Organization of recruitment of Orthodox military clergy before the beginning of hostilities and during the war (1914-1918)
The article examines the features of the organization of recruitment of Orthodox military clergy before the beginning of hostilities and during the war (1914-1918). The Author analyzes the recruitment of both land and naval military clergy, concluding that the replenishment of clergy of Christian denominations was carried out only at the expense of representatives of the clergy. Vacant posts in the active army were occupied at the request of the commander or the mobilization Department of the Main Directorate of the General staff. The Protopresbyter, the Holy Synod, the diocesan bishops, and the chief priests of the fronts participated directly in determining the military position. The direct leadership of their churches took part in the formation of the corps of clergy of other faiths. According to the author of the article, during the First world war, almost the entire Orthodox Church took an active part in the care of the Russian army and ensuring the raising of the military spirit. The military clergy of the active army of the Russian Empire in wartime were directly or indirectly represented in all state authorities, society and the army, which assumed a high effectiveness of the impact of religious organizations and clergy of different faiths on all aspects of the army’s activities, the morale and morale of military personnel and command staff.