From our the brothers in Novosibirsk:
Peace to you, dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
At the day of St Stephan, deacon and first martyr, our Bishop Vsevolod Lytkin has ordained Viktor Shkurupi as a deacon for our parish inChelyabinsk.
Viktor has come to Novosibirsk to study at the Lutheran Theological Seminary from Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, in 2004. Upon completion of his academic studies at the Seminary in the spring of 2008 he went for a year of vicarage in the Holy Spirit Lutheran parish inChelyabinsk. The year of practical work helped Viktor to become assured about his call to serve in the Church. And that year also helped people in Chelyabinsk to get to know him. His pastor, Vladislav Ivanov, though he knows Viktor very well as they both came from the same Lutheran congregation in Dnepropetrovsk, had a chance to see him working at a more responsible position. He said: “I’m glad that Deacon Viktor will serve in our parish. He proved to be a good assistant in the service to God’s people. I am sure that his ministry will bring an abundant fruit.”
Pastor Pavel Khramov, Viktor’s fellow-seminarian said: “One of the most attractive Viktor’s qualities is his seriousness about following Christ. For him faith is never just knowing correct doctrines, but also living them out. And in that sense it is very symbolic that his ordination took place at the Day of Saint Stephan, deacon and first martyr.”
Pastor Alexei Streltsov who has assisted Bishop Lytkin during the ordination noted: “As a rector of the seminary, I am always pleased and grateful to God when I see seminary graduates being drawn into the ministry of the Word. This is what the seminary stands for, this is where it finds its raison d’être -- so that men may preach Christ crucified and bring the Gospel to the needy people. If this is what goes on, then we know that we are on the right track.”
We think that ordination of a new minister marks a good completion of the last year. We are thankful to God for His mercy and your faithful prayers and support. We trust that this new year will bring to you a great joy in our Savior Jesus Christ.
Please pray for our new Lutheran clergyman and for our parishes in the Ural region of Russia.
Viktor was a classmate for our intensive in Siberia. He is a gentlemen, a scholar, and above a churchman. The church is blessed to welcome him as a deacon. (Pictured center below)
