Biography
The quiet, measured life of the family of Aleksey Yershov, a retired engineer and teacher, completely changed when in the summer of 2020 security forces raided the believers' apartment with a search. A criminal case was initiated against a peaceful pensioner and later the court sentenced him to imprisonment.
Alexey was born in February 1953 in the city of Seversk (Tomsk Region) into a family of workers. In the same year, his father died tragically. Then Alexey’s elder sister was only five years old. Mother had to raise five weather children alone. Alexey's mom and elder sister are no longer alive.
From early childhood, Alexey collected postage stamps, matchsticks, coins, bonds (paper banknotes), postcards and envelopes. He attended various sports sections.
After graduating from 8 classes, Alexey studied at a technical school, and then at the University of Marxism-Leninism. He worked as a technician, senior engineer and mechanic, taught at a vocational school. He is now retired.
In 1973, Alexey met his future wife Lyudmila, and after 3 years they got married. Lyudmila worked as a preschool teacher. She loves to paint, read and plant houseplants. The couple raised two children — a son and a daughter.
The practical benefits of biblical truths, as well as the hope for the resurrection of his beloved relatives, prompted Alexey to devote his life to serving God. Together with his wife, in 1994, they embarked on the Christian path. Their adult daughter Olga shares the spiritual and moral values of her parents. She is an amateur photographer.
In his free time, Alexey continues to do collecting, tries to keep himself in good physical shape — he goes skiing, is engaged in Scandinavian walking. Likes to grow vegetables and berries in a garden plot.
The criminal prosecution and searches had a negative impact on the health of Lyudmila and Olga. The family lives in constant stress, waiting for new searches and interrogations, but despite this they try to encourage each other. Alexei shares: "This challenge brought us together as a family. Friends are surprised that in Russia they can be persecuted for their faith, and they support us in every possible way, for which we are very grateful to them."