St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church, the first building purposely built as a Croatian Catholic Church in America, celebrates its 125th Anniversary on June 1, 2025 with a special Mass and Luncheon to follow. For more information and to register for the luncheon: St. Nicholas 125th
1900
The church high atop a hill in Millvale, along the Allegheny River from Pittsburgh, was completed in 1900, making it the first church in the United States built from the ground up.
Before having this home, Croatians worshipped at St. Paul’s Cathedral on Grant Street and then at St. Mary of the Assumption on 57th Street.
1921
A devastating fire destroyed most of St. Nicholas Church.
1922
After a little more than a year, the rebuilt – and more austere -- church was dedicated in 1922.
1931
Father Albert Zagar became pastor of St. Nicholas Church.
1937
Maxo Vanka arrived in Millvale to paint the first series of murals of the Croatian immigrant experience. Later that year, Time magazine dedicated a full page, with three photographs, to the new murals dubbing them, “one of the few distinguished sets of church murals in the U.S.”
1941
Again at the invitation of Father Zagar, Maxo Vanka returned to St. Nicholas, adding murals with a pacifist theme.
1950
St. Nicholas celebrated its golden jubilee.
1954
The convent was created to house the Sisters of St. Francis who were teaching at St. Nicholas.
1958
The new rectory/parish house was dedicated.
1970
New murals, by Yugoslavian artist Ivan Joko Knezevic, were finished, altering a number of Vanka’s original murals.
1980
St. Nicholas Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
1991
The Society to Preserve the Millvale Murals of Maxo Vanka was formed.
2004
Hurricanes Ivan and Francis damaged the church and murals.
2019
Pittsburgh Diocese forms the Shrines of Pittsburgh, with St. Nicholas included as one of six.
This building is historic.
<better copy to come here once we have report and can link to it>
Thanks to detailed planning, and generous funding, St. Nicholas Church has been recognized for its historic structure.