Alexandra Donskikh

Alexandra has come to us from Moldovia, from a family of Russian origin and from the Lutheran congregation of Chisinau. 

Alexandra Liebstock

Alexandra is a member of the St. Peter's congregation in St. Petersburg, where she continues to take part in church life actively. She was born in 1988 in the city, which at that time still was called Leningrad. She studied at different institutes before coming to the Seminary, so she already has some knowledge of history, archeology, theology and religions, and she also knows German and English. 

'While studying at the Seminary I want to find out whether I can be a pastor - whether I have enough strength and motivation. I want to connect my future life with Church ministry. This idea always came to me from time to time as a kind of emergency plan, but now it has moved into the foreground and is gaining strength. In this the example of the pastors of our St. Peter's Church and of other ministers in Russia, Germany and other countries are helpful to me.'

Anastasia Rasin'kova

Anastasia is another of our Siberian students, coming from Shelekhov, which is close to the city of Irkutsk. She was born in 1983. Before coming to us she studied in Irkutsk and became a teacher of music. In her church she was the cantor. 

'I want to do ministry in the church with deep knowledge of God and Church history. I grew up in a Christian family, I'm looking at my mother as a role model. I would like not to have a worldly job but a ministry in Church.'

Ivan Shirokov

Ivan is from the Volga region, from a place called Gorodishche near Volgograd. He was born in 1986. He already has a higher education - he is a teacher of biology and chemistry. The Seminary allowed his wife Julia to join him; she is now working in St. Petersburg.

'My main motivation for studying theology are the words of Jesus Christ: 'Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit' (Mt 28:19). In our Information society, as I see it, many people have lost their spirituality and faith in God. Now we can see frustration spreading, and as a result, the morality is falling. Many people just don't know a different way of life. My task in my future work will be spiritual enlightenment of the people in order to bring faith in God, self-assurance and the hope of salvation back to them.'

Oleg Zeitler

Oleg has come to us from the church in Kazan in the Volga region. That is where he was born in 1985 and got his school and professional education (he is a machinist). In St. Catherine's Church in Volgograd he did youth work.  

'I want to dedicate my live to serving the Lord, the Lutheran church and the people. Beginning from the moment I received Christ, my life changed. I felt how Jesus Christ came into my life and worked in my heart. This grew into my wish to help others to be in Christ. God is the sense of my life.'