March 7, 2012
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The one-week course for the priests, many of whom are experienced paratroopers with more than 500 jumps, will take place at an airborne troops facility in Ryazan region in central Russia, a Defense Ministry spokeswoman said on Tuesday.
Orthodox Christianity has many rituals utilizing many religious items, which makes catering to the flock without a church impossible, the senior priest for the Airborne Troops, Archpriest Mikhail Vasilyev, told RIA Novosti.
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The number of Orthodox Christians among airborne troops grew 10 percent to reach 90 percent of all paratroopers since last fall, the military said.