MORGANTOWN — This year marks the centennial celebration of St. Mary’s Byzantine Church on Listravia Avenue. During the turn of the century, an influx of Eastern European immigrants arrived in the United States and with that came a need for Catholic churches in the area.
In 1918, St. Mary’s came to life, and remains at the church where services are held today. Theresa Glagola has lived next to and attended the church all her life. As she points out, Glagola can literally walk out her front door and be in the church parking lot in no time. She also credits relatives of her own with the founding of the church.
Byzantine Catholicism differs from Roman Catholicism in that it’s heavily influenced by Eastern Europeans. The services are structured differently, said Matthew Toth, a church member.
“Most of the service, the priest’s back is to everybody. It’s more of a symbolic gesture of leading the flock. The singing is different, it’s more of a chanting and the Byzantine Catholic churches, they’re ornate,” he said.
The church’s interior is heavily decorated with hand-painted icons. Ellen McCabe told of a priest’s mother who painted the picture of Jesus on the ceiling, using a scaffold. Candles burn on the alter seven days a week.
McCabe also paints icons and working on some guardian angels for her grandchildren. She said it’s a lot of work, but, once finished, it comes with a great sense of accomplishment.
Glagola said she remembers when Listravia was the main road through the area. When
I-79 expanded in the ’70s, it took out houses as well as property owned by the church. This forced parish members to relocate. Within the last three years, the church had received an addition, which McCabe said is an improvement.
Glagola has been attending the church for around 80 years, and McCabe is also a longtime member. Sharon Toth has been attending since 1970 — her son is also a lifelong member. With lifetimes spent between them at church, they share many fond memories.
Sharon talked about the blessings of the Easter baskets, which she always thought of as special. The priest blesses the baskets, and the afterward the congregation eats the food in celebration.
Also years ago, Glagola said on Christmas Eve carolers from the church would go door to door and sing Christmas carols after Christmas Eve supper.
The Divine Liturgy was also once printed in both Slavic and English, but that has gone away as well.
Though the congregation has become a bit smaller through the years, the members of the church hope to see the church keep going into the next century. Right now, they are between priests. They hope to get a permanent one in the near future.
“We’re just hoping, as long as in our lifetime, we still have a priest,” said McCabe.
Glagola said though they have seen Roman Catholics convert to the Byzantine tradition, there aren’t many who grew up in the church remaining. There are only two Byzantine churches in West Virginia, with the other in Weirton.
Around 35 families currently attend church at St. Mary’s. McCabe also said many college students attend church. The Divine Liturgy continues to be said at 10?30 a.m. every Sunday.
