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Medvedev to order Defence Ministry to intensify chaplain service in army

The president said there are only 19 chaplains in the army now, but there are plans "to gradually develop and strengthen this service"

MOSCOW, November 5 (Itar-Tass) —— President Dmitry Medvedev said he would order the Defence Ministry to step up the creation of chaplain service in the army.

“This must be done more energetically, and it takes state will to do so. I think that the Defence Ministry should start working on this more actively. His Holiness [Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia] and I have discussed this, and I will give the relevant order to the Defence Ministry,” Medvedev said at a meeting with members of the Orthodox public on Saturday, November 5.

The president said there are only 19 chaplains in the army now, but there are plans “to gradually develop and strengthen this service”.

Russian Orthodox Church hierarchs, Orthodox students and members of public organisations attended the meeting.