“This is paradise compared to where I came from”, said Fr. Viktor, referring to the United States of America.

It has been a long and difficult journey – nearly an impossible one. Yet, we are still able to help Fr. Viktor make his search for freedom and peace a reality.

One can say with certainty that everyone in the US is either an immigrant or a descendant of an immigrant. Everyone has a story of how they got here or how their ancestors did.  This is Fr. Viktor’s story.  This is being shared with all of you in the hope that you will understand Fr. Viktor’s search for freedom and peace in this country we call “land of the free”. Hopefully, your understanding and compassion will lead to action - helping Fr. Viktor and his wife finally find their freedom in the country they would love to call their own.

     On January 8, 2001, Fr. Viktor Orda, his wife Presbytera Svetlana, and daughter Oksana arrived here in the US as tourists upon the invitation of Svetlana’s uncle and cousins.  The decision to come to the US did not come easy.

 A Letter of Support Would Help A Lot!

 That decision was premeditated over a long period of time in the country where they came from. 

     Fr. Viktor’s family came to the US from Lithuania, a nation relatively young then, newly separated from the USSR or Soviet Union. Since Oksana was born in Lithuania, Presbytera Svetlana, a native of Russia, became a citizen of Lithuania, a month before their arrival to the US. 

     Fr. Viktor’s family lived in Lithuania because Fr. Viktor was assigned there as     a Soviet military officer. His military career ended in the beginning of the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 in Lithuania.  On January 11-13, 1991, 13 Lithuanians were killed by the Soviet army. Most were shot in the head and chest; two were run over by Soviet tanks.  Fr. Viktor disobeyed Moscow’s orders by refusing to shoot unarmed civilians.  He tore his military contract there and left the army. The following day, a newspaper reported that Moscow was quick to deny issuing the command to shoot the rebellious Lithuanian citizens.

     Shortly thereafter, Lithuania became a strong nationalist country.  “Lithuania is for Lithuanians only,” they cried.  Fr. Viktor’s family, originally foreigners in Lithuania, suffered intolerable discrimination.  Those of Russian origin, including his wife and daughter were constantly mistreated.  They were fired from work, their condos were set on fire, and their children were asked to sit on the floor of a classroom and were spat on.  Young Oksana was not spared from this humiliation.  Fr. Viktor is a native of Ukraine and has a Ukrainian passport, obtained through the help of the Russian Orthodox Church - the only organization were released in Lithuania that was of help to them then.

     While living in the US, Fr. Viktor and Presbytera Svetlana found jobs in the US.  They were issued Alien Registration Cards #079483795 and #07983796 respectively.  For 10 years, they, like other ordinary US workers, paid their taxes.

      Ordained priest in September of 2008, Fr. Viktor shares his time with the Russian community. The church he formed currently has over 100 members.  His reputation as a good priest became popular all over Central Florida.  Many Russian-Americans from Melbourne and Daytona come visit him and he welcomes them all with fatherly love, compassion, and concern.

      Fr. Viktor administers his priestly functions voluntarily.  He does not receive any remuneration at all. This practice is unheard of in our time!  He is true to the teachings of the very early Christian churches. In order to support their family, Fr. Viktor and Presbytera Svetlana both worked.  Fr. Viktor worked in Westbrook, an air-conditioning company, while Presbytera Svetlana worked in Celebration Hospital.

     Alas, both Fr. Viktor and Presbytera Svetlana were detained by ICE forces on October 15th, 2010 because their asylum case was denied by our government! They were released on February 7th, 2011 because of the hundreds of letters and petitions from their supporters - many of whom they do not even know.  Breathing a sigh of relief, Fr. Viktor and Presbytera Svetlana under supervision by the ISAP organization. The fear of deportation continues to bother this freedom-loving couple.  Deportation will surely be a devastating outcome to their quest for freedom! 

    Come to think of it, their family will be torn apart.  Oksana, now 19 years old and married to an American citizen, will stay here. Presbytera Svetlana will be deported to Lithuania - a country where, as a citizen, she was threatened and discriminated because she is a Russian native and does not speak Lithuanian. As   a wife of a former Soviet military officer, she will be hated there.  “I will be in a cage if I will be deported there,” she said, preferring death over deportation. 

     As for Fr. Viktor, he will be deported to Ukraine where he was born.  Since he left that country when he was young, he does not speak the language either.  Most likely, Fr. Viktor will be sent to prison in Lithuania due to his prior assignment there in 1991. To clarify, Ukraine and Lithuania made an agreement to divulge information between one another about the whereabouts of former Soviet officers.  That would be the end of his long quest for freedom.

     As for now, the only hope for Fr. Viktor and Presbytera Svetlana is a Private Bill.  They need someone in Congress to write and support a bill to legalize their stay here in the US.  They have raised their family here, they have paid their taxes here, they have built a church community here, and they have legally applied for asylum as soon as they came here - they ought to stay here.

 Don’t you think so?

All human laws are based on reason. Without question, it is irrational that Fr. Viktor and Presbytera Svetlana might be deported.  Let reason prevail! Let Fr. Viktor and Presbytera Svetlana become citizens of the great USA.

 Contact Information:

Please, kindly write your letter of support to:

St. Sophia

Russian Orthodox Church,

c/o Alena Nicole,

27 Kirkman Rd, Orlando, Fl. 32811

You may also fax it to:

(407)-290-6201

Or email to:

stsophia.church@yahoo.com