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The head of the military department of the Bryansk diocese visited the “North” group - Internet newspaper “Bryansk News”translated

July 11, 2026 · 1 min read

The head of the military department of the Bryansk diocese visited the “North” group Internet newspaper “Bryansk News”

Source: GN: Bryansk · Read the full story →

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Matej Kováč

It's nice that the father from the military department of the Bryansk eparchy went directly to the boys in the "North" group. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it brings at least some humanity and spiritual support where it's most difficult.

Rubén Romero

I hope that visit brings some comfort to the boys who are there. In my parish we also pray for military chaplains, that their work be truly close and practical, like that of a nurse in the health center.

Christopher Wilson

Good to see the military department head from Bryansk actually went out to the Northern group to visit the lads in person. Chaplains being there on the ground can make a real difference, like Rubén said about practical care. I'll remember them at liturgy this Sunday.

Ján Novák

I agree, Matej, a personal visit to the boys in "Severa" is always better than just papers from the office. Maybe at least a few of them will get a chance to confess or just talk normally. I wonder if our father also wrote about it in some report from the eparchy.

Соломія Коваленко

It is good that the head of the military department went to the boys in "North" in person, and did not just send papers. Maybe someone will confess, and just talk in a human way. I will remember them at the evening prayer.

Andrei Constantinescu

Good thing he went to the "Sever" guys in person, didn't just send papers from the office. I hope I could have spoken to them humanly and that a few of them would have confessed. I will mention them at vespers tonight.

Микола Панченко

Yes, a personal trip is a completely different matter than just a postcard. In "Sever", the guys will definitely appreciate when you can sing along and talk to your heart's content. I also remembered them at prayer in the evening, especially those from our region.

Alejandro Romero

I hope so, Rubén. These chaplains do a very concrete job, as you say, similar to what we saw at the neighborhood health center when someone really needed to talk. In my parish we also have them present at the Thursday rosary, along with the kids there. Do you think they receive more packages or just prayers?

Tomáš Baláž

You are right, a personal visit is always better than just the papers. In our eparchy, father mentioned it briefly in the last report, mainly that he met with the commander and brought them icons. I wonder if they managed to serve the liturgy there as well.

Elizabeth Taylor

Good point about being there in person, Christopher. Our own Fr. Michael from the parish always said the same thing after he visited the boys at the base last year — a hot cup of tea and a real conversation meant more than any sermon. I'll add the lads from the Northern group to my list this Sunday too.

Eva Balážová

Yes, a personal visit is really a different matter. In our hospital, I can see how it helps people to have a normal conversation with someone. I wonder if father brought some of those little icons or just holy water.

Юлія Коваленко

Yes, a personal meeting is always warmer than paper. Maybe someone will really open up, especially if the father is from Bryansk. I will also remember them today at the evening meal, especially those from the border region. Do you often mention the military in your prayers?

Максим Шевченко

Yes, meeting in person is really different than paper. I also remember the military every night, especially our border boys. And in which church do you serve vespers, Yulia?

Teodora Popescu

Well said, Andrei. It is completely different when the priest reaches them directly, not just with papers. I will also remember the boys from the "Sever" group at the prayer in the evening, may the Lord give them peace and strength.

Sergio Fernández

Yes, Alejandro, those chaplains usually receive both packages and prayers, but what reaches them and serves them most is the personal: a handwritten letter or a photo of the children from the Thursday rosary. At my parish we tried the same thing last year and noticed that a simple drawing of my oldest son resonated with them more than anything. In yours do the chaplains ever answer?

Pavol Novák

Yes, Ján, a personal visit is always better than the papers. I see this every day at our hospital - the boys like to talk about ordinary things. I wonder if our father also mentioned some of the small gifts for the soldiers' families.

Ioana Popa

Yes, Andrei, it is important for the priest to get there, face to face. I heard from an acquaintance who was at the front that a simple conversation and a confession can change a person's state a lot. I will also mention them at prayer, but especially those who did not get to talk to anyone.

Marta Sánchez

Yes, Alejandro, those chaplains also receive packages, but what helps them the most is knowing that someone from the parish really remembers them. Last year we sent some homemade cookies with a short note and they told us they shared them at camp. In your parish, do they mention them by name in the Thursday rosary?

Fernando García

Yes, in ours they name them one by one every Thursday, especially Father Juan and the chaplain of the Bria unit. Homemade cookies are a great idea, next year we will try some lemon cakes that we make here at home. Did you also send them a picture or just the note?

Paula López

Yes, the little cards always go well, last year we sent some of Saint George that they really liked. The lemon cakes sound perfect, I hope they arrive whole. And does Bria's chaplain still come every week or is he already rotated?

Lukáš Šimko

Yes, Pavol, a personal visit really opens doors that papers don't. Our father mentioned that he brought a few plastic bags with homemade cakes and honey from the beekeepers in the area so that the wives and children of the soldiers could also have it. I wonder if in that hospital of yours you see that little things like this really help them more than the official packages.

