Welcome
St. Andrew the Apostle Byzantine Catholic Church was founded on November 23, 1975 to serve the spiritual needs of Byzantine Catholics in the North Hills of the greater Pittsburgh area. Father James Spontak was assigned by Metropolitan Stephen Kocisko to found this new mission, which began with 25 families. Our first home was on Babcock Boulevard near La Roche College in McCandless Township. Extensive remodeling and repair was done on our first home to properly prepare it for Byzantine worship.
On June 6, 1976 the mission was officially elevated to the status of parish. Organizations and committees were formed to promote growth and to examine the future needs of the new community. In April 1977, the parishioners were informed that the lease on their first church building had been terminated. Thus, the search for a permanent home began. One month later, the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh gave the young parish a 5.5 acre parcel of farm land in Pine Township on which to build a new church.
Groundbreaking for the new building took place at an outdoor Divine Liturgy on July 22, 1979. With the help of loans from the Knights of Columbus and St. George Church in Aliquippa, PA, the parish began construction of their new home in November of 1979. The first Divine Liturgy in the new edifice was celebrated on November 2, 1980, and the official dedication and blessing of the cornerstone was on June 13, 1982.
We celebrated our 50th anniversary in November, 2025 in the hope that God will grant us many more years.
We Believe
As Byzantine Catholics, we bring the unique spiritual richness of the ancient Eastern Christian Divine Liturgy to a church in full communion with the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church. We profess the Nicene Creed and live according to the teachings of Our Lord, His Apostles, and the Church Fathers.
We take Holy Communion and make the Sign of the Cross slightly differently from our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters, but we are welcomed and encouraged to share in each other's sacraments and holy mysteries.
Your First Visit
We're conveniently located in Pine Twp, between Pearce Mill Rd and Babcock Blvd, not far from Pine Richland High School.
Parking is easy and plentiful in the front or back of the church.
You will be greeted by a friendly person or two, or more.
You'll probably meet Deacon Larry and/or Fr Radko. They're both very nice, we promise.
We sing or chant almost our entire liturgy.
We often use incense in our blessings, and venerate holy icons.
Come and see.
Join Our Community
We are a welcoming and spiritual community. From young families to seniors, we celebrate the richness of our differences and the unity we find in our shared faith. Some of us are cradle Byzantine Catholics, some were raised Roman Catholic, some Protestant or any number of beliefs. We have come together as a family regardless of our different backgrounds. Come and be a part of our journey as we worship, learn, and serve together.
Trisagion
Discover St Andrew the Apostle's Byzantine Catholic community
Experience the warmth and spirit of St Andrew the Apostle's faith community. Take a glimpse into our services, events, and the sense of community that defines us. Whether you are new to the faith or seeking a spiritual home, we invite you to discover the joy of belonging to St Andrew's.