 72 toward Pittsburgh. Merge onto I-579 S via Exit 8A toward Veterans Bridge. Take the 7th Avenue exit toward 6th Avenue. Take the ramp toward 6th Avenue. Merge onto Bigelow Blvd. Bigelow Blvd becomes Ross St. Turn Left onto 2nd Ave. Turn Right onto S 10th St/S 10th St Bridge. Continue to follow S 10th St. Turn Left onto E Carson St/PA-837. Turn Right onto S 19th St.
From the South
Take I-79 S/Pittsburgh/I-279 N. Merge onto I-376 E/US-22 E/US-30 E via Exit 6A toward Monroeville. Take the Grant St exit, Exit 1C, on the Left. Stay straight to go onto Grant St. Turn Right onto 1st Ave. Turn Left onto Ross St. Turn Right onto 2nd Ave. Turn Right onto S 10th St/S 10th St Bridge. Continue to follow S 10th St. Turn Left onto E Carson St/PA-837. Turn Right onto S 19th St.
From the West
Take I-376 W/US-22 W. Take the PA-885 S exit, Exit 3A, toward Glenwood. Turn right onto Bates St/PA-885. Turn Left onto 2nd Ave/PA-885. Turn Right onto Hot Metal St. Turn Right onto E Carson St/PA-837. Turn Left onto S 19th St. 105 S 19th St is on the Left.
Schedule of Services
Services are in English.
7:00 PM Vespers. On SATURDAY, services are at 5:00 PM, and SUNDAY at 5:00 PM.
Daily—Evening
10:00 AM Divine Liturgy followed by Fellowship hour (9:30 AM from June through August).
Sunday Morning
10:00 AM Divine Liturgy (9:30 from June through August).
Mornings of Great Feasts
Confessions are available before or after Vespers, before Divine Liturgy, or by appointment.
Confessions
Please visit the Monthly Calendar on the parish website or contact the Rectory at 412-431-6428 for schedule of other services, i.e. Great Lent and special Akathist services, or to arrange Baptisms, Weddings, Memorials, etc.
Parish Background
In 1917, SS. Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church was established in this building. In the early 1930’s due to economic realities, the faithful of SS. Peter and Paul lost their building, and were forced to move. In January of 1943, the present Church structure and parish home were regained by the faithful of SS. Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church and in keeping with tradition, the Church was renamed in honor of the Theotokos
In early spring of 1943, Archimandrite Seraphim (Oblinantseff) was appointed as first pastor of St Mary’s Russian Orthodox Church. Archimandrite Seraphim wrote most of the Icons in the Church’s Iconostasis, and oversaw the completion of the Iconostasis. His pastoral labor lasted twelve years, and on December 13, 1954, he fell asleep in the Lord.
On March 9, 1955, St Mary’s received her second pastor, Fr John Waschak. During Fr John’s pastorate, the Church was renovated, a permanent Sunday school program was initiated, and St Mary’s prospered. In 1966 a new Altar table was consecrated by Metropolitan Ireney, and Fr John was elevated to the dignity of Archpriest. Under Fr. John’s pastorate, many things were accomplished, a new ceiling was installed in the Church, a new chandelier from Greece was installed and Icons of the American saints, Herman and Innocent, were added to the Iconostasis. In 1970, St. Mary’s adopted the English language for liturgical use, and in 1980, adopted the Revised Julian Calendar.
In 1996, a time of transition for the parish began with the increasing illness of Fr. Waschak. In February of 1996, Basil Rex Carpenter was ordained to the diaconate in the parish and was chosen by parish upon the recommendation of Archbishop Kyrill to become the new parish priest. On Bright Saturday, April 20, 1996, Deacon Basil Carpenter was ordained to the Holy Priesthood in Holy Assumption of St Mary Church and returned to St Tikhon’s Seminary to finish his studies. On May 11, 1996, Archpriest John Waschak fell asleep in the Lord. On June 29, 1996, Holy Assumption of St Mary Orthodox Church formally received her third pastor, Fr Basil Carpenter.
Since June 29, 1996, Holy Assumption of St. Mary Orthodox Church has been growing, and the faithful have continued to be steadfast in the apostolic labor of bearing witness to the Orthodox Faith. Three years ago, the parish began the complete restoration of the Church edifice, with the cleaning and pointing of the Church building, installation of new three bar crosses, new main doors and a new sign installed on the building. New Analogion Icons of the “Dormition of Theotokos,” “She Who is Quick to Hear,” and “Christ, the Giver of Life” have been added to the Church. And plans are underway to complete and install two icons of the guardians of the portal on the stairwells entering the Church, and a great Icon of the Theotokos over the main altar.
On November 19, 2003, another milestone was seen by the faithful of Holy Assumption of St. Mary Orthodox Church with the monastic tonsure of their parish priest in the parish. Fr. Basil Carpenter was tonsured a hieromonk by Archbishop Kyrill and given the name Patrick. With the tonsuring of Hieromonk Patrick a new dynamic was received by the parish to seek to accommodate daily monastic services as well as normal parish life.
In the course of 87 years of continuous ministry in the Southside of Pittsburgh, SS. Peter and Paul, now Holy Assumption of St. Mary Orthodox Church, has remained a vibrant center of holy Orthodoxy, housing the Archdiocesan Religious Education Programs, the Archdiocesan Late Vocations Program for training new deacons, as well as a hub for evangelization and Orthodox Outreach into the community.
