May 15, 2014
Biography of Archpriest Gleb Wleskoff

Gleb Wleskoff’s father was a solder in the Russian Army under Captain Peter Nikolaevich Wrangel during the First World War. He was wounded and had lost an arm. The family later settled in Berlin, where young Gleb was born on August 5, 1919. Captain Wrangel, who later became General and commanded part of the White Russian Movement, remained in close ties with the Wleskoff family. General Wrangel arranged for Gleb to attend a prestigious school in Brussels, Belgium, which Gleb finished before returning to Berlin to attend university. Young Gleb graduated with an engineering degree just as the Second World War began.

Miraculously, the family survived WWII and eventually came to the United States as part of the second wave of emigration. The Wleskoff family lived in New York City after coming to the U.S., and Gleb’s father was a church warden in a parish in Brooklyn. Part of the family moved to California and Gleb lived there for a time, where he met his future wife Ludmilla. They moved back to New York, and Gleb began working in a civil architectural firm in Manhattan. One of his projects involved working on the construction and architecture of the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers in New York City.

Throughout the years living on Long Island, in Glen Cove, NY, Gleb would visit Novo-Diveevo and Fr. Adrian Rymarenko (later Archbishop Andrey of Rockland), whom he knew from time spent together in Berlin. In 1969, Gleb was ordained a priest at Novo-Diveevo by Archbishop Nikon (Rklitsky).

Fr. Gleb remained living in Long Island and working in Manhattan, commuting to Novo-Diveevo for weekends and holidays. Following the passing of Archbishop Andrey, Fr. Alexander Fedorowski asked Fr. Gleb to move to the convent permanently. Father Gleb and Matushka Ludmilla did so in that same year of 1978. Fr. Gleb occasionally traveled back to Berlin and California to visit family, and frequently visited his home in Glen Cove, which he had kept.

For several more years, Fr. Gleb remained working in New York City, but soon retired and began serving full-time at the convent, dedicating his life to serving the Church. Many people came to Fr. Gleb for advice, confession, and prayers. He was always accessible and frequently was seen around the grounds of the convent in quiet prayer and contemplation. When nearby area parishes needed a priest to serve and the services were covered at Novo-Diveevo, Fr. Gleb frequently helped the surrounding churches. If ever there was a need for a priest, prayers, or services, Fr. Gleb was always willing to help. For over 40 years, Fr. Gleb and Fr. Alexander had a priestly relationship where there were never any issues in performing church-related duties.

Due to failing health, Fr. Gleb stayed behind to serve at Novo-Diveevo in 2007 during the pilgrimage for the Reunification of ROCOR and the Moscow Patriarchate. On May 17, after having received word from the Novo-Diveevo delegation that the Reunification Ceremony went well, Fr. Gleb was proud to be one of the first clerics to commemorate Patriarch Alexey II during the Divine Liturgy, on the very same day of the Reunification.

In the early summer of 2010, Fr. Gleb announced that he would be retiring, at which time Metropolitan Hilarion bestowed on him the right and honor of wearing the miter. Despite failing health, Fr. Gleb would still be in church on most days and even co-serve during feast days. He would still hear confessions and occasionally perform other services when he was able. Fr. Gleb’s health deteriorated within the past year and he was seen less frequently due to illness and hospital stays, although he continued to help to the best of his abilities, until several months before his repose.

Fr. Gleb reposed to the Lord late Sunday night, May 11, 2014. He is survived by his Matushka Ludmilla and two nephews living in California. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 15, at 11:00 AM. Bishop Jerome will be serving along with other clergy from the surrounding area.

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