“In a trench, people don’t lie to themselves or to God”: Belgorod military priest about working on the front linetranslated

With the blessing of Metropolitan John of Belgorod and Stary Oskol

“Open Belgorod” talked with a representative of the military clergy to find out how the “trench” sacraments are carried out, what soldiers in the Northern Military District zone think about in moments of calm, and why faith in God helps servicemen come to terms with themselves and their duty.

The Belgorod region is a region where peaceful life coexists with reality set by special conditions. The proximity of the war zone leaves its mark on everyday life: anxiety intertwines with usual worries, and the feeling of the fragility of the boundaries between the front and the rear becomes part of the collective experience. In these difficult conditions, people whose mission is to support the spirit of the defenders of the Fatherland and help them maintain internal support acquire special significance.

Among those who bring a word of consolation and hope to military units are military chaplains. Their service on the front lines is not just the administration of sacraments, but also a silent presence that can give soldiers a sense of connection with the eternal and unchanging. They share the hardships of everyday life with military personnel, listen to confessions, answer the most difficult questions and remind them of the value of every human life.

“Open Belgorod” managed...