On Thursday, April 6, the eve of the great feast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos, Matushka Galina Tkatschow reposed in the Lord after a long illness. She was the wife of Archpriest Nicholas Tkatschow, rector of the Church of the Entrance of the Mother of God into the Temple in Syracuse, NY.
Matushka Galina was born in Germany in 1948, the daughter of Evdokia and Wasili Demidenko. The family emigrated to the United States in 1951 and settled in South River, NJ, where they became active members of the parish of Sts. Peter & Paul. Galina joined the church choir at the age of 12 and also sang in her school chorus.
In 1963 she married Nicholas Tkatschow, who was subsequently ordained to the priesthood, later being assigned to the Nativity of the Mother of God Church in Erie, PA. Matushka joined the church choir. There they also started their family, eventually having six daughters and one son, and also beginning the work of their candle factory.
In 1974, the family was transferred to the parish of the Entrance of the Mother of God into the Temple in Syracuse, NY, where Matushka joined the church choir and sisterhood. With the blessing of Archbishop Averky (Taushev; +1976), they embarked on acquiring the land, where the current church was built, as well as a church hall, a rectory for the priest, and a candle factory.
For many years, Fr. Nicholas and Matushka donated the candles they made to the church during its construction and afterward. She also did not receive a salary for being the choir director for 40 years.
On Great & Holy Monday, April 10, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Luke of Syracuse officiated at the funeral of Matushka Galina in the aforementioned parish. The interment was held at Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY.
