Patriarch Kirill appointed the chief priest in the “SVO” zone

Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill signed a decree on the appointment of the chief military priest in the zone of the so-called special military operation on the territory of Ukraine. Archpriest Dmitry Vasylenkov, who previously held the position of chairman of the department for interaction with the Cossacks of the St. Petersburg diocese, became him.

According to the plans of the Russian Orthodox Church, Vasylenko will be responsible for “spiritual mentoring of Russian servicemen and employees of security forces located in the combat zone.”

Last year, the Russian Orthodox Church revived the position of chief priest of the military and naval clergy, which existed until 1918.

• Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia has repeatedly spoken out in support of it. In his opinion, what happened was provoked by external forces that wanted to destroy Russia. A number of priests of the Russian Orthodox Church who spoke out against Russian military aggression were persecuted.
• In November of last year, the priest of the 76th airborne assault division of the Airborne Forces, Alexander Tsyganov, and the rector of the church at the headquarters of the Strategic Missile Forces of Russia, archpriest Mikhail Vasiliev, died as a result of shelling on the territory of Ukraine. Vasiliev said shortly before his death that “there is nothing more peaceful” than nuclear weapons.