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CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo - More than 50 soldiers from Multinational Battle Group-East gathered together to listen to Father Ilarion Lupulovich, an abbot of Draganac Monastery in Kosovo, speak on Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, Dec. 9.
Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Jamarillo, the MNBG-E chaplain, invited Ilarion to speak at the monthly prayer breakfast. The focus for December’s prayer breakfast was Serbian Christmas traditions.
“During Christmas, we celebrate God’s love for us,” said Ilarion. “He is a loving father and it is touching to know God came to us as a small child. We are preparing ourselves to worship this child.”
“Christ came as divine,” added Ilarion. “He became one of us and that is the crucial truth about Christianity.”
Ilarion continued to speak on the foundation of Christianity.
“It is important to reflect on the mystery of God’s incarnation and how God became flesh and he was born of a child,” said Ilarion. “He showed God’s unimaginable love to the world. We are supposed to never forget the truth that God is a loving father.”
Jamarillo asked him if he would chant the benediction as he would in monastic tradition to conclude the prayer breakfast. Before he sang, he translated the chant into English.
“This song speaks about everything we have been talking about today,” said Ilarion. “The song refers to Christ as the light, and it says the virgin today is giving birth to the eternal one.”
His voice filled every inch of the room as the soldiers gave him their undivided attention.
Spc. Josiah Ingels, a chaplain assistant with 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, enjoyed the prayer breakfast.
“This prayer breakfast was a really good reminder on what the Christmas season is really about,” said Ingels. “It’s about God coming to Earth through His son, Jesus Christ. The way Father Ilarion spoke was very affective and clear. I feel like he communicated very well what he came here to do.”
Ilarion said he had a great time speaking with MNBG-E soldiers. This was his first time speaking to soldiers during a prayer breakfast.
“I think that we are supposed to share the gifts given to us and show our faith,” said Ilarion. “We are supposed to be beacons for his word. That’s why I was ready and glad to participate. I think it is important to show we care and that we love. These experiences are only enriching us.”
“I would be glad to come back, and I invite soldiers from Bondsteel to come visit us and participate in our ceremonies because we love to share our rich Christian traditions,” said Ilarion.
| Date Taken: | 12.09.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 12.10.2014 06:57 |
| Story ID: | 149901 |
| Location: | CAMP BONDSTEEL, ZZ |
| Web Views: | 264 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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