Radio Interview: From Russian prince to American frontier priest 

In the early years of the Catholic Church in the United States, few figures were as unlikely – or as fascinating – as Prince Demetrius Augustin Gallitzin. Born into Russian nobility with Catherine the Great as his godmother, Gallitzin became a Catholic priest on the American frontier, earning the title “Apostle of the Alleghenies.”

Catherine O’Donnell, a historian at Arizona State University, joins host George Matysek to discuss the extraordinary life of one of the most fascinating figures in the early U.S. Catholic Church.

Gallitzin arrived in Baltimore in the late 18th century and came under the guidance of Bishop John Carroll, the first Catholic bishop in the United States. After serving briefly at St. Joseph in Taneytown, he ministered in even more remote areas of rural Pennsylvania.

O’Donnell discusses Gallitzin’s unusual upbringing, his difficult relationship with his strong-willed mother and the deep faith that drew him to the priesthood. The conversation also explores his tensions with Bishop Carroll, his efforts to build a distinctly Catholic community in frontier America and his writings defending the faith.

Click play below to listen to the full interview.

Also see: Taneytown parish embraces Catholic legacy

More radio interviews

Radio Interview: Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s enduring legacy

Radio Interview: Faith, community and a new school year 

Radio Interview: The faith behind the Fighting Irish

Radio Interview: Get on board the Mercy Train

Radio Interview: Art, faith and storytelling

Radio Interview: An American Martyr – The Legacy of Blessed Stanley Rother

Copyright © 2026 Catholic Review Media

 Print