We want to extend a warm welcome to Dr. Feliks Ponyatovskiy, his wife, Dr. Lilia, and their two children, Yan and Tereza. Though originally from Ukraine, they recently joined AIIAS from the Adventist University of Africa, Kenya. Both Dr. Feliks and Dr. Lilia are alumni of AIIAS. Dr. Feliks completed his PhD in Old Testament Studies in 2012. Mrs. Lilia completed a PhD in Education in 2015. Dr. Feliks took office as Dean of the Theological Seminary on July 17, 2026. Dr. Ponyatovskiy was born in Ukraine and did not grow up in an Adventist family. His journey into ministry and theological education was neither immediate nor predictable. During his final year of secondary school, he embraced the Seventh-day Adventist faith—a decision that would profoundly reshape the course of his life. His first academic pursuit was far removed from pastoral ministry. After graduating from high school, he enrolled in a public university to study navigation, preparing for a career as a seaman. As his faith matured, however, he became convinced that the demands of a seafaring profession were difficult to reconcile with his commitment to the Sabbath and the values of his newly embraced faith. Although he completed his degree, he chose not to pursue a maritime career. Instead, he followed a different calling by enrolling at Zaoksky Adventist Seminary, where he studied theology. He then continued his theological education through the Andrews University Master of Religion program offered at the Zaoksky extension site, graduating in 2005. Following his studies, Ponyatovskiy served as a pastor in Ukraine and later as a conference departmental director. In 2008, he began another significant chapter of his academic journey by enrolling in the doctoral program at the Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies (AIIAS) in the Philippines. After completing his PhD, he returned to Ukraine, where he served as Vice President for Academic Administration of the Ukrainian Adventist Center of Higher Education, contributing to the preparation of future pastors and church leaders. From 2020, he taught at the Adventist University of Africa. In 2023, he was appointed Dean of the Theological Seminary at the Adventist University of Africa. He held the post until he was appointed Dean at AIIAS Theological Seminary. Dr. Feliks is married to Dr. Lilia Poniatovska, and they have two children: a son Yan, currently pursuing an MA in Chemistry at the University of Tennessee, USA, and a daughter Tereza, who is in grade 4. Returning to AIIAS has been a true déjà vu experience for the Ponyatovski family. When Drs. Feliks and Liliia first arrived to pursue their doctoral studies, their son was the same age that their daughter, Tereza, is today. Drs. Feliks and Lilia’s favorite bible verse is Philippians 2:5-7 (KJV): “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.” As we welcome the Ponyatovskiy family into the AIIAS community, we would like to thank them for their willingness to serve at AIIAS.
