4200 Homestead-Duquesne Road, Munhall, PA 15120
412-461-1712
412-461-1712
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 Very Rev. Eugene P. Yackanich
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Our Heritage
In the latter part of the 1800's and early 1900's many emigrants from Hungary, especially the provinces of Ung, Borsod, and Zemplen came to the United States and settled along the banks of the Monongahela River in the Homestead area. In 1904, Hungarian Greek Catholics (now known as the Byzantine Rite) organized the St. Mary Sick and Benefit Society and a year later in 1905, the name was changed to St. Anthony Sick and Benefit Society of Homestead and Vicinity. The membership of 325 families and 650 singles voted to establish a church.
These Hungarian people, however, had a burning desire in their hearts to worship God in their native tongue and in their own nationality church. On May 4, 1905, a convention of Hungarians from all parts of the Monongahela Valley was called under the leadership of Rev. Andrew Hodobay, Apostolic Administrator and Visitator. Ecclesiastical approval was granted in 1907, after eighteen different delegations had appeared at the Chancery. The choice of our Patron Saint was named. St. Elias was a natural choice for our patron saint, as he had long been the patron of good crops among the Hungarian people of the soil. The ikon of St. Elias in front of the church calls all Christians to worship the one true God according to the Gospel preached by Christ and to be a Christian at all times without compromise. Due to the trend of the populace moving to the suburbs, the new parish site of thirteen acres of land on Homestead-Duquesne Road was purchased in 1961. The new site underwent development and Edward F. Horley was engaged as the architect and the plans for the new church, social hall, rectory and classrooms were developed. A culmination of dreams became reality on July 24, 1966, the new St. Elias Byzantine Catholic Church was dedicated with His Excellency, the Most Reverend Nicholas T. Elko, D.D. officiating.
From 1908 to 2007 the members of St. Elias Church were served by Rev. Julius Orosz, Rev. S. Roskovics, Rev. J. Kovalcsik, Rev. V. Kizak, Rev. E. Suba, Rev. N. Szabo, Rev. Basil Ivancso, Rev. Albert Gajdos, Rev. Valentine Orosz, Rev. George N. Vida, Rev. E. Lucas, Msgr. R. Balta, Rev. D. Valasek and Rev. Eugene Yackanich.
The history of the realization of our St. Elias Church would not be complete without some mention of the many hours of work and sacrifice of the parishoners in making St. Elias Church a reality as we commemorated the 100th Anniversary in 2007.
These Hungarian people, however, had a burning desire in their hearts to worship God in their native tongue and in their own nationality church. On May 4, 1905, a convention of Hungarians from all parts of the Monongahela Valley was called under the leadership of Rev. Andrew Hodobay, Apostolic Administrator and Visitator. Ecclesiastical approval was granted in 1907, after eighteen different delegations had appeared at the Chancery. The choice of our Patron Saint was named. St. Elias was a natural choice for our patron saint, as he had long been the patron of good crops among the Hungarian people of the soil. The ikon of St. Elias in front of the church calls all Christians to worship the one true God according to the Gospel preached by Christ and to be a Christian at all times without compromise. Due to the trend of the populace moving to the suburbs, the new parish site of thirteen acres of land on Homestead-Duquesne Road was purchased in 1961. The new site underwent development and Edward F. Horley was engaged as the architect and the plans for the new church, social hall, rectory and classrooms were developed. A culmination of dreams became reality on July 24, 1966, the new St. Elias Byzantine Catholic Church was dedicated with His Excellency, the Most Reverend Nicholas T. Elko, D.D. officiating.
From 1908 to 2007 the members of St. Elias Church were served by Rev. Julius Orosz, Rev. S. Roskovics, Rev. J. Kovalcsik, Rev. V. Kizak, Rev. E. Suba, Rev. N. Szabo, Rev. Basil Ivancso, Rev. Albert Gajdos, Rev. Valentine Orosz, Rev. George N. Vida, Rev. E. Lucas, Msgr. R. Balta, Rev. D. Valasek and Rev. Eugene Yackanich.
The history of the realization of our St. Elias Church would not be complete without some mention of the many hours of work and sacrifice of the parishoners in making St. Elias Church a reality as we commemorated the 100th Anniversary in 2007.
