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St. Michaels Hall at 834 E. Exchange St, Akron, OH 44306 US - Learn more About Us
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WELCOME TO ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL BYZANTING CATHOLIC CHURCH
AS EARLY AS 1902 EASTERN CATHOLICS WERE BEGINNING TO SETTLE IN THE EAST AKRON AREA. IT WAS THROUGH THE UNTIRING EFFORTS OF THESE EARLY FAMILIES THAT ST MICHAELS BYZANTINE CATHOLIC CHURCH WAS ESTABLISHED.
A SMALL WOODEN CHURCH WAS BUILT ON ACKLEY STREET IN 1911. HOWEVER DURING THE EARLY HISTORY OF ST MICHAELS BYZANTINE, MANY ORTHODOX IMMIGRANTS HAD NO CHURCH OF THEIR OWN, WORSHIPED TOGETHER WITH THE BYZANTINE CATHOLICS. BETWEEN 1902 AND 1916 THERE HAD BEEN AN INCREASE IN ORTHODOX FAMILIES, AND THEY WANTED ST. MICHEALS BYZANTINE TO BE ADMINISTERED BY AN ORTHODOX PRIEST WHILE BYZANTINE CATHOLICS DESIRED TO REMAIN IN UNION WITH ROME.
IN MAY 1916 A COURT DECISION ESTABLISHED ST. MICHAELS BYZANTINE CATHOLIC CHURCH. THE CHURCH WAS RE-BLESSED AND RE-DEDICATED ON MAY 24, 1916 TO OUR PATRON ST. MICHAEL, AND THE FIRST ASSIGNED PASTOR, FATHER STEFAN MALENIAK, TOOK OVER IN DECEMBER. ST. MICHAEL'S HAD TWO MORE ADMINISTRATORS BEFORE FATHER JOSEPH SHAKALEY BECAME PASTOR IN 1925. HE LED THE PARISH IN ITS RAPID GROWTH FOR SIX YEARS. DURING HIS PASTORATE A CHOIR WAS ADDED AND TWO LITURGIES WERE CELEBRATED ON SUNDAYS TO ACCOMMODATE THE MANY PARISHIONERS. HE ALSO PURCHASED TWELVE ACRES OF LAND IN MOGADORE FOR A CEMETERY AND SECURED NEW LOTS ON CROUSE STREET. A BASEMENT CHURCH AND PARISH HOUSE ON CROUSE ST WERE COMPLETED AND DEDICATED ON LABOR DAY 1930 DURING FATHER SHAKALEYS ADMINISTRATION.
FATHER EUGENE BERECZKY SUCCEEDED FATHER SHAKALEY. HE LABORED UNDER GREAT DIFFICULTIES TRYING TO MEET FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION. FATHER MILAN HRANILOVICH BECAME PASTER OF ST MICHAEL BYZANTINE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN DECEMBER 1933. THE PARISH WAS CONFRONTED WITH MANY FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS.IT WAS AT THIS TIME THE PARISH CHANGED TO THE GREGORIAN CALENDER, WHICH CAUSED A SERIOUS DIVISION AND A NUMBER OF FAMILIES LEFT THE CHURCH. HOWEVER, AFTER EIGHT YEARS OF FR MILANS PRUDENT ADMINISTRATION AND GUIDANCE, THE CHURCH DEBT WAS LIQUIDATED, EXTENSIVE REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE RECTORY AND THE PRESENT CHURCH ON CROUSE ST WAS COMPLETED. FATHER HRANILOVICH LABORED UNTIRINGLY AND FAITHFULLY AT ST MICHAEL BYZANTINE CATHOLIC CHURCH FOR 24 YEARS UNTIL HIS DEATH ON MAY 16, 1957.
FATHER EMIL MOSKVA BECAME PASTOR AND CONTINUED THE WORK OF HIS PREDECESSORS BY INAUGURATING AN EXTENSIVE EXPANSION PROGRAM. DURING HIS FIRST NINE YEARS AS PASTOR HE PURCHASED PROPERTIES ON CROUSE AND E. EXCHANGE STREETS TO ACCOMMODATE PARKING AND THE EXPANSION. IN 1968 THROUGH THE HARD WORK AND GIVING OF THE FAMILIES OF ST. MICHAELS A SOCIAL CENTER, WHICH WAS ALSO USED AS A SCHOOL FOR THE 134 CHILDREN ENROLLED IN RELIGION CLASSES AND DEDICATED ON APRIL 27, 1969. OVER THE YEARS THE PARISH CENTER HAS SEEN MANY CHANGES AND HAD MANY UPDATES DONE.
IN THE EARLY 1970'S THE FIRST ICON SCREEN WAS INSTALLED IN THE CHURCH. IN 1980 A COMPLETE RENOVATION OF THE CHURCH WAS BEGUN BY FATHER JOSEPH POHORLAK AND COMPLETED UNDER THE PASTORATE OF FATHER MICHAEL HAYDUK. ON NOVEMBER 1, 1981 THE PARISH CELEBRATED WITH THE BLESSING AND REDEDICATION OF THE NEWLY RENOVATED CHURCH AS WELL AS THE MORTGAGE BURNING CEREMONY FOR THE PARISH CENTER.
ST. MICHAELS BYZANTINE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS STILL COMRISED OF DEDICATED AND HARD WORKING PARISHIONERS, WHO ASK GOD'S BLESSINGS THAT THEY MAY CONTINUE TO GROW IN FAITH AND LOVE.
