www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Photo Gallery St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church, Sheppton, PA

Here's some pictures of St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church in Sheppton, PA.

Any guess who the (famous) pastor was in the 1940's???

I attended Lenten Devotions sponsored by the local Holy Name Societies held here back in late February. There was a GREAT group of parishioners; it was wonderful to speak with them both about the history of their little slice of heaven and on a personal basis.

The people are very proud of their church building, and sang with much gusto during the service. This particular Sunday was the one where the Cross was adorned with red flowers and venerated - I'm drawing a blank on that day's name.

Scroll under the individual photos for commentary.

Enjoy!

Was it a priest who was born in Donora PA then later became a bishop and loved to deconstruct ikonostases? I'll give you three guesses and the first two don't count! It's a shame, as these icons are done in a folk style that one would find in Subcarpathian iconography.

X.B.! B.B.!

Ung

The inscription translitterated is:

CHRAM PR. BC. PRISNODIVI MARII - what is a shorted sentence for CHRAM PRESVJATOJ BOHORODICI PRISNODIVI MARII - in english Church of the Most Holy Mother of God (Theotokos) Mary.

Hope it helps

Daniel CERNY

Give that man a kewpie doll!

When I was speaking with some of the parishioners, who were MORE than welcoming, one lady mention that this priest "taught me catechism right in that corner back there" She said, "have you ever heard of him," to which I replied, "Of course, this is great history right here," and she responded, somewhat exasperated, "History!!! I lived it - that was my childhood!"

Interesting to me that our famous Donora-born prelate did not require the Donora parish to remove its iconostas in the 1950s. Go figure!

Does St. Mary's have a cemetary nearby. As I recall, the only two GC churches in Pennsylvania which have adjacent "chuchyards" (to use the Anglican term) are in Centralia and South Fork PA. The language inscriptions in the Centralia one are fascinating: Hungarian, Latin, Rusyn, Slavonic, Ukrainian, Slovak and perhaps more.

John,

Yes, St Mary's has a cemetery. But, to your other comment, there are almost 4 dozen Ruthenian parishes in PA with cemeteries - and close to 20 Ukrainian parishes as well.

Many years,

Neil

This "deconstructed iconostasis" design would work wonderfully with the Syrian and Indian Oriental Orthodox/Catholic altar style. The altar is freestanding enough to cense around, has two "exits", has two side altars -- we'd just need to build a tiered thronos for candles and it'd work wonderfully!

The first thing I thought of was Hagia Sophia, I belive the Iconstas (btw don't Greeks call it "Iconostasis"?) there back in the day looked something similar with pillars and being simple and such. Regardless I like it a lot.

Well, many have cemeteries but very few right next to the church like St. Michael's in South Fork PA and St. Mary's in Centralia PA. Do you know of others which have immediately adjoining cemeteries?

It is such a joy to see these wonderful churches that the people constructed for their communities. Realizing that their resources were few, the fact that they dedicated so much to their parish church is just jaw-dropping awe!

What year was it that this jewel was built?

Dr John

Also, what year was the iconostas "reconfigured?"

I believe the iconostas was built in 1908. BTW, Forum readers who are also baseball fans should note that St. Mary's was the home parish of Jim Honochick a Baseball Hall of Fame member and National League umpire in the 1950s. He called Game 7 of the 1955 Wold Series when the Brooklyn Dodgers finally smote (smited?) the Satanic New York Yankees.

Thanks John, but I meant what year was it deconstructed into it's present form from having 4 main icons with three doors to having two icons and ostensibly one big opening.

Ya know, it looks a lot like the "reconfigured" iconscreen in St Mary's in nearby Hazleton.