ESTABLISHMENT AND ROLE OF PASTORALITY IN THE HISTORY OF THE UKRAINIAN ARMY

Abstract

The article describes the history of the formation of the chaplaincy and the role of military chaplains in the war. On the territory of our country, the Orthodox Christian Church already in the 11th–13th centuries played an important role in all spheres of life, great princely campaigns were always preceded by a prayer. The Zaporozhian army had 44 permanent churches and 13 chapels. Each Cossack formation had its own church. The duties of chaplains included conducting religious services in places where units were deployed, confessing before battles and seriously wounded soldiers, caring for the sick, and cultural and educational activities. Only in 2016, full-time chaplain positions appeared – first in the National Guard, then in the Armed Forces. The Law “On Military Chaplaincy Service” entered into force on July 1, 2022. It provides for the rights and duties of chaplains, the interaction of religious organizations with the state, material and technical support of pastoral service and responsibility. The status of military chaplains was equated to that of officers. With the beginning of the full-scale military invasion of the Russian Federation, the number of chaplains in Ukraine increased significantly. All the priests serving on the battlefield say that the current war is sacred for Ukrainians, because it was not us who came with weapons, but us. And so – we will win, God and Victory are with us.