His Holiness the Patriarch visits the Armed Forces General Staff Academy

HIS HOLINESS THE PATRIARCH VISITS THE ARMED FORCES GENERAL STAFF ACADEMY

Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia attended on December 8 the celebrations held by the Armed Forces General Staff Academy on the occasion of its 168th anniversary.

His Holiness conducted a thanksgiving at the Chapel of Archangel Michael, patron saint of the Orthodox military. Worshipping in the chapel were the Academy’s military commanders, teachers, students and veterans and their families. Among the congregation were the General Staff first deputy head Gen. Col. V. Manilov, the Academy first deputy head Gen. Col. V. Barynkin, the chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for the Army and Law-Enforcement, Bishop Savva of Krasnogorsk.

After the thanksgiving, His Holiness congratulated the Academy staff on the anniversary, saying in particular, “The Academy of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces is marking its 168th anniversary. During these years, the Academy graduated many military commanders who defended the Fatherland’s frontiers with honor and dignity. The Academy cherishes its historical traditions. In 1992, the Academy held a first conference devoted to the memory of the holy Prince Alexander Nevsky. In 1995, the chapel dedicated to the Archangel Michael was consecrated. In this church we have said our prayers today, thanking God for all the blessings He has poured out on the Academy during its 168-year-long life. We thanked the Lord for our being together for five years, sharing the awareness that we have one history, one Fatherland and one future”.

After that the staff made a solemn formation at the assembly-hall of the Academy. They were addressed by the Academy’s head Gen. Col. V. Chechevatov, Patriarch Alexy and General Manilov. General Chechevatov reminded them that the General Staff Academy was founded in 1832 by Emperor Nicholas I. Speaking about the past and present of the Academy, he emphasized the role that the Russian Orthodox Church played in the formation of patriotic and spiritual-moral traditions of the Russian Army. Patriarch Alexy decorated the commanders, professors and students who took an active part in the regeneration of cooperation between the Church and the Army with church awards. General Chechevatov gave to him a pectoral cross with which an unknown military priest was decorated “for selfless service of God and the Fatherland, zealous fulfillment of pastoral duties and personal courage during the Crimean War of 1853-1856”. He also presented His Holiness a two-volume edition of works by the Russian secretary of war, Gen. A. F. Ridiger, a Patriarch’s ancestor, a graduate and later professor of the General Staff Academy.