FORMER MAINSTAY OF "RUSSIAN WORLD" BLESSES UKRAINIAN NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS TO FIGHT SEPARATISTS IN ATO ZONE
UPTsMP Metropolitan of Odessa and Izmail Agafangel blessed soldiers of military unit 3014 of the Southern Territorial Unit of the Ukrainian National Guard to fight against separatists of the Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic in the east of Ukraine. This was reported on 22 June by the Trassa E95 website, with reference to the Odessa diocese of UPTsMP.
The conscript troops visited the Holy Dormition Odessa monastery where they prayed before the shrines. In addition, the soldiers were conducted on an excursion about the monastery during which the troops were told about the history of this cloister that is the oldest in the south of Ukraine.
Then Agafangel blessed the defenders of Ukraine with the Kasperov icons of the Mother of God for military achievement. He emphasized that they must serve in a time that is very difficult for the country, when in the Donbass military actions have not ceased and the blood of Ukrainian citizens is flowing.
"In the near future you will travel into the zone of military actions in order to replace your comrades in rotation who are there. May the Protection of the Queen of Heaven in her miracle-working Kasperov image be upon you so that you all will return from there alive, having fulfilled your military obligation," Agafanget.
Typically Metropolitan Agafangel has been considered the chief "zealot for the Russian World" in the UPTsMP, on whom various propagandists in Moscow have staked their bets. (tr. by PDS, posted 23 June 2015)
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