ROC priests from Crimea undergo basic military training

In Crimea, under the auspices of the Russian Orthodox Church's Synodal Department for Interaction with the Armed Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies, a field training camp for the clergy of the so-called "Crimean Metropolis of the Russian Orthodox Church" was held.

According to the Golos Kryma news agency, 24 clergymen, including military priests of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, took part in the training, their names were not disclosed.

"The purpose of the events was to educate and prepare priests who wish to travel to the combat zone on the territory of Ukraine or to army units in the TOT of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea to provide pastoral care to the occupation military contingent," the agency notes.

According to the IA, before the start of the events, a prayer service was held "to begin a good deed," after which the participants were greeted by the heads of the Russian Ministry of Defense in the TOT of the AR of Crimea.

After the relevant briefing, the classes were held for several days in the main areas of training:

• Worship services in the "war zone" and their specifics;
• Discussion of various controversial issues regarding admission to communion, prayer for "non-Orthodox" and other issues;
• tactical medicine: theoretical and practical parts with modeling of various situations, first aid and evacuation of the wounded;
• possible methods of countering FPV drones and UAVs;
• topography and geography of the "war zone";
• movement of military equipment, work in trenches and dugouts;
• engineering and demining.

All clergymen underwent all levels of training in conditions as close to combat as possible, in military equipment. During the training, they were stationed in dugouts with conscripts. Night combat duties were also organized, during which the clergy held conversations and communicated with the personnel. Finally, a mobile field church in the name of the Archangel Michael was deployed, where a thanksgiving prayer service was held and the results of the meeting were summarized.

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