MOSCOW. Jan 29 (Interfax-AVN) - The cleric of the Akhtubinsk and Yenotayevka diocese, priest Vasily (Anufriyev) has been appointed as assistant to the head of the Russian Defense Ministry's Chkalov State Flight Test Center to minister personnel, Russian Air Force spokesman Col. Igor Klimov told Interfax-AVN on Wednesday.
"The appointment order was signed in accordance with the Russian defense minister's decision at the request from Metropolitan Iona of Astrakhan and Kamyzyak," Klimov said.
Priest Vasily (Anufriyev), a reserve major, served in the Armed Forces between 1972 and 1993. He completed service in flight-related jobs with aviation regiments in the Far East Military District. After graduating from the Test Pilot Training Center in Akhtubinsk he served as a test pilot with the 1st directorate at the Air Force's state scientific-testing Red-Banner institute. Then he was appointed as ship commander of the 75th Separate Mixed Aviation Regiment. From 1998, he served as the cleric of the Church of the Holy Archistrategos Michael and later as the pastor of the Church of the St. Nicholas in the village of Verkhny Baskunchak. He is undergoing training at an eparchial school in Volgograd. He has ministered to the military since 2011.