Welcome to St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church. We are a parish of the American Carpatho-Russian Diocese in the USA. Our bishop is, His Eminence, Metropolitan Gregory of Nysaa. Our diocese is under the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

• We are a friendly and welcoming community of believers who worship our Lord, Jesus Christ, united in the Holy Spirit, to the glory of God the Father.
• We are a sacramental community centered on the Holy Eucharist.
• We are a praying community, for each other and for the world.
• We are a fellowship community, enjoying each other's company in Christian love and work.
• We are a life-long learning community knowing that we can discover more, every day about our life in Christ.
• We are a multi-ethnic, multi-racial parish welcoming everyone seeking the fullness of the Christian Faith.
• We are a sacrifical giving community, offering our gifts of time, talent and treasure for the building up of the Body of Christ here in East Pittsburgh, our diocese and the Orthodox world.
• We are a giving parish to others in need by collecting funds and other gifts regularly so that we can help the least of the brethren in our area.
• You are invited and most welcome to be part of our community of faith. Come and see!

St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church of East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was founded in 1916; organized and chartered in March 1917; by hard working people (mostly immigrants) who settled in towns near local factories and steel mills; specifically Westinghouse Electric Corporation and United States Steel.  The surrounding area is known as the Turtle Creek Valley.  Initially, church services were held in a house in Oak Hill.  As the parish grew, it next moved to a house on nearby Beech Street.  Land was purchased on Cable Avenue and a beautiful edifice was built in 1919 on a hill overlooking the valley.   

The first pastor was Reverend Stephen Terebesey, who, after arriving from Europe, died within two weeks of his pastorate. The following clergy served the parish: Reverends Stephen Terebesey 1917; Constantine Roskovich 1920; Cornilius Launsu 1920; Alex Pokarovich 1921; John Szabo 1921; Peter Dolinay 1925; John Yanchisin 1927; Basil Kurutz 1929; John Kozakevich 1934; Andrew Kertis 1935; Michael Kanuck 1936; Andrew Pankov 1937; Vicholas Navrocky 1939; Max Marushchak 1940; George Matey 1945; Basil Zeleniak 1955; John Hutnyan 1956; Joseph Lickwar 1971; John R. Fedornock 1974; Jeffrey Zias 2001; Jonathan Tobias 2004; Joseph Fester 2018; Robert Prepelka 2022 (interim priest); and Robert Teklinski (current priest).

The first parish council president was George Waszo. Others to serve as parish council president include John Stagon Sr., George Sterchak, Joseph Sentipal, John Fetzko, John Karman, Andrew Hospodar, Michael Sabo, Michael Sofelkanik, Steve Babich, Victor Sofelkanik, John Stagon Jr., Wallace Perkins, John Maskaly, Robert Perevuznik Jr., and presently, Ronald Kitsko.

The early 1920's were troubled years. Which direction should they go, under Rome, or embrace the Orthodox Faith? Constant eruptions proceeded for years within St. John's. Finally, in 1925, the U.S. Court’s decision was that St. John's Congregation was not chartered under Rome, and was free to embrace the Orthodox Faith. A new beginning. The fresh breath of the Holy Spirit settled within. A dedicated people to the Lord has arisen.

Improvements were constant under the direction of President Steve Babich, and his right hand man, Serge Rosco, who with a labor of love, gave freely of their time, talents, hard work and donations. In 1955 a new spacious, beautiful parish home was built next to and connected to the Church. A fire in 1956 destroyed the sanctuary, altar, iconostasis and floor. With the guidance of Father John Hutnyan, the whole interior of the church was renovated. On Sunday, October 4, 1959, Bishop Orestes blessed the new interior, a new marble altar, new iconostasis, chandelier, and new pews. A new heating system was also installed. During the 1960’s, the church stained glass windows were installed and sponsored by numerous parish families. Around the same time, the domes were refinished with gold leaf. On Sunday, October 26, 1969, St. John's celebrated its 50th anniversary with Bishop Orestes, celebrant. 

Enhancements to the parish continued under the direction of president Victor Sofelkanik. In 1978 the church hall, kitchen and bathrooms were completely renovated, while parking lots were paved. President Wallace Perkins and officers made improvements on the exterior of the church. Church properties were landscaped, the church interior was painted and decorated, and the Altar Society donated wall to wall carpeting throughout the church. 

In the 2000’s under the leadership of president Robert Perevuznik Jr., the parish council installed air conditioning in the church and church hall, replaced wall to wall carpeting in the church and choir loft, undertook and completed a beautiful painting project that changed the look of the church interior, and installed hardwood flooring around the altar. New and traditionally designed iconography was added to the choir loft balcony, parts of the iconostasis, and behind the altar. The parish home was also renovated with painting of the ceiling and walls, installation of new windows, and resurfacing the hardwood floors throughout the entire home. Exterior landscaping of the parish grounds continued as well. On November 17, 2019, St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church celebrated its 100th anniversary with Metropolitan Gregory, celebrant. 

More recently, president Ron Kitsko and the parish council had the main parking lot resurfaced, added upgrades to the church and parish home security systems, and had a new retaining wall, sidewalks, and fencing installed around a portion of the church property. Organizations within the church are the Ladies Altar Society (started in 1930), Church School and PTA, and a parish choir presently under the direction of Reader Justin Rosco. The Cantor is Archon and  Subdeacon Gary Grysiak. He has been Cantor since 1965 and in 1987, was joined by his wife, Janet. There are three vocations to the Holy Priesthood from St. John's: + Protopresbyter Michael S. Rosco (of blessed memory), Very Rev. John P. Hutnyan, and Father Matthew Stagon.

Our congregation has been blessed over the years with many dedicated priests, Panis, church officers, and parishioners.  Eternal memory to those who sacrificed greatly for the establishment and maintenance of our church.  We thank God for our many blessings and ask Him to inspire new vocations to the priesthood so that our spiritual journey and our service to God and our Diocese may continue for many years. 

Masking is OPTIONAL at this time. 

Daily Readings and Lives of Saints

The ACROD website has a podcast on the lives of the Saints of Carptho-Rus.  Follow the link below to read about their lives.

https://www.acrod.org/prayercorner/lives-of-saints-podcasts/