A field training for priests from the so-called “Crimean Metropolis of the Russian Orthodox Church” was held in the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea under the auspices of the Synodal Department of the Russian Orthodox Church for Interaction with the Armed Forces and Law Enforcement.
According to the agency “Voice of Crimea”, 24 priests took part in training, among whom were military chaplains from the Russian Black Sea Fleet. The organizers have not revealed their names.
The purpose of the training was to prepare priests for combat deployment in Ukraine, as well as for service in occupation military units in Crimea. Before the start of the exercises, a prayer service was held “for the beginning of a good deed”, after which the participants were greeted by Russian defense officials.
Exercise agenda included both military training and pastoral work
For several days, the priests underwent training, which included the following areas:
Worship in war: features of religious service in a combat zone, admission to communion, prayers for representatives from other faiths.
Tactical medicine: theoretical and practical classes in first aid and combat medevac
Military tactics: countering drones, topography, moving with heavy equipment, operating in trenches and dugouts, engineering and sapper work.
Field training: priests in military gear lived in dugouts alongside with conscripts, performed overnight combat duty, and spoke with the military.
The training session is yet another confirmation of the active participation of the Russian Orthodox Church in military aggression against Ukraine. The ROC, instead of preaching peace, is actually participating in the training of personnel to serve in the invasion army, using religion to justify crimes against the Ukrainian people.
