COVID-19 COMMUNICATIONS
This developing situation provides us with a challenge to minister. As events develop in our communities, we will be looking for ways to serve those who have been affected by the Coronavirus. Please take a few moments to take our church survey. This survey will help us address the needs of all our parishioners and be a presence of hope and peace. We are committed to identifying any needs that may arise and addressing them quickly.
A Message from Father Michael
Please read this important information on COVID-19 guidelines from the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh, including information on limited attendance for attending church in person.
Church Reservation Request
With the change of Allegheny County to Yellow Phase for COVID-19 guidelines, some restrictions on worship have been loosened. Services may resume with up to 25 persons (including the priest) in any single gathering space. In order to facilitate this, advance
reservations are required. It will most likely mean you will not be able to attend every service during this phase. After being absent from church for so long, you may desire in your heart to attend every one, so your understanding and support of your parish leadership and your respect for the needs of your brothers and sisters in Christ will be greatly appreciated in this difficult task.
To request access to a church service, please click the button below. Also, please read “The Road Ahead” for official guidelines on how to attend church.
Our Church offices continue to remain open. Contact information is below. If you need to be at the Church for any reason, please call ahead. We are always available through phone and email. Pastoral visits will be limited to emergencies only.
Parish office
Nena Jovonovich
Administrative Assistant/Secretary
123 Gilkeson Rd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15228
holycrosspit@mail.goarch.org
412-833-3355
Fr. Michael H. Kallaur, Economos
Proistamenos
mhkallaur@gmail.com
412-443-5874
Emmanuel Maginas, M.Div.
Pastoral Assistant
emmanuelmaginas@gmail.com
(724) 709-9145
Stephanie Kladakis Myers, Ph.D.
Parish Council President
pcpresident@holycrosspgh.org
(412) 221-1848
WAYS TO PARTICIPATE WITH THE CHURCH
Watch the Church Livestream
Most services are livestreamed on our church website. For a larger view of the video and the current schedule, click here.
Contact the Church
If you’re looking for guidance or information, we’re here to help.
Fr. Michael H. Kallaur, Economos
Email: mhkallaur@gmail.com
412-443-5874
Emmanuel Maginas, Pastoral Assistant
Email: emmanuelmaginas@gmail.com
724-709-9145
Parish Office
Nena Jovonovich
Administrative Assistant/Secretary
123 Gilkeson Rd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15228
holycrosspit@mail.goarch.org
412-833-3355
Stewardship and Donation Information
If you are able to continue to support Holy Cross financially in these difficult times, please mail in your check into the parish office at 123 Gilkeson Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15228 or take advantage of our on-line stewardship platform (link below) where you can make contributions to a variety of our funds by check (ACH from your checking account) or by Credit Card. If you have any questions, please contact our stewardship chair Konrad Mayr: pcvicepresident@holycrosspgh.org or mayr.konrad@me.com. You also may call / text Konrad at (412) 877-7780.
Light a Candle at the Church
You can now request a candle to be lit with a prayer at the church. Click the button below to begin the submission process.
STAY CONNECTED WITH THE LATEST INFORMATION FROM HOLY CROSS
Sign Up for the Parish Email Blast
If you’re not already receiving emails from the church, click below to add your email to the list.
Join the Holy Cross Parish Updates Facebook Group
We are sharing information and concerns about the church on our private Facebook group. Click below to join.
Check the Sunday Bulletin
The church office is still producing a Sunday bulletin with essential information. You can download each week’s on the Sunday Bulletin page.
Online Chapel
Saints, feasts, readings and more from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
7th Wednesday after Pascha
Saints' Feast
Visit the Online Chapel for more daily readings, hymns, a monthly calendar of saints and feasts, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the church open?
The directive from Metropolitan SAVAS stated that parishioners are directed to participate via the internet, with access to the church limited to 25 people per service. These 25 people must have a reservation to attend. Please visit the reservation page for more information. We ask your help in passing along this information to your friends and family which may not receive our emails.
Are church services continuing on a regular basis?
Church services may continue as scheduled within our parishes, but the parishioners are directed to participate via the internet. A minimum compliment should be present at the parish (no more than 5 persons including the priest, all of whom should be physically healthy and at low risk for the disease, who will participate at the invitation of the priest). Additionally, up to 25 people may attend under the Yellow Phase guidelines- for more information, please visit our reservation page.
If we can't physically be in church, how can we participate in services?
Most services at the church will be viewable via the church live stream. The church live stream does not need any special access to use it, and there is a schedule below the livestream with links to handouts to follow along. Questions? Call the church office at 412-833-3355. You can access the livestream at https://www.holycrosspgh.org/church-live-stream.
Is the church office open?
Our Church offices remain open, however, if you need to be at the Church for any reason, please call ahead. We are always available through phone and email.
What about groups, clubs, and other gatherings?
Due to the governor’s stay-at-home order extending until the end of April, all social activities and classes organized by the church will remain canceled until May 1st. We also wanted to inform you that the St. Photios Banquet, scheduled for May 2, has been canceled.
Will there still be pastoral visits?
Pastoral visits will be limited to emergencies only.
How will funerals be handled?
In the event of the passing into eternal life of one of the faithful, the funeral may be scheduled at the parish, but should only be attended by the family of the deceased. If the parish has the ability to live-stream services, then the family may request the streaming of the funeral. Following the internment, there should be no makaria offered, and the family can be encouraged to host such a gathering after the current restrictions are lifted. In the week after the funeral, a Trisagion service may be appended to the end of one of the services within the parish to offer the community’s prayer for the deceased.
Will there still be a Greek food festival?
As anticipated, our food festival will be postponed. The food festival committee and parish council are discussing alternative dates and ideas regarding modifications to the festival. Although modifications to the festival are expected, we anticipate developing a plan to bring our parish together once the social distancing restrictions have lessened.
RESOURCES
This developing situation provides us with a challenge to minister. As events develop in our communities, we will be looking for ways to serve those who have been effected by the Coronavirus. If you have suggestions or ideas of how the Church might help, please share them by calling the church office at 412-833-3355.
If you are in need of help or guidance, please call the church office at 412-833-3355.