VGI Updates

Pastor Aßmus was born 5 October 1869 in Fresental and died 18 January 1925 in Moscow.

He served the following parishes:

• Stavropol (1894-1897)
• Yekaterinodar (1897-1907) - as associate pastor
• Schemacha-Baku (1907-1917)

Father Asum was born 6 July 1784 in Oberhaslach, Bavaria, and died 2 April 1847 in Linz, Austria. He was a member of the Order of the Society of Jesus (Jesuit Order) and was ordained 5 July 1803. He served the Kamenka Parish from 14 August 1819 to 15 September 1820.

Pastor Aßmus served the parish in Riebensdorf from 1766-1768.

Father Baumtrog, brother of Father Josef Baumtrog, was born in 1883 in Neu-Kolonie [some sources record his birth in Mariental]. He attended seminary in Saratov, and was ordained in 1909. He went to the university in Innsbruck, Austria, and completed his studies there in 1911. His first parish was in Saratov. He served the parish in Roshdestvenskaya in the Caucasus from 1914 to 1917. From 1917 to 1919, he served the parish of Mariental.

Pastor Hugo Becker was sent to Germany for six months following World War II to work with POWs and displaced persons under the auspices of the Committee for War Victims and Reconstruction of the Congregational Christian Churches, the Y.M.C.A., and the Prisoners of War Committee of America.

Pastor Becker served Ebenezer Congregational Church in Portland, Oregon, from 1937-1948. The records for the Pacific Conference of Congregational Churches do not indicate that he served other churches.

Pastor Liborius Eduard Herbord Behning, son of Pastor Georg Behning & Mathilda Paulina Kruger, was born 3 December 1862 in Sarata (Bessarabia) and died 26 March 1933 in Saratov. He studied theology at the University of Dorpat (Estonia), served a vicorage under Pastor Günther in Beideck, and was ordained on 18 October 1888 in Odessa.

He married on 20 April 1889 to Beata Asmus, daughter of Jakob Asmus & Rosalia Rothermel. They were the parents of Arvid Behning, a famous zoologist, and Beata Behning (born 1899) who was married to Pastor Arthur Julius Kluck.

Father Beilmann was born in 1847 in Volmer, and died 25 June 1903 in Saratov. He was ordained on 23 July 1872 and received his first call to Rosental in the Crimea. From 1873 to 1875, he served the parish in Luzern. He returned to Rosental in 1875 and 1876. In 1885, he was the priest and deacon of the Katharinenstadt Parish. From 1885 to 27 November 1900, Father Beilmann served as priest and deacon to the parish in Seelmann. From 1900 to 1907 he was in Marienberg.

Father Bielmann was born in Volmer in 1873. He was ordained in 1897. His first call was to Georgsburg, Denmark. He also served in Husaren and Seelmann.

Father Beilmann was born in 1873 in Volmer and was ordained in 1896.

His first call was to Rohleder where he served until 31 July 1898. He also served the parishes of Bergtal and Krasna in Bessarabia. From 21 September 1908 to 9 October 1910, he served as the administrator in Karlsruhe (Odessa District). He then served as vicar of the parish of Pfeifer, and in 1914 began religious instruction in Seelmann. From 1924 to 1928 he served the parish of Köhler. From 1928 to 1930, when services were banned, he went to Volmer to live with his parents.

Father Adam Bellendir was born in 1889 in Köhler.

Father Bellendir studied theology at the Catholic Seminary in Saratov. He was ordained in 1913.