Two weeks afterwards, long time chapel frontrunner and you can theologian Igor Kozlovsky, which invested nearly two years because prisoner out-of professional-Russian separatists, died out of a coronary attack. He was 70.

‘The guy protected their family, the country’

Born ily in the a rural Ukrainian community, Vinogradar’s moms and dads split when he was young. Their mommy remarried, with his experience of his stepfather is strained, told you Alexei Kalchuk, a former minister from the Ukrainian town of Mariupol and you may long time buddy.

“When their mom gave birth so you can their stepfather’s son and you will de totally superfluous within happier friends,” Kalchuk advised The fresh new Christian Chronicle. Vinogradar went along to an excellent boarding college or university for the Poltava, in which a teacher instilled from inside the your a love for his country. The guy became an effective cadet of the Ukrainian Cossacks.

“While in the his past a couple of years away from research within boarding university, Christians in the Chapel out of Christ started to check out the college,” Kalchuk told you. “These folks coached classes in regards to the requirement for moral and religious values when you look at the person existence, and you may Artem soon produced friends which have Christians and started initially to attend church conferences.” He was baptized in 2018.

The guy finished at many years 17, “and you can leftover the new walls that had warmed your in recent years,” Kalchuk said. “Unsure how to proceed 2nd and you may which place to go, the guy considered the brand new church, which already noticed Artem as one its.”

The guy resided witch chapel users and you may turned close to Christians and additionally Fedor Chernichkin, good minister towards Church out-of Christ exactly who moved to Poltava after pro-Russian separatists seized power over his homeland in east Ukraine’s Donbas part into the 2014.

“He had been more youthful and determined so you can suffice in the chapel and you can are devoted so you can Jesus,” certainly one of Vinogradar’s nearest and dearest, Artur Lytvynenko, informed Suspilne, Ukrainian social radio. “I recall your because the a young, persistent and you will daring man having a rather hard core.”

Vinogradar attended brand new Ukrainian Bible Institute – which had moved out-of east Ukraine on the state’s financial support, Kyiv. The college try associated with Colorado-based Sunset Around the world Bible Institute.

“He was a sharp beginner, and i also will always think about their a beneficial characteristics, their smile with his choose to make fun of,” said Brandon Rates, manager of one’s Ukrainian Bible Institute. “He had overcome much inside the earlier in the day, and his awesome future try bright.”

His girlfriend, Valentina, also had beat a difficult early in the day, Kalchuk told you. Orphaned on age step 3, she spent my youth from the their sibling and have had read on a boarding school.

“Artem usually involved Valentina’s household and you can aided his girlfriend and you will their unique (aunt) for the housework to become intimate,” Kalchuk told you. “He had been taught on the chapel just how good Christian need to look shortly after an effective girl … In the near future Valentina recognized Christ into their unique lifetime and began to sit-in conferences of your Chapel regarding Christ to one another.”

“Artem and Valentina wanted to get to be the ideal parents for it child,” Kalchuk told you. “They wished to give him exactly what no one provided all of them … It succeeded. But in March, the war began.

“Artem, currently a youth leader in the church, assisted into the serving immigrants and you can refugees. The guy entered the fresh new ranks away from volunteers who evacuated individuals from towns that were regarding the combat region and you may directed as well as very first support so you can areas where there can be zero energy, correspondence and h2o, however, discover death and depletion. Their partner are looking forward to your yourself and prayed one to which cup manage ticket off your.”

“When Artem titled their spouse and you can family relations, the guy constantly mentioned that he don’t need to eliminate somebody and you can (he) wished that conflict would avoid before the guy complete his education. But he in addition to said that he was entitled to protect his nation, family, nearest and dearest – and this refers to more while there is no greater like than just that in case individuals gives their existence to have their family relations,” Kalchuk said, pointing out John .

Vinogradar supported given that a great sniper on airborne violence device, Suspilne said. The guy died when you look at the handle Aug. 15 nearby the community away from Verbove.

Valentina was expecting making Chilenska kvinnor mot amerikaner use of their next youngster. Program to own Humanitarian Support, good nonprofit backed by congregations like the A beneficial&Yards Chapel from Christ for the College Route, Colorado, paid off the brand new couple’s book as they offered new chapel.

“Artem try a students – and part of PHA’s ministry for decades,” told you Wes Hawthorne, invention manager into the nonprofit and you will a member of the latest A good&M church. “The guy stumbled on all of our june camps for several years.”

Preacher-Turned-Soldier and Tortured Theologian Mourned inside Ukraine

His wife and you may child moved to Greece having Chernichkin and his awesome nearest and dearest. Ukrainians around the European countries mourn, along with Kalchuk, exactly who spent 51 days trapped on the Mariupol church’s strengthening with fellow believers given that extreme assaulting raged external.

“My cousin are killed,” told you Kalchuk, today into the Poland. “He secure his family unit members, our country, their people. Artem, we’re going to definitely view you! Other individuals during the comfort, my good friend.”