None of the priests with the UOC (in unity with the Moscow Patriarchate) were issued permission to perform chaplaincy activities in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
This is reported by the Military Courier outlet with reference to the State Service for Ethnic Policies and Freedom of Conscience. It is this state agency that grants priests of various denominations the official status of chaplain.
“The following religious denominations have received permits to carry out chaplaincy activities: the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Roman Catholic Church, Ukrainian Evangelical Church, Ukrainian Church of Christians of the Evangelical Faith, Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Ukraine Umma, and others. There is no Moscow Patriarchate among them,” said Vyacheslav Horshkov, Head of the Department for Cooperation with Religious Communities under the State Service for Ethnic Policies and Freedom of Conscience.
He added that as of today, out of 245 mandates for chaplaincy, more than 100 permits have been issued to priests with the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU).
The State Service also noted that chaplains officially serve exclusively with the Armed Forces, while the National Guard nor State Border Guard Service are yet to submit applications to achieve chaplainship certificates.
