Over 40 priests of UOC-KP serve in ATO zone, but they do not fight

In the area of anti-terrorist operation there are 40 chaplains of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyiv Patriarchate.

This statement was made by Patriarch Filaretin an interview with Ukrainian News.

“They were officially appointed by the General Staff of the Armed Forces, approximately 15 chaplains. In general, there are about 40 people, and maybe more,” he said.

According to him, the priests go to the ATO zone on their own will.

“There is a law of chaplaincy, and we use this law, send priests, those who want to go on their own will. They go there to pray, to raise the spirit of warriors,” said Filaret.

At the same time the patriarch says that priests do not participate in hostilities.

"They go voluntarily into the trenches, but the do not take weapon in hand because the priest has no right to carry weapons and shoot," says the Patriarch.

He added that if the priest shoots, he will be banned from service.

According to Filaret,priests in the ATO zonestand beside the soldiers, pray, talk and support them.

Patriarch also said theSocial Aid Department is operating at the UOC-KP, conducting workshops for rehabilitation of soldiers who had fought in the east.

Previously the Cabinet introduced chaplainship in the Armed Forces, National Guard and the State Border Service,as reported by Ukrainian Pravda