A sense of faith: a prayer center for three religions has been opened in SVO
The first point for working with religious servicemen of the three largest religions of Russia has been opened in the area of the special operation. It has three prayer rooms — for Orthodox, Muslims and Buddhists. Here, the military can be left alone with God. The Izvestia correspondent visited the Center military group, saw how the clergy consecrated a new dugout, and found out how important faith is at the front.
"To be alone with the Lord"
At the training ground where we arrived, military personnel who received their first officer positions and ranks during their military service are being trained. It is located in one of the rear areas. Almost all the rooms here are recessed and almost invisible from the ground and air.
But once you go underground, classrooms are opened where junior commanders are engaged. Under one of the camouflage nets is a door with the inscription "Point of work with religious servicemen."
The battalion's deputy commander for military and political work, Major Dmitry Turomshin, shows a neat staircase leading down to a wood-lined bunker.
The underground room is divided by partitions into three prayer rooms: one each for Orthodox, Muslims and Buddhists. They have everything you need: Orthodox have icons, Muslims have the Koran, and Buddhists have a statue of Buddha.
— As far as I know, this is the first such point, — says the major.
According to him, the commander of the training ground is a believer and paid special attention to this area, insisting on the construction of a dugout.
"Every serviceman, regardless of religion, needs a place for privacy, an opportunity to be alone with the Lord," he notes.
Three faiths — one dugout
Priests of three religions arrive to consecrate the prayer bunker. There is a slight hitch at the entrance: after opening the door, the Orthodox priest lets the others go ahead. His "colleagues" — a Muslim and a Buddhist — insist that he enter first.
The consecration ceremony takes place quickly but solemnly.
— It is important that, while remaining faithful to the church canons and our traditions, we do not forget that we have a common Homeland, to which we are also devoted, which we love and which unites us. And this unifying principle is the key to our friendship, sincere relations and, of course, our future and our Victory," says Archpriest John Kovalev, senior priest of the mobile group.
Priests on the front line
Mobile groups for interaction with religious servicemen are working in the Center group of forces. They include representatives of the Orthodox and Muslim clergy. They are provided with transportation and move around the entire area of responsibility.
The clergy travel to hospitals, to the front line, as well as to liberated cities, where they help both military and civilians.
According to John Kovalev, the need for spiritual support among fighters who stay away from temples for a long time is very high, especially in conditions of constant combat work.
Imam Akhund Nail Aminov, assistant to the head of the department for work with religious servicemen, recalls that there were no clergy in the Soviet army - neither Orthodox priests, nor Muslim imams, nor a Buddhist lama. The personnel studied the regulations, combat and political training.
"When I joined the Russian army, spirituality immediately caught my eye, and faith in God appeared,— says Imam Akhund Nail Aminov. — And this is not only in the area of the SVO. In the rear, at the point of permanent deployment, I often communicate with the young recruits, where the guys are drafted for one year, and I see that this is important for them.
Perfectly clean leather boots, camouflage trousers tucked into them and a properly tucked tunic collar give you a lot of service experience. This was how the uniform was worn until the reforms of the 2000s.
Indeed, Imam Akhund Nail Aminov was a career soldier before he joined the reserve in 1994. He returned to service in 2023 as a full-time clergyman of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. He knows firsthand about various periods of the history of our army, as well as about the life of military personnel.
He emphasizes that young people, feeling an interest in religion, often try to learn Islam from sources on the Internet. Because of this, they often depart from the canons and traditions. In this situation, personal communication with the imam is necessary.
The Buddhist view
Lama Bady-Shuluun Bavuu, Assistant to the head of the department for work with religious servicemen, regularly visits the military training area.
— I have been here more than ten times on business trips. I conduct conversations, both individually and in groups," he says. — Everyone can attend the prayer services, regardless of religion. I wish everyone only the best and I read the hural.
Most often, he works in the 55th brigade of the Center group. When the unit was in the Kremennaya area, he also organized prayer places for Buddhists in the dugouts.
According to him, the opportunity to pray in a calm environment is important for representatives of any religion.
The proverb "There are no atheists in war" did not arise by chance — faith at the front really helps to survive.
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