UOC-MP Rep Blessed Internal Troops Squad of the MIA of Ukraine to Participate in Victory Day Parade

Archbishop Augustine of Lviv and Halych celebrated the Divine Liturgy with the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Ukraine.

KYIV – By tradition, before military parades, on the invitation of the commandment of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Ukraine, chairman of the Synodal Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) for Relations with the Armed Forces and Other Military Bodies of Ukraine Archbishop Augustine of Lviv and Halych celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the military unit, reported the website of the UOC-MP on May 4, 2010.

After exhausting trainings before the parade dedicated to the 65^th anniversary of the Great Victory, a few hundred young servicepersons expressed desire to go to confession and to receive the Holy Communion.   The Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the mobile St. Michael the Archangel's Church, where since 1998 is set up where there is a necessity of performing any kind of worship for the troops.   

The bishop wished the soldiers to perform their service to their Motherland with gratitude to God, to be especially diligent at the parade, and to represent their troops worthily.   

Following the divine service and a traditional group photo, the chairman of the department had a brief meeting with the newly appointed commander of the Internal Troops of the MIA of Ukraine, Major-General Volodymyr Vorobiov, with whom he discussed further cooperation between the church and the Internal Troops.