2 weeks after, longtime church leader and you will theologian Igor Kozlovsky, which invested almost couple of years because prisoner out-of pro-Russian separatists, died away from a coronary attack. He was 70.
‘The guy secure his family, our very own country’
Produced ily inside an outlying Ukrainian town, Vinogradar’s mothers broke up as he are more youthful. Their mommy remarried, with his relationship with his stepfather are strained, said Alexei Kalchuk, a former minister regarding the Ukrainian city of Mariupol and you will long time buddy.
“When his mom gave beginning to their stepfather’s young man and you may de totally superfluous in this delighted friends,” Kalchuk informed This new Religious Chronicle. Vinogradar decided to go to a good boarding university for the Poltava, where an instructor instilled in the your a fascination with their nation. The guy turned into good cadet of Ukrainian Cossacks.
“Throughout his past 24 months out-of study from the boarding university, Christians on Church from Christ began to visit the university,” Kalchuk told you. “They instructed coaching regarding the requirement for ethical and you can religious philosophy in human existence, and you may Artem in the near future made family unit members having Christians and started to sit in church meetings.” He had been baptized in 2018.
The guy finished on age 17, “and remaining brand new wall space that had warmed him lately,” Kalchuk told you. “Not knowing how to proceed next and you may which place to go, the guy turned to brand new chapel, and therefore currently believed Artem is you to definitely a unique.”
He stayed witch chapel players and you will became near to Christians together with Fedor Chernichkin, a beneficial minister for the Chapel out of Christ which moved to Poltava just after pro-Russian separatists seized power over his homeland for the east Ukraine’s Donbas region inside 2014.
“He was young and computed in order to suffice on the church and you can becoming loyal in order to God,” certainly one of Vinogradar’s loved ones, Artur Lytvynenko, told Suspilne, Ukrainian social radio. “From the your since an earlier, persistent and you will daring guy which have a really hard core.”
Vinogradar attended new Ukrainian Bible Institute – which had relocated of east Ukraine into the nation’s investment, Kyiv. The school try with the Colorado-established Sundown All over the world Bible Institute.
“He was a sharp beginner, and i are always think of his a nature, their smile and his always make fun of,” told you Brandon Speed, movie director of your Ukrainian Bible Institute. “He had defeat much inside mumbaian kvinnor mer attraktiva the earlier in the day, along with his coming are vibrant.”
His girlfriend, Valentina, together with had defeat a difficult early in the day, Kalchuk said. Orphaned from the many years step 3, she spent my youth of the her cousin and have now got examined from the an excellent boarding university.
“Artem usually involved Valentina’s home and you can aided his girlfriend and you will her (aunt) into the housework to be close,” Kalchuk told you. “He had been coached on the church how a great Christian will want to look once a beneficial girl … Soon Valentina acknowledged Christ to the their particular lives plus they began to sit in conferences of the Chapel from Christ to each other.”
“Artem and Valentina wished to end up being the ideal moms and dads for it little one,” Kalchuk told you. “It planned to provide your just what not one person gave them … It succeeded. But in March, the battle first started.
“Artem, already a young people frontrunner regarding the chapel, aided when you look at the helping immigrants and you may refugees. The guy inserted the latest ranks from volunteers just who exhausted individuals from towns and cities which were throughout the war zone and you may moved food and very first assistance so you can places that discover zero power, communications and liquid, but discover passing and you may depletion. His spouse was waiting around for him at home and you may prayed you to which mug do solution of him.”
“Whenever Artem titled his partner and you can family members, the guy constantly mentioned that he don’t have to destroy anyone and you may (he) hoped your conflict create avoid prior to he finished their education. But he in addition to mentioned that he was entitled to guard their nation, home, household members – and this is different since there is no greater love than that if somebody gets his existence to have their members of the family,” Kalchuk said, citing John .
Vinogradar offered just like the a beneficial sniper regarding airborne physical violence device, Suspilne claimed. The guy passed away when you look at the combat Aug. 15 close to the town of Verbove.
Valentina is expecting through its second child. System to own Humanitarian Services, an excellent nonprofit supported by congregations including the An excellent&Yards Church away from Christ during the College Station, Colorado, repaid brand new couple’s lease as they offered new church.
“Artem is actually our high school students – and section of PHA’s ministry for a long time,” told you Wes Hawthorne, advancement manager for the nonprofit and you may a member of brand new An effective&Meters chapel. “The guy came to our very own summer camps for several years.”
Preacher-Turned-Soldier and you will Tortured Theologian Mourned for the Ukraine
Their partner and you may youngster transferred to Greece which have Chernichkin along with his friends. Ukrainians across the European countries mourn, and additionally Kalchuk, who invested 51 months swept up about Mariupol church’s building that have other believers while the serious attacking raged additional.
“My brother is actually slain,” said Kalchuk, now during the Poland. “He safe their family, all of our country, his college students. Artem, we’ll definitely see you! Other people when you look at the comfort, my pal.”