Fr. John Parker was ordained to the holy priesthood by Archbishop Melchisedek on June 22nd, 2019, at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Donora, PA. A convert to the Orthodox faith, Fr. John discovered the Church while living in his hometown of Colorado Springs. After studying English literature and philosophy in his undergraduate, Fr. John later received a blessing to pursue a Masters of Divinity degree at St. Tikhon's Seminary in South Canaan, PA. He also completed a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education alongside the main program. While studying there he met his wife, Matushka Nadia, whose brother was also attending seminary at the time. They married just prior to the final year of study at St. Tikhon's, and moved to their first parish assignment at St. Nicholas in Donora just after graduation. 

After 3 blessed years at St. Nicholas, Fr. John was reassigned to St. John the Baptist in New Kensington in May of 2022. Since ordination God has blessed Fr. John & Matushka with three beautiful young children. Fr. John enjoys fiction reading, singing, and the occasional hike.

I have been a member of St John's since birth, but did not attend from my mid-teens to my early 30's coming back once our children came along. My wife Linda and I decided  besides at home that having the children involved in a religious environment, with all the positive morals and ethics would be very good for them. I have been on the Church Council for quite some time,  getting involved at the urging of Father Paul, I suppose he saw some skills in me that he felt would be valuable to our Parish as a whole.

I have been an Orthodox Christian my entire life.  I was baptized and married in the original St. John’s Church when it was located on Fourth Avenue in Arnold.  More than twenty years ago I was approached by Father Paul Ziatyk and a council member inquiring if I was interested in serving on the church council.

As my Grandfather, Harry Fritzky, and Aunt, Olga Fritzky, had been instrumental in the founding, preservation and benefaction of the church, I decided to run for council.  I wanted to continue to honor their service with service of my own through helping the church thrive both liturgically and financially. I am now in my 86th year as a member of St. John’s parish.

My name is Noah Nevitt. I am a convert, who’s been attending St Johns since 2022. When my first child was on the way, I saw much anger in myself and a preoccupation with political happenings that only worsened my state. Seeking to be formed by Christ into a man worth being called a father, I visited St John’s and instantly fell in love. The beauty of the parish and the love of the people confirmed to me that I had found my true home. As a member of the council, I seek to help foster those aspects, ensure a welcoming experience for newcomers, and develop community ministries.

Hello, my name is John (R. J.) Hughes. I’ve been a member of St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church for two years now. My family and I were welcomed into the Orthodox Church three and a half years ago in a parish in Charleston, SC before we moved back to the Pittsburgh area to be closer to family. My wife, Mary (Jill), and children Theodora (Jemma), Seraphim (Henry), and Tatiana (Josephine) live in Cabot.

I sought the Orthodox Church for the same reason many others of my generation have connected themselves to Her - we have found the True Faith and the fullest expression of worship here. All other expressions of the Christian faith fall short of what the Holy Orthodox Church offers to God in Her worship. 

St. John the Baptist in New Kensington is no exception to this fullness of worship. She offers a deep, liturgical experience of God and the heavenly hosts that has helped strengthen our parish community these last few years. As a council member of our parish, it is my goal to keep the important things important; namely worshipping Christ our Savior in the liturgical prescription of the Holy Orthodox Church and inviting people in our community to participate in that worship. 

Hello, my name is Mary Hughes. My family and I have been part of St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church for two years. We were welcomed into the Orthodox Church three and a half years ago at a parish in Charleston, SC, before moving back to the Pittsburgh area to be closer to family. My husband, John (R.J.), and our children Theodora (Jemma), Seraphim (Henry), and Tatiana (Josephine) live in Cabot.

I serve our parish as the Social Media Manager, helping to share the life of our church and the beauty of the Orthodox faith with our local community and beyond. If you see a lady balancing a phone and a baby while singing in the choir, that’s probably me! My goal is to joyfully share the Truth of Christ and support our parish’s mission of evangelism by growing our presence online and inviting others to encounter the fullness of the faith here at St. John’s.