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Utica, NY: Deacon Vitaly Kichakov reposed in the Lord

On Wednesday, May 24, the Leavetaking of Pascha, Deacon Vitaly Kichakov (cleric of St. John of Kronstadt Memorial Church in Utica, NY) reposed in the Lord. He was 74 years old.

The future Fr. Vitaly was born on February 6, 1949 in the Three Rivers Region of China to Russian émigrés. At the age of 13, he moved with his family to Geelong, Australia, where he grew up. In 1966, he enrolled in Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, NY. He was a member of the graduating class of 1971, which erected the iconic cross on the hill overlooking Holy Trinity Monastery.

Vitaly married Lydia Litwinenko in 1975, and in December 1979 he was ordained to the diaconate by Bishop Laurus (Škurla; +2008) of Syracuse & Holy Trinity – later First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad. He was a talented woodcarver, assisting in carving the iconostasis in Joy of All Who Sorrow Cathedral in San Francisco and the canopied reliquary tomb of St. John of Shanghai & San Francisco. He likewise assisted in carving and erecting the iconostasis in St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Howell, NJ. Throughout his life, he carved many coffins and icon frames by request.

He continued serving in Jordanville for many years until not long before his repose, when he was assigned to Utica.

Fr. Vitaly is survived by his Matushka Lydia, two sons – Protodeacon Alexander (cleric of the Mid-American Diocese) and Vladimir – and four grandchildren.

Memory Eternal to the newly departed Deacon Vitaly!

 

Schedule of Services for the Departed

Friday, May 27 ‒ Panihida at St. John of Kronstadt Church in Utica at 6:00 PM.

Saturday, May 28 ‒ Funeral at St. John of Kronstadt Church at 9:00 AM with burial to follow at Holy Trinity Monastery.

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Eastern American Diocese | Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia