{"id":46032,"date":"2023-03-21T14:00:04","date_gmt":"2023-03-21T05:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/?p=46032"},"modified":"2023-03-21T15:12:05","modified_gmt":"2023-03-21T06:12:05","slug":"vomk-report-246","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/2023\/03\/21\/vomk-report-246\/","title":{"rendered":"RUSSIAN DEACON RELEASED AFTER TWO YEARS IN PRISON: \u201cTHIS PATH IS WORTH EVERY MINUTE!\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”46029″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”Vyacheslav Koldiaev was released from prison in Arkhangelsk, Russia on March 3 after serving a two-year sentence on a charge of alleged \u201cuse of violence dangerous to life or health against a representative of the authorities\u201d. ” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:1.2em|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” el_class=”headline”][vc_column_text]The case gained widespread attention <\/span>among Christians around the world <\/span>when <\/span>video <\/span>evidence <\/span>exonerat<\/span>ing<\/span> Koldiaev<\/span> was <\/span>apparently <\/span>ignored<\/span> by the court, leading to <\/span>Koldiaev\u2019s<\/span> conviction on <\/span>May 13, 2021<\/span>. <\/span>Koldiaev<\/span> had been part of a human chain of <\/span>supporters<\/span> surrounding <\/span>the Baptist Church in Archangelsk, Russia<\/span> on September <\/span>24, <\/span>2020<\/span> in an effort by the church to prevent <\/span>a <\/span>court-ordered <\/span>demolition crew <\/span>from tearing down a portion of the church\u2019s building. Authorities alleged that the portion had been improperly permitted. Though the protest had remained peaceful, a<\/span> junior bailiff pull<\/span>ed<\/span> Koldiaev<\/span> out of the<\/span> human<\/span> chain <\/span>and t<\/span>ook him to the police station.<\/span> Later, the bailiff alleged that <\/span>Koldiaev<\/span> had stepped out of the chain and assaulted him<\/span>, despite video showing that <\/span>Koldiaev<\/span> had remained stationary during the protest.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”46025″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\u201cDeacon <\/span>Koldiaev<\/span> made a faithful witness for Christ from September 24, when he was improperly apprehended, to March 3, when he was finally released from prison,\u201d says Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr<\/span>.<\/span> Hyun Sook Foley. Her organization led a worldwide campaign for Christians to send letters to <\/span>Koldiaev<\/span> during his imprisonment. She notes that when <\/span>Koldiaev<\/span> was informed about the letter writing campaign, he requested <\/span>that <\/span>anyone writing a letter to him include<\/span> extra postcards with scripture verse<\/span>s<\/span> or spiritual edification that he <\/span>could give <\/span>to unbelievers who <\/span>were<\/span> in the same prison with him.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>In the latter portion of his sentence<\/span>, Deacon<\/span> Koldiaev<\/span> was sent to a labor camp,<\/span> and<\/span> he used <\/span>a<\/span> brief work camp release to preach at a neighboring church<\/span>,\u201d says Representative Foley<\/span>. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>In a November 2021 letter to his wife, <\/span>Koldiaev<\/span> wrote, <\/span>\u2018<\/span>The desire of my heart\u2026 is that God be glorified in every corner of my life, in all the plans, thoughts and deeds\u2026 I am sitting in a cell alone, testifying to those who are behind bars, to the inspector, and to everyone who wears uniforms\u2026 I pray for my further life here and try to find those who seek God.<\/span>\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”46020″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Deacon Vyacheslav Koldiaev leaving prison (Source: \u041f\u043e\u0440\u0442\u0430\u043b \u0412\u0435\u0440\u043d\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044c) ” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230f0f0f|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that upon his release, <\/span>Koldiaev<\/span> was greeted at the penitentiary gate by fellow believers who offered handshakes, flowers, and congratulations. <\/span>\u201cThey bowed down in prayer and thanksgiving, and then h<\/span>e returned home to be reunited with his family<\/span> and the church,\u201d says Representative Foley<\/span>.<\/span> \u201cThe church later released video of a service marking <\/span>Koldiaev\u2019s<\/span> return, with a caption that said, \u2018<\/span>We are pleased to inform you that the prison term of our brother Vyacheslav <\/span>Kold<\/span>i<\/span>aev<\/span> has ended. He has come out of jail. He was solemnly received by his brothers and sisters. The story, connected with attempts to deprive the Arkhangelsk Church of the House of Prayer, is not easy for the family, for the church and the brotherhood<\/span>.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]In September 2020, <\/span>the <\/span>28-year-old <\/span>Koldiaev<\/span>, a former member of the Baptist Church in Archangelsk, Russia before moving to another city, returned to support the church which was under a court order for <\/span>partial <\/span>demolition.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The small Baptist church had been facing problems since 2016 when private developers and the city government began court proceedings to claim land on which part of the church building stood<\/span>. \u201cT<\/span>he city had plans to build high rise apartments and a commercial center in the area<\/span>,\u201d says Representative Foley<\/span>. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Through the courts they declared a part of the church\u2019s building as an illegal construction. Over the next three years<\/span>,<\/span> demolition crews made repeated attempts to tear down the disputed portion, but each time they came, church members gathered and prevented the demolition. The church members always responded peacefully, insisting that their building had all the necessary building permits.