Cathedral of St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church

Proto-Cathedral of St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church
Proto-Cathedral of St. Mary
34°10′2.93″N 118°27′59.67″W / 34.1674806°N 118.4665750°W / 34.1674806; -118.4665750Coordinates: 34°10′2.93″N 118°27′59.67″W / 34.1674806°N 118.4665750°W / 34.1674806; -118.4665750
Location	Sherman Oaks, California
Country	United States of America
Denomination	Ruthenian Catholic Church
Website
History
Founded	1956
Dedicated	1961
Architecture
Status	Proto-cathedral
Administration
Metropolis	Byzantine Catholic Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh
Diocese	Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix

The Proto-Cathedral of St. Mary or Proto-Cathedral of St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church is a parish church and proto-cathedral of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix, serving the Ruthenian Eastern Catholic population of Los Angeles, California, United States. It was the first Byzantine church in California. It is located on Sepulveda Boulevard in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, California. It is the only Byzantine Ruthenian Church in the territory of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

The Byzantine Rite originated at Constantinople during the fourth and fifth centuries. A schism occurred in 1054 separating East and West, but the Byzantine Rite was reunified with Rome in 1646. By the 19th century, Rusyn immigrants brought the Byzantine Rite to America and many parishes were established in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio and the Northeast.

In 1956, the bishop of the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh granted permission for a priest to minister in Los Angeles. In 1957, the parish purchased land on Sepulveda Boulevard, and the new church was dedicated in 1961.

In 1976, the third pastor, Father Eugene Linowski, re-ordered the liturgical services to conform with the authentic traditions of the Byzantine Church (according to the Recenssion as prescribed by Rome). An icon screen was installed two years later. The screen maintains a traditional aura of mystery that separates the sanctuary from the rest of the church. At St. Mary's the screen is a wrought iron grill with icons painted by local artist Mila Mina. Fr. Eugene Linowski became the first Rector of the Cathedral, from March to June 1982.