St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church, Wilkes-Barre

09/06/2026

09/01/2026

Today, September 1, the Byzantine Catholic Church begins a new liturgical year.

The Byzantine liturgical year is beautifully guided by the life of the Theotokos, the Mother of God. We celebrate her Nativity on September 8 and her Dormition on August 15. In this way, the liturgical year begins just before her birth and ends just after her Dormition.

The Theotokos is revealed to us as a guide. In many icons, she is shown pointing toward her Son, Our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ. Her whole life directs us toward Him.

As we enter this new liturgical year, may we entrust ourselves to the guidance and intercession of the Theotokos. May she lead us through the feasts and fasts, through times of joy and times of trial, and always draw us closer to her Son.

08/25/2026

Our parish community of St. John's and St. Mary's would like to wish Father Mykhaylo many blessed years! and God's blessing on the occasion of his 25th Anniversary of priestly ordination!

To mark the special anniversary, our community came together in prayer on Sunday, July 26 for the Divine Liturgy of Thanksgiving celebrated by Father Mykhaylo. Most Reverend Kurt Burnette, Bishop of the Eparchy of Passaic presided. Very Rev. Michael J. Salnicky and Rev. Michael Kerestes also concelebrated the beautiful liturgy.

As a surprise, Father Mykhaylo was presented a proclamation in recognition of service and dedication to the community, issued by Mayor Carl Kuren of Wilkes-Barre Township and presented by parishioner Mary Polakoski.

The proclamation read:

”Reverend Michael Prodanets has been a steadfast shepherd to the community, dedicated to fostering spiritual growth and nurturing the Christian faith.” [...] ”on this 26th day of July, 2026, the Mayor of the Township of Wilkes-Barre, does hereby proclaim on behalf of all the peoples of the Township, with the expression of our deepest gratitude and admiration for Father Michael for his tireless efforts that have contributed to the development of faith-based initiatives, strengthening the bonds of fellowship within the parish and broader community, and cultivating an atmosphere of unity, compassion, and service among parishioners."

In His love for all people, Christ calls those he chooses to represent Him, anointing and conferring upon them the special graces of the Holy Spirit for service in the consecrated life of apostolic ministry; and in the same love He has for all, accompanies this calling with the peace and joy realized in being spiritually united in Christ.

We thank you, Father Mykhaylo, our spiritual father and shepherd, for preaching the Truth with the unending goal to bring souls to heaven, and acting in person of Christ to administer the mysteries of God in the Sacraments of the Church.

On this joyful occasion, our parish community congratulates you on 25 years as a priest! We pray that our Lord continues to bless and protect you, and your God-loving family, and grant you peace, honor, health and many days in your ministry to the glory of God.

May God grant you many blessed years!
Многая і благая літа!

08/22/2026

Today at St. Ann's in Harrisburg... go for Vespers, stay for the holubky!

Our Slavic-American festival is less than a month away! Mark your calendars!

08/22/2026

SCHEDULE OF DIVINE SERVICES

Come & See!

08/14/2026

FEAST OF THE DORMITION ("FALLING ASLEEP") OF THE THEOTOKOS AND EVER-VIRGIN MARY | MAJOR HOLY DAY

Liturgy today, Friday, August 14 at 6:00pm at St. Mary Pokrova Byzantine Catholic Church, Kingston. Also at 6:00pm at St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church, Wilkes-Barre.

THE DORMITION OF THE THEOTOKOS is the second-oldest holy day commemorating the Mother of God. According to the oldest tradition (4th century), the Virgin died on Mount Zion, in Jerusalem. The claim that she followed St John to Ephesus in Turkey and died there emerged later among Roman Catholics. The Church of Holy Zion was built over the location of the Dormition early before 417AD, destroyed by Persian invaders in 614, and eventually rebuilt as a Roman Catholic Abbey of the Benedictine Order early in the 20th century.

The blessing of herbs and flowers on this day probably originated as a blessing of the first olives of the season. It was expanded to include flowers and herbs used for medicinal purposes, especially needed in late summer when infections and fevers were worst. A later legend claims that, after her assumption into heaven, Mary’s tomb was found empty except for fragrant flowers, a symbol of her purity and incorruption.

Pope Pius XII defined the Assumption of the Virgin as infallible doctrine in 1950. The definition avoids stating explicitly that Mary actually died. The oldest traditions, as expressed in Byzantine liturgical hymns for the feast, clearly state that she did, in fact, experience a peaceful death. This silence about the death of the Virgin is the only difference between the Western “Assumption” and the Eastern “Dormition.” All agree that the Theotokos was taken in a glorified body to enjoy in advance the “resurrection of the dead” promised to us all on the last day.

08/13/2026

72nd ANNUAL HOLY DORMITION PILGRIMAGE

The popular Holy Dormition Pilgrimage has been held by the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate in easy-to-reach Sloatsburg, NY since 1954. It is always held on the weekend before the Feast of the Dormition (Assumption), August 15.

The pilgrimage runs Saturday, August 15 and Sunday, August 16. Saturday is Byzantine-Ruthenian day, and Sunday Ukrainian Catholic day.

08/12/2026

Set aside judgement on the jokes in this monologue, and instead focus judgment where it truly belongs—the evil-fueled obsession with enshrining Satan's sacrament of ab*rtion, treating a class of humans as disposable, and the continued moral freefall of a society that continues to rebell against God, His creation, and His authority.

As Christians, it is our calling not only to oppose society’s view on ab*rtion, but to manifest a profound love of, and gratitude for, God’s gift of life. If we reject that calling, we cannot call ourselves truly Christians.

08/08/2026

SCHEDULE OF DIVINE SERVICES

Come & See!