Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church is a vibrant and welcoming parish rooted in the rich spiritual heritage of the Byzantine (Greek) Catholic tradition. As part of the worldwide Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, we celebrate the Divine Liturgy and the Sacraments according to the ancient customs of the Christian East—rich in symbolism, beauty, and reverence.
We are proudly in full communion with the Holy See of Rome, faithfully united with the Pope, just as our Church has been since the Union of Brest in 1596 and reaffirmed by Pope Leo XIII. Our liturgical life and theology reflect the fullness of Eastern Christian spirituality while standing together with the universal Catholic Church.
Located in Carnegie, Pennsylvania—just minutes from downtown Pittsburgh—our parish is a spiritual home for people of all backgrounds and walks of life. Whether you are Ukrainian by heritage, exploring the Eastern Catholic faith, returning to the Church, or simply seeking a place to encounter God more deeply, you are truly welcome here.
Come and experience the beauty of Byzantine worship, the warmth of our community, and the timeless truth of the Gospel alive in our tradition.
By Fr. Thomas Hopko
As we have already seen, the Eucharistic Divine Liturgy is not celebrated in the Orthodox Church on Lenten weekdays. To help the faithful sustain their Lenten effort through Holy Communion, the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is served. This service is ancient; it is mentioned explicitly in seventh-century canons, which suggests it had developed long before then.
“On all days of the holy fast of Lent, except on the Sabbath, the Lord’s Day, and the holy day of the Annunciation, the Liturgy of the Presanctified is to be served” (Canon 52, Quinisext, 692). The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is an evening service—solemn Lenten Vespers with the distribution of Holy Communion added. There is no consecration of the Eucharistic gifts at this liturgy; Communion is given from the gifts sanctified at the previous Sunday Divine Liturgy (unless the fast of the Annunciation intervenes). Hence the name “Presanctified.”
The Presanctified Liturgy is typically served on Wednesday and Friday evenings, though some parishes keep only one of those days. It comes at the end of a day of spiritual preparation and (traditionally) total abstinence, those who cannot fully fast because of weakness or work may eat a light Lenten meal early in the morning. During the psalms of Vespers, the Presanctified Gifts are prepared and transferred from the altar table, where they have been reserved since Sunday, to the table of oblation. After the evening hymn, readings from Genesis and Proverbs are appointed; between them the celebrant blesses the kneeling congregation with a lighted candle, saying, “The Light of Christ illumines all,” signifying that wisdom is given by Christ in the Church through the Scriptures and sacraments. This blessing was once directed especially to the catechumens preparing for baptism at Pascha, who remained only until the Communion of the faithful. After the readings, Psalm 141 is solemnly sung and incensed; then, after the litanies (including those where catechumens were formerly dismissed), the Presanctified Gifts are carried to the altar in a solemn, silent procession. The Entrance hymn asks the faithful to pray, “Now the heavenly powers do minister invisibly with us. For behold the King of Glory enters. Behold the mystical sacrifice, all fulfilled, is ushered in. Let us with faith and love draw near that we may be partakers of everlasting life. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.” After the litany and prayers, the Our Father is sung and the faithful receive Holy Communion to the verses from Psalm 34: “O taste and see how good is the Lord. Alleluia.” Post-Communion hymns follow, and the faithful depart with a prayer that God—who “has brought us to these all-holy days for the cleansing of carnal passions”—will bless us “to fight the good fight, to accomplish the course of the fast, and to attain unto and adore the holy resurrection” of Christ. The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is traditionally associated with the sixth-century Pope St. Gregory of Rome, though the service in its present form is clearly a liturgical creation of Christian Byzantium.