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.

Founded in 1919, our parish is celebrating its 100th Anniversary this year.

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!

This weekend we will celebrate the Uncovering of the Relics of St Seraphim of Sarov (1903). By the Grace of God, we will have a portion of the Relics of St. Seraphim for veneration at St. John's. Come and pray with us.

Holy Father Seraphim, Pray to God for Us!

As we continue to be guided by the CDC through the COVID - 19 pandemic, we are now at the stage of voluntary masking indoors. It is the consensus of the parish council that we can now make mask wearing voluntary at church services, Fellowship Hour and other church activities. We are mindful that some would still feel more comfortable continuing to wear their masks. Also, for those who have not yet been able to be vaccinated, the parish council thinks that wearing a mask should continue.
As of June 1, 2021, the following will take effect:

Mask wearing will be voluntary.
Individuals may continue to wear a mask if preferred, whatever the reason.
Per current CDC guidance, if you are not fully vaccinated, you are strongly encouraged to keep taking all precautions, including wearing a face mask and social distancing.

Have You Been Fully Vaccinated?
In general, people are considered fully vaccinated:
2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine

If you don’t meet these requirements, regardless of your age, you are NOT fully vaccinated. Keep taking all precautions until you are fully vaccinated.

MASKS ARE STILL REQUIRED, BUT THERE ARE NO LONGER TWO WORSHIP GROUPS. 

On Sunday, February 27th Thomas Cunningham was received as a Catechumen as he prepared to be received into the Orthodox Church on Holy Saturday.

UPCOMING SERVICES

SUNDAY, MAY 9, 2021 - THOMAS SUNDAY - DIVINE LITURGY 9AM

Grave blessings at William Penn and Monogahela Cemeteries (weather permitting)

SATURDAY, MAY 15, 2021 - GREAT VESPERS - 5PM

SUNDAY, MAY 16, 2021 - MYRRH BEARING WOMEN SUNDAY - DIVINE LITURGY 9AM

Grave blessings at additional cemeteries (weather permitting)

MAY 22, 2021 - GREAT VESPERS - 5pm

MAY 23, 2021 - SUNDAY OF THE PARALYTIC - DIVINE LITURGY 9AM

MAY 23, 2021 - WEDDING OF EVONNE VOIJNOVICH AND THOMAS CUNNINGHAM - 2PM

MAY 24, 2021 - STS CYRIL AND METHODIUS - DIVINE LITURGY- 9AM

MAY 26, 2021 - MID PENTECOST - DIVINE LITURGY - 9AM

MAY 29, 2021 - GREAT VESPERS - 5PM

MAY 30, 2021 - SUNDAY OF THE SAMARITAN WOMAN - DIVINE LITURGY - 9AM

APRIL 25, 2021 - PALM SUNDAY

MAY 2, 2021 - PASCHA

MAY 9, 2021 - THOMAS SUNDAY

Daily Readings and Lives of Saints

Lastest Icons in progress update

THANKS TO OUR PARISH PTA AND SEAN NELIS FOR THEIR DONATIONS..........

We have a new Church School Program for 2020. Not only will these materials be used for our Church School Students but is can also be used for a Church-wide program for adults.

The materials are produced by Orthodoxjourneys. Weekly study units will be used covering a 45 week program. 

Given the uncertaintly caused by the pandemic, our new materials can be used for in-person, home-study, or on-line presentation. This flexibility will help us do the best we can under the present circumstances.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Fr. Joseph.

Many thanks to Anna Margaret Costas for her generous donation of the icons of the 4 Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John which now grace the Royal Doors. May they be a fitting remembrance for her family's loved ones.

Dear Friends,

During these days of self-isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are opportunities for us to follow the daily services of the Church, especially during Great Lent since communal gatherings in the State of Pennsylvania are being limited to 10 or less.

One site AGES has a complete listing of all daily services. Although the daily Menion is based on the New Calendar, that is a minor issue when the site has so much too offer.

If you would like to take the time during these days of self-isolation so we can all do our part to "flatten the curve" of the outbreak, I encourage all of you to take advange of the AGES Digital Chant Stand.

God bless and Stay Safe,

Fr Joseph

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

https://www.acrod.org/readingroom/patristics/carpathian-saints

Our Continuing Christian Education classes will resume on September 18 at 7pm. We will study Evening Worship in the Orthodox Church. Bring a friend. 

The Rite of Forgiveness is one of the most important and powerful acts we can do as we begin our journey to Pascha during the Great Fast.

The Canon of St Andrew of Crete will be offered Monday-Thursday at 7pm. This coming Friday at 7pm the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts will be celebrated.

Arrange your schedules to participate in as many services during the first week of Lent as possible.

February marked a busy month at St. John’s. We started our church renovation project with repairing cracks and compromised plaster and new paint in the church’s interior, choir loft, stairs and lower entry level. 

Two beautiful baby boys were baptized, Brogan Palat and Zechariah Kalaluhi. 

We made pirohi for our Lenten food sale.

Here are some pictures that can tell the story of the month!

On Sunday, February 17th, our Pittsburgh Deanery Dean, Father Robert Prepelka visited St. John's and concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with Father Joseph. Father Robert also led the Panahida for the repose of the soul of founding hierarch of the ACROD, Metropolitan Orestes (Chornok) +1977. May His Memory Be Eternal!

In our efforts to reach out to those searching for the Orthodox Church and Faith, we have started a new Facebook page. If you have Facebook, please go to stjohneastpitt and "Like" and follow our page. Also, please share the page with your Facebook friends, so they can share it with their friends. That is how we can literally reach thousands of people.