Did you know that the first priest to receive all his orders in the United States was a Russian prince? Often referred to as the “Apostle of the Alleghenies,” Father Demetrius Gallitzin abandoned a life of luxury and influence in Europe for the barren plains of the New World at the age of 22. Using his own inheritance to fund his mission work, he went on to establish a large Catholic community in the Allegheny Mountains.
Today, we invite you to learn more about his life and legacy, and where you can find him portrayed in the Basilica.
Early Life and Conversion
On December 22, 1770, Demetrius Gallitzin was born at the Hague to a Russian prince and his German wife. While Demetrius’ mother had been raised Catholic and his father had been raised Orthodox, neither was actively practicing their faith, so Demetrius was baptized after his father’s religion. Because he was a member of the Russian royal family, the reigning Empress, Catherine the Great, became his godmother. Demetrius grew up to be a highly educated young man, and when he was 17, he decided to convert to Catholicism. In honor of his mother, who had recently returned to her Catholic faith, Demetrius took the name “Demetrius Augustine” at his confirmation, as her birth, marriage, and First Holy Communion had all taken place on the feast day of Saint Augustine.
A New World, Name, and Vocation
Upon completion of his studies, Demetrius was offered a position as a military general’s assistant. However, because there was no opportunity for advancement in the post, his parents encouraged him to travel to America instead. Heeding their wishes, Demetrius set off for Baltimore, Maryland, on August 18, 1792, and arrived just over two months later.
To evade recognition as a member of Russian royalty and travel more freely in the New World, Demetrius introduced himself into society as “Augustine Smith.” Shortly after his arrival, Demetrius became acquainted with Bishop Carroll of Baltimore, America’s first Bishop, and he felt God calling him to dedicate himself to the growth of the American Church. Demetrius then enrolled in seminary at Saint Mary’s in Baltimore, and within three years, became the first priest to receive all his orders in the United States.
Establishing a Catholic Town in the Alleghenies
After graduation, Father Demetrius Gallitzin ministered throughout northern Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania for a time before being chosen to serve in a small town in the Allegheny mountains, known as McGuire Settlement, in the summer of 1799. Having renamed the town Loretto after the holy site in Italy, Father Gallitzin set to work establishing its first permanent church, which officially opened its doors for Mass on Christmas Day, 1799. Understanding that making homes and jobs readily available would foster growth in the town, Father Gallitzin purchased much of the surrounding property, which he then sold to newcomers at very moderate prices. He also erected “saw-mills, grist-mills, and tanneries, and established other industries for the material benefit of his flock” using approximately $150,000 of his own funds, money sent from his mother, and even some personal loans.
While Father Gallitzin initially borrowed the money with the knowledge that he would be able to use his inheritance to pay it back, when members of the Russian government discovered he had converted to Catholicism and become a priest, they had him disinherited; it wasn’t until shortly before his death that the debt he incurred to complete the projects was able to be repaid. Although building the town placed a significant financial burden on Father Gallitzin, his valiant efforts soon paid off – within 10 years, the town had grown so much that they had to expand the church’s sanctuary to nearly twice its original size!
Service and Death
During his first 20 years in Loretto, Father Gallitzin’s parish spanned an area of over 100 miles. A compassionate man with a big heart, he was known to open his home to orphans, and would frequently travel long distances over the treacherous mountain terrain to serve those in need. In one instance, he even overcame an anti-Catholic mob in order to reach his destination! Yet these trials did not deter him, and when his mother wrote to him about the possibility of returning to Europe, he responded:
“You can be fully assured that I have no other will in life, and wish to have no other, than that of fulfilling God’s will. You can be further assured that I find no lasting joy outside the activities of my calling.”
Despite the many demands his parish placed on him, Father Gallitzin still found time to write defenses of the Catholic faith and even took on the position of Vicar-General for Western Pennsylvania to help “promote the interests of the Church.” However, twice he turned down the opportunity to become a Bishop – in Detroit and in Cincinnati, as his heart was dedicated to the people of Loretto.
For the entirety of his 41 years of ministry, Father Gallitzin never received a salary, but supported himself exclusively through his own farming efforts. He passed away on May 8, 1840, after suffering a short illness, leaving behind a legacy of compassion and selflessness – and having grown a nearly non-existent Catholic community to one that consisted of over 10,000 members at the time of his death.
At the Basilica, you can find Father Gallitzin’s name written in a tablet in Memorial Hall and his image portrayed in a stained glass window in the east narthex of the Great Upper Church Sacristy.
Sources:
“Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin,” New Advent.
“Servant of God Demetrius A. Gallitzin,” The Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown.
“The Pastoral Courage of Demetrius Gallitzin,” Catholic Culture.