On December 6/19, 2024, the feast of St Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra and Lycia, the Wonderworker, the entire seminary and monastery community in Jordanville congratulated Protodeacon Victor Lochmatow (HTOS ’67) on the milestone of the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the Holy Diaconate.
Fr. Victor came to Jordanville in 1957 at the age of 12, and entered Van Hornesville school in the 8th grade the following autumn. He then returned to Chicago to attend Lane Tech College Preparatory High School, while at the same time coming back to Jordanville every summer during his high school years. After graduating from Lane Tech, he entered Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary, graduating with his B.Th. in 1967. In the coming years, he earned his M.A. from Norwich University. Fr. Victor was ordained to the diaconate on December 6/19, 1974 by Archbishop Averkey (Taushev +1976), and was for many years thereafter the dedicated personal secretary, deacon, driver, and cell attendant to Metropolitan Laurus (Skurla +2008).
In addition to his many decades of tireless and dedicated service to Vladyka Laurus and to Holy Trinity Monastery, where he continues working until today as the manager of the cemetery, Fr. Victor also taught in the seminary for 48 years (1973 to 2021), including courses in Old Testament, Russian Literature, and Church Slavonic.
Fr. Victor is the most senior cleric and member of our monastery and seminary community. He willingly and enthusiastically shares his many vivid memories, particularly of the old monastic fathers. Everyone here knows that if someone has a question about anything involving ‘Old Jordanville’, Fr Victor is the person with the first-hand knowledge - and the answers.
Fr. Victor has received numerous awards and accolades for his many years of service to the Holy Church, including the Znamensky Award - 3rd degree from the ROCOR Synod in 2013, and the Order of St. Seraphim of Sarov - 2nd degree from His Holiness, Patriarch Kyrill in 2021.
Here is a ROCOR Studies link to an interview Fr Victor gave in 2013 entitled: “Metropolitan Laurus Led the Church by Humility”.
May God grant Fr Victor good health and length of days for his lifetime of dedication to the monastery, the seminary, and to His Holy Orthodox Church!
A special thank you to Protodeacon Eugene Kallaur for providing all of these photos:
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