Viktor Klimenko (Finland)

A LEGEND OF CHRISTIAN MUSIC

Viktor Klimenko is a world renowned Finnish artiste, a legend of Christian music.

He has 10 gold and 2 platinum albums, and he has recorded songs in eight languages – Finnish, Russian, Swedish, Hebrew and Yiddish, English, German, and Ukrainian. When he was asked if he did not regret turning to God Klimenko answered: “None in this world is so insane as to change something good for something worse. Years with Jesus have been my best years!”

His parents were believers, descendants of Kuban Cossacks who were deported to Karelia. During the World War II they found themselves in a refugee camp in Finland where they eventually settled for life after the war. Viktor’s talents became obvious in early childhood but in order to achieve something he had to rely solely on himself. Because of the excellent voice and persistence he was noticed and gradually he became the most popular host of children’s TV shows, a renowned singer, and artist. In 1965 the singer represented Finland in the Eurovision contest in Naples, Italy. After his third album was released in 1965 he was recognized as the best singer in Finland. In 1969 he released his first album in Russian “Stenka Rasin” which unexpectedly gained popularity in more than 60 countries of the world. This was the first gold album not only for Viktor but for Finland, as well. In 1972 a new album called ”Milaya” was released in Russian which also attained the gold status while “Stenka Rasin” reached platinum status.

In 1968 Viktor abandoned his work in theater and joined a variety group Free Cossacks traveling around the world, participating in TV shows and movies.

(The following material is taken from the Christian magazine „Tikšanās” November 2005 issue. © Ervīns Jākobsons.)

"Notwithstanding the popularity and the love of his admirers in the beginning of 80-ies Viktor felt spiritually and physically worn out. The intense work and active touring drained all his energy. He became severely depressed, on the verge of suicide. Even yoga did not help that Viktor had been practicing since 1962. Now he says: “Yoga is a religion. As a result of systematic training I had reached a level where I could leave my body. Today sometimes people in churches ask me: is it ok if a Christian practices yoga? That is terrible! He who starts practicing yoga comes into contact with evil spirits because the very nature of yoga is satanic. It is terrible that some Christians in western countries are practicing yoga. It was exactly yoga and stage that lead me to severe depression!”

In 1982 while touring France Klimenko tore the contract with Free Cossacks, returned to Finland and started looking for a way out of the psychological and spiritual crisis. He sought help with psychiatrists but his condition kept deteriorating. Viktor survived because of the prayers of his parents and other Christians. He was a famous artiste and churches prayed for him all over Finland. Viktor recalls: “While I was undergoing this crisis a thought came to my mind: what if God exists? Could He do something about my life? My parents attended a Pentecostal church but I had no idea where to go because there are so many churches and denominations. So I made a list and visited all major churches in Helsinki but I did not find what I was looking for. So I came to the Lord at home.”

Viktor kneeled and prayed: “Jesus, if You are there I want to meet You. I do not know if there is Heaven and Hell; however, if there is Heaven I am definitely not going there. Please, forgive my sins!” it happened in April of 1982 and since then Klimenko is a convinced Christian. He is deeply involved with the Pentecostal movement but he enjoys ministering in churches of other denominations, as well. He considers all arguments and strivings about the law foolish: “Religion is worse than communism. A communist will sooner or later find himself in a dead end but a religious person can live his whole life and never understand that he actually has no God in his life. In order to become a true Christian one must accept Jesus as personal Savior and give oneself fully to God.”

In 1981 Klimenko released a Christian albums Jeesus on Herra (”Jesus is Lord”) that was followed by two more Christian albums in Finnish. But he received an international recognition as a Christian singer in 1985 with his album of Jewish songs Jerusalem – Minun silmäteräni (”Jerusalem – the Apple of My Eye”). The album was recorded and released in four languages – Finnish, Swedish, English, and Russian. “God revealed to me in 1984 that there would be a great revival among Jews. There was a time when Jews did not accept Christianity and it spread among Gentiles. Now it’s the duty of Gentiles to evangelize Jews,” said Klimenko. Such popular Jewish songs as Hava Nagila and Tumbalalaika in his performance became real hits. He ministers in Messianic congregations on a regular basis, he has visited Israel on several occasions, but most recently he ministers more and more to Russian speaking Jewish emigrants in Germany, England, and America.

In 2000 the concerts by Klimenko in Novosibirsk and Luzniki stadium in Moscow were attended by 50 000 people. In 2002 Viktor Klimenko celebrated his 60th birthday and the 40th anniversary of his musical career. He is still one of the most loved singers in Finland. His voice fascinates thousands of music lovers in the whole world because Viktor can sing in the range of four octavos – from deep bass to the highest falsetto. The broad repertoire of the never-the-same artiste include melancholic gypsy songs, passionate Russian romances, nostalgic electric gospel, best loved Hebrew dances and the gems of gospel. 

In Latvia we know Viktor Klimenko since the mid 80ies when he joined missionary groups from Finland that came to Latvia and participated in different evangelistic meetings and services. He was a very popular guest in our country.