Military Priests Promoted to Higher Ranks

Chisinau, October 12, 2012 — 21 military priests of the National Army and the Department of Penitentiary Institutions have been promoted today to the ranks of “2^nd lieutenant” and “1^st lieutenant” during an official ceremony held at Stefan cel Mare Brigade from Chisinau.

The epaulets were offered by Defense Minister Vitalie Marinuta and His Holiness Vladimir, Metropolitan of Chisinau and Whole Moldova.

According to the Defense Minister, the church and the army have always actively promoted moral-spiritual values among service members. “We, commanders, do our best to maintain discipline and combat readiness at high level, while the military priests are the ones to support the noble missions of homeland defender by means of moral-religious and social values in the army”, Minister Marinuta said.

In his turn, Metropolitan Vladimir appreciated the cooperation between the Metropolitan Church of Moldova and the National Army, specifying the priests’ mission in the military units is very good for the patriotic, civic and ethical education of the young generation. “Young men doing their military service leave their parents and relatives for one year and the Orthodox Church, through military priests, helps them to overcome the difficulties of the army life by praying, organizing divine services and providing religious assistance”, His Holiness Vladimir said.

During the event, a book of prayers for service members printed with the blessing of His Holiness Vladimir, and the technical support of the Republic of Moldova Ministry of Defense was launched and distributed to the military contingent of Stefan cel Mare Brigade. Soon, the book will be distributed to other military units of the National Army.

The cooperation of the Ministry of Defense with the Orthodox Church has lasted for years. The cooperation started July 8, 1997, when a joint agreement was concluded by the above defense and the religious institutions. The cooperation between the Church and the Army is also due to the Law on service members’ statute No. 162-XVI as of 22.07.2005, the 2012-2017 Joint Action Program of the Metropolitan Church of Moldova and the Ministry of Defense on spiritual education of the Nationaol Army staff.