Saint Michael’s Russian Church

Hidden in plain sight, Saint Michael’s Russian Church has a story waiting to be discovered. It’s a tale of resilience, faith, and a journey across continents. Saint Michael’s wasn’t always at its current location within the Church of St. Catherine of Siena on East 68th Street. Its roots are downtown, nestled in a “Gingerbread Gothic” building on Mulberry Street. This unique structure, originally built in 1859, later became Saint Michael’s Chapel. It eventually transformed into Saint Michael’s Russian Catholic Byzantine Church and then St. Michael’s Russian Catholic Church of the Byzantine Rite. Imagine, in 1935, Fryer Andrew Rogosh arrived in New York on Christmas Day. His mission was to establish a spiritual home for Russian Catholic émigrés who had sought refuge in the city after the turmoil in their homeland. In 1936, his efforts bore fruit with the opening of Saint Michael’s on Mulberry Street. This church became a beacon for the Russian-Byzantine Catholic community in the eastern United States. Saint Michael’s has always been more than just a place of worship. It represents a bridge between cultures and a testament to the enduring human spirit. It is a symbol of hope and a testament to the power of faith to unite people across borders and backgrounds. While the Mulberry Street location closed in 2019, the spirit of Saint Michael’s continues to thrive in its new home at St. Catherine of Siena. It still serves as a sanctuary for those seeking Christ in the rich tradition of the Russian Byzantine Catholic Church. Services are held regularly, including Great Vespers on Saturdays and Divine Liturgy on Sundays. Saint Michael’s warmly welcomes all who seek spiritual solace and community.