International mercenary builds church to atone his sins

Viktor Kruchinin has traveled a half of the world as a military man. When he finally returned to his native village, he built a church with the help of his sons to atone his mortal sins. The 55-year-old mercenary does not like to recollect his past.

Photo: International mercenary builds church to atone his sins

“I have been through the Afghan war, from the very beginning to the very end. Our unit, Scorpio, was after caravans. I did not return to my native land after the war. I was very lucky, I stayed alive after every battle that we had. So I thought that I was a solider of luck,” the man said.

Viktor became a mercenary after the Afghan war and traveled across South Africa, Vietnam, Congo, Nigeria and other hotspots. That part of his life still hurts his soul.

“When I finally returned home in 1992, I burnt everything that reminded me of the war – photographs, things, letters. I wanted to forget that nightmare as soon as possible,” he said.

Kruchinin became a farmer and raised two sons. The former mercenary wakes up almost every night as he sees the faces of those whom he killed. One day he realized that he must build a church to repent his sins.

Viktor’s both sons – Artyom and Ilya – supported their father’s idea. The man would take his sons to the woods every morning to fell trees and deliver the materials to the construction.

Viktor spent all his savings on the construction of the temple. The church in honor of the Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God is still being built: the men are currently working on its roof, Life.Ru reports.

“There is a lot of work to be done, but we are through with the most important work here. We installed the cross on the dome too,” the man said.

The construction is to be finished in the summer of this year.

“I am not telling anything of my war experience to my closest people. I will never forget what I saw. Each day becomes easier for me as we build the church, I do not see the faces of my victims in my dreams anymore. I believe that God will forgive me,” the man said.

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