St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church
Also known as: St. Nicholas Greek Catholic Church
Why it's listed
Built of yellow brick between 1912 and 1918 on a level lot at the southern edge of Perryopolis, this Byzantine Catholic church has a cruciform plan, a semi-octagonal apse and three onion-domed towers clad in stainless steel since about 1960. The sanctuary is covered with icons and murals painted over several generations, including a Latin-style nave ceiling from the 1920s and an apse Resurrection mural from the 1960s by Hungarian iconographer Stephen Juharos. A Czechoslovakian crystal chandelier hangs over the sanctuary. The basement dining room and kitchen remain central to Rusin food traditions. The church is significant for its ethnic heritage and its typical regional Byzantine architecture. Rusin immigrants who worked in local mines and mills founded it, and it is linked to the 1907 Darr Mine disaster, which occurred on St. Nicholas Day. The nomination treats the building as one of the best-preserved examples of its type in Western Pennsylvania.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is significant for the ethnic heritage of its Rusin congregation and as one of several Byzantine Catholic churches founded in Fayette County by Rusin immigrants. Its architecture, including three onion-domed towers and a semi-octagonal apse, is presented as a well-preserved example of the Byzantine style built by Rusin immigrants in the region. Its icons and murals are said to reflect the community's growth and Orthodox and Latin roots.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 97001247, listed November 7, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 504 S. Liberty St., Perryopolis |
|---|---|
| County | Fayette County |
| Listed | November 7, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97001247 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1912-1947 |
| Architectural style | Byzantine Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | European, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The church is described as in active use as a living focal point of Rusin traditions, with a 1970s kitchen relocation and 1960s stainless steel dome cladding. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.08213, -79.75206 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 97001247.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7590814
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.