題圖：東正教牧師在坦克部隊陣地上為俄羅斯軍人主持主顯節(jié)儀式。

Moscow’s army is facing a spiritual shortfall and the Russian Orthodox Church has highlighted an urgent need for more military clergy to care for soldiers and officers. Speaking at the 33rd International Educational Christmas Readings in Moscow this week, Metropolitan Kirill of Stavropol and Nevinnomyssk revealed that, while 300 priests currently serve in military roles, the number actually required stands at 1,500. This shortage comes at a time when the Church sees its role as crucial in addressing the moral and spiritual challenges facing soldiers during the Ukraine conflict.

莫斯科的軍隊正面臨精神上的補給匱乏，俄羅斯東正教強調(diào)迫切需要更多神父來關(guān)懷士兵和軍官。斯塔夫羅波爾和涅溫諾梅斯克都主教基里爾本周在莫斯科第33屆國際教育圣誕讀經(jīng)會上表示，目前有300名神父在軍隊服役，但實際需求卻高達1500。這一短缺出現(xiàn)在教會認為其角色對解決烏克蘭沖突中士兵面臨的道德與精神挑戰(zhàn)至關(guān)重要的時刻。

Fighting the “Mischief” of War

對抗戰(zhàn)爭中的“邪惡”

One of the key tasks of military priests, according to participants at the readings, is to combat the “mischief” that emerges in individuals involved in combat operations. This includes countering the “sinful spirit of revenge” that can take hold in soldiers grieving for lost comrades. Archpriest Demetrius Vasilenkov, Deputy Chairman of the Synodal Department for Cooperation with the Armed Forces, stressed the significance of their work: “The role of military priests is the main condition for victory in this war.” He emphasized that a faithful soldier “knows the meaning of this war very well–he is fighting for the truth” and, even in the face of brutality, does not allow himself to be dehumanized.

據(jù)讀經(jīng)會參與者稱，軍事神父的核心任務(wù)之一是打擊參戰(zhàn)人員心中滋生的“邪惡”，包括遏制因失去戰(zhàn)友而悲傷的士兵產(chǎn)生“罪惡的復(fù)仇心理”。俄羅斯東正教主教會議武裝力量合作部副主席、大司祭德米特里-瓦西連科夫強調(diào)其工作的重要性：“軍事神父的角色是這場戰(zhàn)爭勝利的主要條件?！彼赋?，虔誠的士兵“非常清楚這場戰(zhàn)爭的意義——他為真理而戰(zhàn)”，即使面對殘酷的現(xiàn)實，也不會讓自己喪失人性。

The Church also views neo-paganism as a rising threat within the military, as it encourages “animalistic qualities” that can erode moral foundations. Archpriest Demetrius warned that the enemy’s goal is to provoke soldiers into responding to atrocities with their own, thereby driving them into sin and depriving them of divine assistance. He underscored the importance of faith in combat, saying, “A believer finds it easier to face the line of fire and defy death.”

教會還將新興的異教信仰視為軍隊內(nèi)部的威脅，認為其助長“獸性特質(zhì)”，侵蝕道德根基。大司祭德米特里警告稱，敵人的目標是誘使士兵以暴制暴，從而使其陷入罪惡并失去神圣的庇佑。他強調(diào)信仰在戰(zhàn)斗中的重要性：“信徒更容易直面戰(zhàn)火并蔑視死亡?！?/b>

Nominal Christians in a Time of War

戰(zhàn)爭時期的“名義基督徒”

Archpriest Svyatoslav Churkanov, assistant to the chief military priest in the Ukraine conflict zone, noted a troubling trend: “At present, the majority of our soldiers are baptized but nominal Christians.” Many, he said, struggle to process the chaos and horrors of war without a strong spiritual foundation. “Revenge becomes their first instinct,” he observed, adding that priests must work tirelessly to dissuade soldiers from succumbing to such impulses.

