Diocese: Archdiocese of Western Pennsylvania
Deanery: Eastern Deanery
Address
Corner of Tipple Rd and Goodtown Rd (39.890640, -78.976498)
Brothersvalley Twp, Pennsylvania
Mailing address:
412 Short Cut Rd
Alum Bank, PA 15521
Website: saintmarysocacc.org
Parish Contacts
Alum Bank, PA 15521
Directions
General Location
SS Peter and Paul Church in Pine Hill, PA is a satellite parish attached to Holy Assumption Church in Central City, PA. It is the southernmost Orthodox church in the Altoona-Johnstown Deanery.
From Business Route 219 from the south
Take Business Route 219 north and turn right at SR 2027 (Pine Hill Road). Follow for 1.4 miles and turn left at Goodtown Road (T-423). Go 0.2 miles and take right at Tipple Road. Church is on left.
From Business Route 219 from the north
Take Business Route 219 south beyond Berlin and turn left at SR 2027 (Pine Hill Road). Follow for 1.4 miles and turn left at Goodtown Road (T-423). Go 0.2 miles and take right at Tipple Road. Church is on left.
From US Route 30 from the west
Take US Route 30 east and merge onto Business Route 219 South. Proceed south on Business Route 219 for 21 miles just beyond Berlin and turn right at SR 2027 (Pine Hill Road). Follow for 1.4 miles and turn left at Goodtown Road (T-423). Go 0.2 miles and take right at Tipple Road. Church is on left.
From US Route 30 from the east
Take US Route 30 west to Route 160. Turn left at flashing yellow light and proceed on Route 160 south to Berlin for 12 miles. Continue on Route 160 for 0.7 miles by turning right at flashing red signal. Bear right to turn onto Main Street instead of turning left to stay on Route 160. Go through town for 0.4 miles and turn left at flashing red signal with intersection of Business Route 219. Take Business Route 219 south beyond Berlin and turn left at SR 2027 (Pine Hill Road). Follow for 1.4 miles and turn left at Goodtown Road (T-423). Go 0.2 miles and take right at Tipple Road. Church is on left.
From I-76 (Pennsylvania Turnpike)
Take I-76 to Milepost 110/ Old Exit 10 (Somerset). Upon exiting the toll plaza, turn right onto SR 601 (Center Avenue) at first light. Go south for 0.8 miles and turn left at traffic light onto SR 31 (E. Main Street). Go 0.6 miles and turn right at traffic light onto Plank Road (SR 3041). Go 2.3 more miles and Plank Road turns into Business Route 219. Take Business Route 219 south for 8.2 miles, go beyond Berlin and turn left at SR 2027 (Pine Hill Road). Follow for 1.4 miles and turn left at Goodtown Road (T-423). Go 0.2 miles and take right at Tipple Road. Church is on left.
I-99/US 220 from the north
Take I-99 south to US Route 22 (Milepost exit 28). Take US Route 22 west to Business Route 219 for 21 miles. Proceed on Business Route 219 for 49 miles. Just beyond Berlin turn left at SR 2027 (Pine Hill Road). Follow for 1.4 miles and turn left at Goodtown Road (T-423). Go 0.2 miles and take right at Tipple Road. Church is on left.
I-99/US 220 from the south
Take I-99 North to US Route 30 (Milepost Exit 1). Take US 30 Bypass West 1.0 mile and US Route 30 18 more miles to Reels Corners (Route 160). Turn left at flashing yellow light and proceed on Route 160 south to Berlin for 12 miles. Continue on Route 160 for 0.7 miles by turning right at flashing red signal. Bear right to turn onto Main Street instead of turning left to stay on Route 160. Go through town for 0.4 miles and turn left at flashing red signal with intersection of Business Route 219. Take Business Route 219 south beyond Berlin and turn left at SR 2027 (Pine Hill Road). Follow for 1.4 miles and turn left at Goodtown Road (T-423). Go 0.2 miles and take right at Tipple Road. Church is on left.
Schedule of Services
SS. Peter and Paul Parish follows the Julian Calendar.
Divine Liturgy is celebrated on the last Sunday of every month at 9 AM. Due to Father Elijah’s irregular schedule, visitors are asked to call him at 814-977-7397 for the exact date and time of services. All services are in English with a limited use of Old Slavonic for Holy Days.
Parish Background
The history of SS. Peter & Paul Orthodox Church begins during the period of the Russian Revolution and the years immediately prior to the Great War. Many Slavic immigrants came to the Berlin, Pa., area to work in the active Bituminous Coal fields. The Pine Hill Coal Company, like all coal companies at the time, regularly enticed Slavic families with the assurances of a better life in the new world.
The spiritual development of these new immigrants was placed in the hands of Fr. John Komar, who faithfully served the people of Pine Hill, placing them under the patronage of SS. Peter & Paul. It was Fr. Komar who traveled from Pine Hill to Central City to establish St. Mary’s Parish in 1917.
For many years, SS. Peter & Paul Parish managed to support a pastor, until following the Second World War and the exodus of young men and women to more urban environments, the parish was coupled with St. Mary’s in Central City. From that time until this, the faithful of Pine Hill have lovingly kept their church as a mission parish, serving the Southern part of Somerset County.
Several unusual features make SS. Peter & Paul parish truly a unique place to worship. In the past decade, major renovation projects have restored the church to its original color scheme. An illumined iconostas, imported from Europe and completed by the M. Jaronczyk Company of Chicago, is one of the very few of its kind left in the United States.
A truly beautiful parish rising from the coal-fields, SS. Peter & Paul is blessed with a rich history, devoted parishioners, and a positive outlook toward growth and development in the near future.