On September 4, 2025, Metropolitan Kirill of Stavropol and Nevinnomyssk, Chairman of the Synodal Committee for Interaction with the Cossacks, head of the Synodal Department for Interaction with the Armed Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies, held a meeting of the board of military Cossack priests who spiritually nurture the Cossacks of the 13 registered Cossack troops of Russia.
Metropolitan Kirill opened the meeting by reviewing the composition of the Board. His Eminence introduced the military priest of the newly created North-Western Cossack Army, Priest Vitaly Chubko. It was noted that the final approval of the Board's composition is carried out by His Holiness the Patriarch, which requires the provision of the necessary documents from the ruling bishops.
Special attention in Metropolitan Kirill's speech was paid to the spiritual care of the Cossacks participating in the special military operation. The bishop emphasized that "today, all the hardships of military trials, together with our valiant heroes, are selflessly shared by the clergy, who do not leave their flock even during the deadly ordeal, providing spiritual support to the valiant Cossacks, volunteers and defenders of the Fatherland." Bishop Kirill called for strengthening pastoral work with the Cossacks participating in the SVR, including the organization of rehabilitation programs and constant spiritual support for soldiers and their family members.
The issue of the church formation of the Cossacks was highlighted as a key one. Metropolitan Kirill emphasized the need for high—quality work with Cossack youth, pointing out that "a confessor cannot be nominal; his direct duty is to be a true mentor, adviser and prayer book, living a common life with young Cossacks." For this purpose, it is proposed to involve young priests who are interested in the Cossack theme.
Metropolitan Kirill gave a number of practical instructions, including regular meetings with the heads of diocesan departments, the mandatory participation of military priests in advanced training courses, as well as the establishment of a systematic collection of information from dioceses.
The military priests also asked the archpastor questions and received detailed answers.