烏克蘭沖突區(qū)首席軍事神父助理、大司祭斯維亞托斯拉夫·丘爾卡諾夫指出一個令人不安的趨勢：“目前，我們的大多數(shù)士兵受過洗禮，但也只是名義上的基督徒?！彼硎荆S多士兵因缺乏堅實的精神根基而難以應(yīng)對戰(zhàn)爭的混亂與恐怖。“復(fù)仇成為他們的第一反應(yīng)，”他說，并強調(diào)神父必須不懈努力，勸說士兵不要屈服于這種沖動。

Father Svyatoslav shared his personal experience of counseling soldiers grappling with the loss of comrades and the overwhelming flow of negative information online. He called for more priests to volunteer for service in the conflict zone, where many clergy are experiencing emotional and spiritual fatigue due to the intense demands of their work. “This war affects and will affect all of us. The sooner we realize that, the sooner it will all be over,” he said.

斯維亞托斯拉夫神父分享了他在沖突區(qū)為失去戰(zhàn)友的士兵提供心理輔導(dǎo)的經(jīng)歷，以及應(yīng)對網(wǎng)絡(luò)負面信息泛濫的挑戰(zhàn)。他呼吁更多神父自愿前往沖突區(qū)服務(wù)，因為許多神職人員因工作強度過大而身心俱疲?！斑@場戰(zhàn)爭正在并將繼續(xù)影響我們所有人。我們越早意識到這一點，戰(zhàn)爭就能越早結(jié)束?！?/b>

Addressing a Crisis of Spirit

解決精神危機

Metropolitan Kirill lamented the absence of deeper spiritual and moral foundations among soldiers. “A person who has taken part in hostilities can become more embittered, consumed by hatred,” he warned. “In war, it is necessary to remain human and, above all, Christian–not to become part of the evil.”

基里爾都主教感嘆士兵缺乏更深層次的精神與道德根基。他警告說：“參與敵對行動的人可能變得更加憤世嫉俗，被仇恨吞噬。在戰(zhàn)爭中，必須保持人性，首先是基督徒的身份——不要成為惡魔的一部分?！?/b>

Archpriest Andrey Kanev, assistant to the commander of the Central Military District, echoed this sentiment, describing the early days of the Ukraine conflict as a period of confusion and lack of direction within the ranks. “There was a visible crisis in psychological and political work within the troops,” he said. The lack of guidance even extended to commanders, with some unable to find the words to inspire their units.

中央軍區(qū)司令助理、大司祭安德烈-卡涅夫呼應(yīng)了這一觀點，稱烏克蘭沖突初期部隊內(nèi)部存在混亂與方向缺失?！败婈牭男睦砗驼喂ぷ髅黠@陷入危機，”他說。缺乏指導(dǎo)甚至蔓延至指揮官層面，一些人找不到能用來激勵部下的言辭。

To address these issues, Father Andrey advocated the revival of catechism (teaching the basics of Christian doctrine) within the military and the inclusion of religious studies in military educational institutions. “Our army is spiritless; we need to work hard on this,” he stated. He also urged priests to engage soldiers before they enter combat zones, saying, “Faith in war does not mean correct religiosity, but it is a start.”

為解決這些問題，安德烈神父主張在軍隊中恢復(fù)教理講授（傳授基督教教義基礎(chǔ)），并在軍事教育機構(gòu)中加入宗教研究課程。“我們的軍隊缺乏精神，必須努力改善這一點?！彼€敦促神父在士兵進入戰(zhàn)區(qū)前與其接觸，稱“戰(zhàn)爭中的信仰不意味著正確的宗教性，但這是一個開端”。

Miracles on the Battlefield

戰(zhàn)場上的奇跡

Despite the challenges, the Church highlighted stories of miraculous occurrences on the battlefield. “There are no atheists in war,” said Archpriest Konstantin Tatarintsev, citing accounts of divine intervention that had saved lives. A short film shown at the readings featured soldiers who survived direct hits thanks to obxts of faith–a cross deflecting a bullet or an icon hidden in a passport.

