Priests will not be allowed to consecrate indiscriminate weapons

The clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church may soon be banned from the consecration of weapons of mass destruction and indiscriminate actions. This thesis contains a draft document on the blessing of Orthodox Christians for the performance of military duty ', developed by the Inter-Council Presence Commission on Theology and Theological Education, a deliberative body of the highest church authority of the ROC for preparing decisions on the most important issues of internal church life and external activities of the church.

“It is not reflected in the tradition of the Orthodox Church and does not correspond to the content of the Rite of the blessing of military weapons, and therefore the use of this rite for the“ consecration ”of any types of weapons, the use of which may lead to the death of an indefinite number of people, should be excluded from pastoral practice, including indiscriminate weapons and weapons of mass destruction. However, it is appropriate to bless vehicles used by the military on land, water or in the air, because at the same time what is asked from the Lord is not the “consecration” of cannons, rockets or bombing equipment, but the protection of the soldiers, ”the Popular Mechanics portal quotes a draft document posted on the Parish website.

At the same time, the Church does not intend to give up the traditional blessing of soldiers to carry out service and the blessing of personal weapons and means of protection, since these actions are fully consistent with the centuries-old Christian tradition.