WESTERN EUROPEAN DIOCESE: March 15, 2021
Archpriest Viktor Tseshkovsky reposes in the Lord

On Monday, March 15, 2021, the first day of Great Lent, Archpriest Viktor Tseshkovsky, cleric of the Western American Diocese and Rector of Protection of the Holy Virgin Russian Orthodox Church in Hollywood, CA, died at the age of 62.

Two of the three churches of the Russian tradition in Los Angeles are located in Hollywood. Of them, Protection of the Holy Virgin Church is closest to Hollywood's landmarks. Fr Viktor was from the Kamenko-Dneprovsk region of the USSR, and during the decade between 1982-1992 he served as Rector of St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Melitopol.

Fr Viktor was drawn to the Church from an early age, loving the church temple and divine services. All five sons of his parents became priests, and his sister is married to a priest. They all served in the Crimean and Dnepropetrovsk Dioceses.

Fr VIktor served for a good deal of time abroad, first in Sweden, then at St Nicholas Patriarchal Parish in San Francisco, then in Canada and at St Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York. He also served at church in Milan, Italy, Spain and the Canary Islands. Over the last ten years he served in the Russian Church Abroad: New Kursk-Root Hermitage in Mahopac, NY, the Church of the Holy New Martyrs and Confessors of Russian in Brooklyn, then at the Protection of the Holy Virgin Church in Hollywood.
"It would not be good for people to think that Orthodox Christianity is somehow alien to Hollywood, incompatible to it. Orthodox life is led here. Our parish is well organized and active. The parishioners of Hollywood are Russian artists, directors, athletes, creative professionals, and ordinary Russian emigres from various parts of the former Soviet Union. On Sundays we celebrate two Liturgies: an American priest serves in English, followed by a Slavonic Liturgy. Some 200 people partake of the Holy Eucharist at both services," said Fr Viktor.

An interview with Fr Viktor is posted here: https://orthochristian.com/125523.html

Eternal memory to Fr Viktor; may he repose with the saints!