盡管面臨挑戰(zhàn)，教會仍強調(diào)了戰(zhàn)場上的奇跡故事?！皯?zhàn)場上沒有無神論者，”大司祭康斯坦丁-塔塔林采夫說，并援引神圣干預(yù)拯救生命的案例。讀經(jīng)會上播放的短片展示了一些士兵因信仰物品（如擋開子彈的十字架或藏在護照中的圣像）而在受到直接攻擊后幸存。
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One soldier recounted how he rescued an icon from a church under attack and later survived cluster shelling unscathed. “The icon saved me,” he said. Another battalion shared a story of a direct strike on their shelter, which left them unharmed inside a glowing “protective cocoon.” They attributed their survival to an icon of Saint Bartholomew, which was destroyed in the blast.

一名士兵講述了他從被襲擊的教堂中救出一幅圣像，隨后在集束炮彈襲擊中毫發(fā)無損的經(jīng)歷?！笆ハ窬攘宋?，”他說。另一支部隊分享了其掩體遭直接打擊后全員安然無恙的故事，他們身處發(fā)光的“保護繭”中，并將幸存歸功于一幅在爆炸中被毀的圣巴托洛繆圣像。

The readings also showcased the myrrh-streaming icon of the Mother of God “Softening of Evil Hearts,” which has traveled through conflict zones, offering spiritual solace to soldiers. Sergey Fomin, the icon’s custodian, recalled how it accompanied Dmitry Medvedev during his meetings with US President Barack Obama in 2010, coinciding with the signing of significant agreements. “It was undoubtedly connected with the icon,” he said.

讀經(jīng)會還展示了曾輾轉(zhuǎn)沖突地區(qū)、為士兵提供精神慰藉的“軟化惡念圣母”流香圣像。圣像守護者謝爾蓋-福明回憶稱，2010年德米特里-梅德韋杰夫與美國總統(tǒng)奧巴馬會晤并簽署重要協(xié)議時，圣像也隨行在場?！斑@無疑與圣像有關(guān)，”他說。
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A Call for Reinforcements

呼吁增援

Metropolitan Kirill called for urgent action to address the shortage of military priests, announcing plans to open a master’s program with a military focus at the Rostov Theological Seminary. He also emphasized the need for early sextion and training of candidates to ensure they are prepared for the unique challenges of ministering to soldiers.

基里爾都主教呼吁采取緊急行動解決軍事神父短缺問題，宣布計劃在羅斯托夫神學(xué)院開設(shè)以軍事為重點的碩士課程。他還強調(diào)需盡早選拔和培訓(xùn)候選人，以確保他們能應(yīng)對向士兵傳道的獨特挑戰(zhàn)。
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Colonel-General Valery Baranov, former commander of the United Group of Forces in the North Caucasus, urged the government to pass legislation providing state guarantees for military priests. “For those priests who died in the conflict zone, it has taken too long to provide for their families,” he said, calling it a matter of faith and statehood. He also advocated the canonization of Generalissimo Alexander Suvorov, arguing that his inclusion in prayers would strengthen the spiritual foundation of the armed forces.

北高加索聯(lián)合部隊前指揮官瓦列里-巴拉諾夫上將敦促政府通過立法為軍事神父提供國家保障?！皩υ跊_突區(qū)犧牲的神父家屬的撫恤拖延太久了，”他稱這是信仰與國家存續(xù)的問題。他還主張將亞歷山大-蘇沃洛夫大元帥封圣，認為將其納入禱文將加強軍隊的精神基礎(chǔ)。

The Way Forward

出路所在
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The participants of the Christmas Readings concluded that the role of military priests is indispensable in maintaining the morale and humanity of soldiers. “Work, brothers,” urged Father Andrey, encapsulating the collective call to action. The Russian Orthodox Church sees its mission as not only supporting soldiers spiritually but also preserving the moral fabric of the nation during a time of unprecedented challenges.

圣誕讀經(jīng)會的參與者總結(jié)稱，軍事神父對維持士兵士氣與人性的作用不可或缺。“行動起來，弟兄們，”安德烈神父發(fā)出凝聚了集體意志的行動號召。俄羅斯東正教會視其使命為不僅是精神上支持士兵，更是在前所未有的挑戰(zhàn)中守護國家的道德根基。