As an evangelical Protestant in a land long-dominated by the Russian Orthodox Church, Mr Yershov, 38, is no routine man of the fabric.
A previous juvenile overdue, he invested ten years in jail for break-in and burglary prior to discovering faith aged 27. When Vladimir Putin then annexed his homeland of Crimea, he fell nasty of the law once again – or the Kremlin’s variation of it – after ending up being associated with pro-Ukrainian advocacy. He signed up with a group of preachers dealing with the Ukrainian military, making himself a location, he says, on a hit list prepared by separatist militias in Donetsk.
His primary church in Kurakhove – a squat breezeblock building – might not be more various from those extravagant websites of praise run by the Russian Orthodox establishment, with their icons, cupolas and stained glass.
Yet its basic, unfussy design has actually won him a routine following in your area, in the middle of the growing anger in Ukraine over the Russian Orthodox Church’s specific assistance for Putin’s intrusion. Its head, Patriarch Kiril, has actually wished Russian soldiers participating in the war, causing require him to be subjected to Western sanctions.
“No church should ever be involved in politics, and the Bible tells us to love our enemies,” said Mr Yershov. “Look at me – I was also a member of the Russian Orthodox Church, and it didn’t stop me from cheating and stealing for 22 years during my days as a criminal.”
‘A missile landed 20 feet away’
At his service in Kurakhove on Sunday, some 70 residents of any ages showed up to state prayers for soldiers combating in the counter-offensive, and listen to a fire-and-brimstone preaching about the value of personal obligation. While Mr Yershov’s language is stern, it is at least understandable; Russian Orthodox Services are still carried out in Church Slavonic, an antiquated language that couple of ordinary individuals comprehend.
“I didn’t used to go to church, as Orthodox services are terribly dull,” said Rima Ahmedgarifovna, who requested a prayer to be said for her kid, presently held as a PoW by Russian forces. “I like the pastor’s style, it is very lively and gives you some hope at this time of war.”
Mr Yershov’s church likewise runs a charitable bakeshop that provides to his churchgoers in Maximilianivka, rather actually providing their day-to-day bread. During his journeys backward and forward to the cutting edge, he often sees Ukrainian military automobiles carrying dead soldiers. “Sometimes it’s just a few, but occasionally I’ve seen truckloads,” he said.
Because of the heavy shelling in Maximilianivka, no other church is presently running services there. Wartime, nevertheless, is where once-fallen souls like Mr Yershov enter their own – after years in jail, he is not quickly frightened.
“Once, I was preaching at someone’s house and a missile landed 20 feet away – it broke all the windows but I didn’t stop the preaching,” he said.
“I do remember being surprised, though, that the congregation didn’t run away. They told me that when you’re at a church service, you’re protected by God.”
