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Joined: Sep 2007
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St. Mary's (Dormition) Byzantine Catholic Church, Hazleton, PA
Here are some images of the recently restored  St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic Church in Hazleton, PA. All the paintings/icons in the church have been restored by Judy Dotzel. The iconostasis, which is from the original-late 1880s church, has also been restored. Sometime after the present church's construction (1940s), the lower level of the screen was latinized, similar to the nearby St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic Church in Sheppton, PA. All the deacon doors and holy doors are brand new construction. The dome has also been restored. The lighting of it makes a heavenly feel when standing under it. The new lighting in the church and built into the screen makes the iconostasis really stand out! Congratulations to the pastor, Fr. Peter Donish (whom I am blessed to call a friend), and the dedicated people of this historic parish. Forum historians: more of the history of this parish would be appreciated!
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Joined: Nov 2001
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Beautiful - thanks for the pictures
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Outstanding ! I love the style the icons are painted in, as well as the ceiling.
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From the 1949 Diocesan Silver Jubilee book:
St. Mary's
Rev. John Koval, Pastor
Founded in July, 1889 by a group of 350 souls with the Rev. Nicholas Stecovich as the first pastor. The first church was erected in 1894 and was dedicated by the Rt. Rev. William O'Hara, bishop of Scranton; the second church was completed in 1901 and was dedicated by the Rt. Rev. Michael J. O'Hara. The present church was completed in 1942 and was dedicated by the late Bishop Basil Takach. St. Mary's is the mother church of St. John's in Hazleton. It gave the church one vocation to the priesthood, viz. the Rev. Andrew Sokol; also one vocation to the Sisters of St. Basil the Great.
Approximate value of property $250,000. Population 1465 souls.
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Wow! That is soooooo different from the open-styled gold leafed upper-tier Post-Bishop Elko Era-gutted former ikonostas. I hope that now that they did these beautiful renovations they stay open for a while.
Ung
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Joined: Jan 2002
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I can't believe it's the same church! Simply beautiful!
Dave
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Deacon Jon,
Absolutely extraordinary!
Keep taking pics like this and you'll definitely be the most-featured photographer in the Directory.
Many years,
Neil
"One day all our ethnic traits ... will have disappeared. Time itself is seeing to this. And so we can not think of our communities as ethnic parishes, ... unless we wish to assure the death of our community."
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Deacon Jon,
Absolutely extraordinary!
Keep taking pics like this and you'll definitely be the most-featured photographer in the Directory.
Many years,
Neil I agree with Neil, Fr. Deacon Jon--take more and post them. Ever think of doing an informal type book of Greek Catholic churches in PA? I buy one!!
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Joined: Oct 2003
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Deacon Jon, They definitely look good on the directory entry. You mentioned that you are friends with Father Peter. He might want to put a bug in the ear of his eparchy's webmaster, since St John's in Hazleton is listed twice on the parish list at the eparchial website, but St Mary's isn't there at all! Ever think of doing an informal type book of Greek Catholic churches in PA? John, Don't encourage him to do a book too soon. Then, I'll have to get clearances from some publisher to use the photos in the directory. I've got a lot more parishes in PA to add to the directory (haven't even started the UGCC yet  ). Heck, I might even spring for his next roll of film  (oh wait, people hardly ever use that stuff any more - whew, don't have to budget that). Many years, Neil
"One day all our ethnic traits ... will have disappeared. Time itself is seeing to this. And so we can not think of our communities as ethnic parishes, ... unless we wish to assure the death of our community."
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Glorious! As God intended! I was in Hazleton in October and visited the nearby St. John's which--finally--installed a magnificent iconscreen. I did not know that St. Mary's had undertaken its own restoration. This historically Slavic coal town with three Greek Catholic churches--two Rusyn and one Ukrainian--is changing. It now has a growing Hispanic community and a population of first-generation Romanians with their own Romanian Orthodox church. Jack Palance, who was baptized in Hazleton's St. Michael's Ukrainian Church, must be smiling!
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