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”46021″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Vyacheslav and Anna Koldiaev following Deacon Koldiaev\u2019s release from prison” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230f0f0f|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]According to Representative Foley, the <\/span>September 24, <\/span>2020<\/span> gathering at which <\/span>Koldiaev<\/span> was arrested was no different except for authorities\u2019 decision to arrest <\/span>Koldiaev<\/span>. \u201cIt is still unclear why they selected him for arrest, but Deacon <\/span>Koldiaev<\/span> always viewed it as a calling from the Lord. He wrote during his imprisonment, \u2018<\/span>The Lord had a need for the Church<\/span>: <\/span>ministry in bonds. He conceived the best for the Church, I was only required to agree to take this path (I and my spouse as well) and that happened already a long time ago.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The <\/span>Koldiaevs<\/span> have two sons, one of whom suffered a traumatic brain injury from a fall ten days before the beginning of <\/span>Koldiaev\u2019s<\/span> trial. But in remarks to the International Union of Churches of Evangelical Christian Baptists, Mrs. <\/span>Koldiaev<\/span>a<\/span> said, \u201c<\/span>Don\u2019t be too sad for our family<\/span>. <\/span>This is only a small part of the sorrow of the children of God.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that Deacon <\/span>Koldiaev<\/span> confirmed <\/span>the receipt of many international letters and postcards<\/span> during his imprisonment, in response to Voice of the Martyrs Korea\u2019s letter writing campaign<\/span>. <\/span>He wrote, \u201c<\/span>Dear friends, I thank you for your participation in the life of my family, for financial support in difficult situations. Thank you for the prayers which you send unceasingly to the throne of grace – many of you make a tremendous contribution by praying for my family, relatives, for me; your support was evident and through <\/span>it<\/span> God did mighty and wonderful things. Many have heard about God, many have received answers to their questions, many have been consoled. This path has not been traveled in vain, this path is worth every minute of it!\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”46022″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Vyacheslav Koldiaev receives flowers from children at the Baptist church in Arkhangelsk, Russia, following his release from prison (Source: \u041f\u043e\u0440\u0442\u0430\u043b \u0412\u0435\u0440\u043d\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044c)” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230f0f0f|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As for the church building, pursuan<\/span>t to<\/span> the court order, a private contractor demolished part of the church building and sent a bill to the church. <\/span>According to Representative Foley, supporters raised <\/span>funds<\/span> and<\/span> paid for <\/span>the <\/span>demolition without complaint<\/span>. \u201cThey were actually <\/span>able to re-register the building, despite the fact that the city’s chief architect assured them that they would never receive registration<\/span>,\u201d she says.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says it is important to continue to pray for <\/span>Koldiaev<\/span> a<\/span>s well as other evangelical Christians in Russia. \u201cThere is a \u2018rising tax on faithfulness\u2019 across the Russian Federation,\u201d says Representative Foley. \u201cB<\/span>asic Christian activities\u2014gathering for worship, distributing Bibles and Christian literature, and personal evangelism\u2014<\/span>are being <\/span>investigated by Russian police and punished as crimes by Russian courts of law.<\/span> Deacon <\/span>Koldiaev<\/span> spent two years in prison for peacefully protecting the house of God with other believers in a human chain. <\/span>We give thanks that <\/span>the Lord <\/span>used even Deacon <\/span>Koldiaev\u2019s<\/span> imprisonment for his divine purpose, but <\/span>believers facing opposition in Russia and the former Soviet Union should not have to face these things without the prayers, support, and tears of believers around the world.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”46023″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”The Baptist church building in Arkhangelsk, Russia. The right side of the building was declared by a court to be an unauthorized construction and was demolished. The church paid for the demolition and has re-registered the building. ” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230f0f0f|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Individuals interested in learning more about <\/span>V<\/span>oice of the Martyrs Korea<\/span>\u2019s work with <\/span>persecuted <\/span>evangelical <\/span>Christians in Russia and across the former Soviet Union <\/span>can visit <\/span><\/span>https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/<\/span>en\/<\/span>project\/russia-ministry\/<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”46029″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”Vyacheslav Koldiaev was released from prison in Arkhangelsk, Russia on March 3 after serving a two-year sentence on a charge of alleged \u201cuse of violence dangerous to …","protected":false},"author":659,"featured_media":46030,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[857,235,869,140],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-46032","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-russian-special","category-special-column","category-china-special","category-vomk-report"],"translation":{"provider":"WPGlobus","version":"3.0.2","language":"en","enabled_languages":["ko","en","zh","ru"],"languages":{"ko":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"en":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"zh":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"ru":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46032","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/659"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46032"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46032\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46054,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46032\/revisions\/46054"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/46030"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46032"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46032"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46032"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}