BYZANTINE

After World War II, many returning servicemen married and began families. Many of these new families purchased homes in the western fringes of Detroit and the western suburbs such as Redford and Livonia. Up to this point, they were members of and attended St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church, then located on Detroit's East Grand Boulevard. A group of these west siders approached Rev. William Lesko, pastor of St. Nicholas, about the possibility of having a Byzantine Catholic Church on the west side. He suggested that they locate a suitable building at a reasonable price and he would then help with the required permission from Bishop Nicholas T. Elko and with the financing... A building was found on Beech-Daly Road near Five Mile Road in Redford Township and was purchased in April of 1957. Painting and remodeling the building to make it suitable for a Byzantine Church was begun and completed on June 30, 1957. The following month, the first Baptism and Chrismation in the new parish..

Primary location: Livonia United States