The number of believing servicemen has increased by almost 46% in recent years

On January 30, a section on Aspects of Military Training for Army and Navy Chaplains within the 15^th International Christmas Readings was held at the Ministry of Defense’s Troop Academy.

The participants discussed the problem of army clergy and considered what military knowledge and skills should have an army priest today.

Archpriest Dimitry Smirnov, head of the Synodal Department for Cooperation with the Armed Forces and Law Enforcement, was the first to speak. He stressed that the Russian Armed Forces and the Church had many aims in common, among them revival of the army clergy. Thus, last year the Defense Ministry set up a Public Council, which is to give a new impulse to the development of cooperation between the Army and the Church.

In addition, he said, a considerable contribution to these contacts was made last autumn by the South Shield-2006 large-scale military maneuvers as about 20 Orthodox clergy from 9 dioceses participated in them.

Rear-Admiral Yuri Nuzhdin, deputy head of the directorate for educational work in the army, noted in his report that patriotism and Orthodoxy were interrelated and inseparable. ‘We see today only the beginning of cooperation between these two important social institutions. For progress in this direction it is necessary to work out an appropriate legislative basis, to issue administrative instructions and documents stating clearly the obligations and powers of the two sides. A clear division of responsibilities will help avoid misunderstanding between clergy, military psychologists and educating officers and achieve the aims we have set ourselves’, the rear admiral believes.

The Armed Forces are ready to enter into cooperation with all the religions and confessions traditional in Russia. In recent years the number of believers in the army has increased by 43% and 83% claim to be Orthodox.

The participants in the section made this conclusion: an army priest should know the military history, the history of his military unit as well as branches and types. Such a priest should have an idea of military service regulations and legislation as well as the international humanitarian law and should be given the appropriate military knowledge. In addition, he should be aware of the political and geopolitical situation and the existing controversies in the spiritual life of society.

DECR Communication Service