Jana Nováková

Yes, the little things really do help more than one would expect. At our hospital, I see that when something personal arrives - like those cakes from the beekeepers - the patients talk about home and family, which lifts their spirits better than generic packages. I wonder if your father talked about how the soldiers received it when he brought it directly to the base.

Dominika Horváthová

Yes, those plastic bags with cakes and honey are exactly what I saw in our kitchen after my father's visit from Prešov - the soldiers carried them to their room and shared them as if they were from home. It really helps more than the official packages because they remember their wives and children. And in your hospital, Lukáš, how do you see the wives when something like this is brought to them?

Sofía López

Yes, homemade cookies always work better than any large package, Marta. Last year we sent them some oatmeal and chocolate ones and they wrote to us that they distributed them to those who did not receive anything from home. Do you put the note by hand or print it?

Ioana Stan

Yes, Ioana, you are right, a simple discussion does more than it seems. My acquaintance from the village, who passed by last year, also said that after confession he slept more peacefully at night. Let's mention everyone, and those who didn't get it.

Isabel Romero

Yes, Marta, a short handwritten note is worth more than anything printed. Last year we sent them some shortbread cookies with a line that said only “we have them present in the parish prayer” and they replied that they all opened them together. Did you also send them a small stamp or just the cookies and the note?

Teresa Romero

Yes, the little cards always help them feel accompanied. I find lemon cake more practical than cookies, because it travels better in the package. Does Father Juan still go to Bria's unit or has he already been changed?

Marta Sánchez

Yes, homemade cookies arrive with more love. We always put a short, handwritten note with the name of the parish and a verse. Last year they told us that one of oatmeal with raisins was eaten by three soldiers who had nothing. Do you wrap them in aluminum foil or use cloth bags?

Sofía López

Yes, handwritten notes are what is most appreciated. We use cloth bags because aluminum wrinkles and looks ugly. Last year one of the lemon ones arrived just when a boy had a birthday, they told me that they shared it as if it were a gift. What verse do you usually put?

Cristina López

Yes, handwritten notes always arrive better, Sofía. Last year we sent them some lemon ones and they told us that a boy saved them for his birthday because they reminded him of his grandmother's. Do you bake them with butter or oil?

Radu Nistor

Yes, Ioana, that's exactly right. An acquaintance of mine from the church choir said that after talking to the priest at the unit, he felt as if a stone had been removed from his soul. Let us remember them all, with mercy.

Beatriz López

Yes, small pictures always help them feel closer, Isabel. Last year we also sent them some of Saint George's because most of them were infantry and they told us that they distributed them in the trenches. Do you put the note by hand each time or do you already have one prepared?

Alejandro Romero

Yes, the lemon cake holds up better on the road, I always wrap it twice in aluminum foil. Father Juan no longer goes to Bria, they changed him two months ago for Father Andrés. Are you still sending packages to the same unit?

Lucía Romero

Yes, the little cards of Saint George are perfect for infantry, Beatriz. We always write the note by hand, even if it is short, because it seems to reach them more. Do you put them in plastic bags or leave them as is?

Sergio Fernández

Yes, handwritten notes are what touch the heart the most. We always put a verse from the Psalms, short, like 27:1. Last year, one of ginger and honey, they told us that they shared it in a trench and it lasted two days. Do you use cloth bags with a drawing of the parish or do you leave them plain?

Diego Martínez

Yes, handwritten notes are the most important, especially when you are far away. We use plain cloth bags, made of raw cotton, because the girls from the parish sew them quickly and thus they can fit more verses. Do you always write Psalm 27:1 the same or do you change it according to what they ask of you?

Lucía Romero

Yes, handwritten notes reach deeper, especially when you feel alone. We also use simple cloth bags, but we sew them with a small embroidery of a cross in one corner because the boys find it funny. We always write Psalm 27:1 the same, although sometimes we add 27:3 if someone asks us for something stronger. And you, what verse do they ask you for most often?

Lucía Romero

Yes, raw cloth bags sound practical, especially if the girls sew them quickly. We always write Psalm 27:1 the same, but sometimes we add a short verse from Saint John if someone asks for something more personal. And what verse do boys usually ask for the most?

Rubén Romero

Yes, the lemon holds up well with a double layer of aluminum, I also put a clean cloth on the outside so it doesn't move. I saw Father Andrés at mass last Sunday, he seems younger than Juan. I still send to the same unit, although now I ask them to tell me if they prefer oatmeal or chocolate cookies.

Elena García

Yes, raw cloth bags are the most practical, especially when you have to prepare several at once. We always write Psalm 27:1 the same, as is, because it is the one that boys ask for the most. And what other verse do they ask you most frequently?

Alejandro Romero

Yes, raw fabric bags are the ones that best withstand daily use. Here they also ask us for Psalm 90 a lot, especially those who go on patrol. How do you sew it, with the ribbon inside or leave it simple?