The activity of the Eparchy of the Romanian Army during the Second World War. Aspects of the mission of active military priests on the Eastern Front (June 22, 1941-August 23, 1944)

The activity of the Eparchy of the Romanian Army during the Second World War. Aspects of the mission of active military priests on the Eastern Front (June 22, 1941-August 23, 1944)

27 February 2023

During the Second World War, the active military priests, organized within the Eparchy of the Romanian Army, had a double activity on the Eastern Front, dedicated to the soldiers of the Romanian Army, but at the same time directed to the civilian population on Soviet territory. This article aims to present and analyze the main directions regarding the activity of military priests on the Eastern Front: 1. the training of active military clergy before the Second World War; 2. their activity within the Romanian Army between June 22, 1941 and August 23, 1944; 3. their activity among the civilian population on Soviet territory after the crossing of the Dniester by the Romanian Army. The research is based on sources from the Romanian Military Archives, the Central National Historical Archives and the Archive of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church.