Graduation celebrations at the Academy of Ground Forces included interdenominational prayer

On June 19, 2010, at the Academy of Ground Forces celebrations took place for 198 students who graduated from the military educational institution and were appointed lieutenants. The celebrations began with the Divine Liturgy in the Michael the Archistratege Church, which is on the territory of the academy. Military chaplain Fr. Stephan Sus after the completion of the general prayer congratulated the young officers who were present in the church.  The program of celebrations was opened on the square of the academy. In addition to the administration of the military institute, the graduating students, and other students, representatives of the state authority, representatives of the higher military command of the western region, and family and friends of the graduating students were present. Every year the clergy also take part in the celebrations. This year the following clergy participated in the celebrations: head of the Department of Patriarchal Curia of UGCC on Matters of Pastoral Care in the Armed Forces, Eparch of Sokal-Zhovkva Bishop Mikhail (Koltun); head of the Synodal Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church for Cooperating with the Armed Forces and Other Military Structures of Ukraine Archbishop of Halych UOC Bishop Augustine (Markevych); deputy head of the Department of Patriarchal Curia of the UGCC on Matters of Pastoral Care in the Armed Forces Fr. Lubomyr Yavorskyj; and proto-synkel of the Stryj Eparchy of the UGCC Fr. Bohdan Manyshyn, who ministered at the academy.  The joint blessing by the hierarchs of the traditional churches of Ukraine of the soldiers may be the best example of progress of their activity in the modern Ukrainian army. As part of the feast Bishop Augustine read a prayer of benediction for the graduating students and Bishop Mikhail blessed the young lieutenants. Afterward the head of the center of military chaplaincy Fr. Stephan Sus together with Brother Andriy Zelinskyj, SJ, blessed with holy water the new officers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. 

Andrij Khomyshyn for the Information Department