The involvement of priests and imams plays a crucial role in supporting participants of the special military operation (SMO) and helping them transition back to normal life, Hero of Russia and Deputy Head of the Tyumen Higher Military Engineering Command School Rustam Saifullin told TASS.
"The activity of both priests and imams is essential. Not every soldier will approach a psychologist, a church, or a mosque with their problems. It’s necessary for soldiers to receive support not only from social services and coordinators but also from the clergy—people who will communicate with them," Saifullin said.
He emphasized that this approach is vital for helping service members reintegrate into everyday life. "Words can heal or harm. As it says in the Bible: 'In the beginning was the Word.' And everything else followed. It’s very important to help these men adapt socially and return to a normal way of life as quickly as possible," he added.
Clergy from the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) are actively engaged across all areas of the SMO. In April 2024, Metropolitan Kirill, head of the Synodal Department for Cooperation with the Armed Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies, reported that around 1,000 ROC priests had visited the SMO zone three or even four times. He clarified that this figure includes both official military chaplains registered with the Russian Ministry of Defense and volunteer clergy.
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Based on TASS materials