Military priest Ivan Ganic: Soldiers who stay for Christmas in the Ground Safety Zone are one big family, they only wish for peace

Military priest Captain Ivan Ganic, in charge of the members of the Third Brigade of the Ground Forces from Nis, performs his duties for his soldiers wherever they are and whatever tasks they carry out. One of the focal tasks in which members of the Third Brigade are engaged is securing the Ground Safety Zone and controlling the administrative line with Kosovo. Specialized and experienced individuals, including Captain Ivan Ganic, prepare the members of the Third Brigade for engagement in this task.

Father Ivan Ganic worked as a warrant officer after completing Military High School in 2002 while simultaneously studying at the Academy for Arts and Conservation of the Serbian Orthodox Church. After completing his education in 2013, he was appointed as an assistant to the chief military priest. Since becoming a military priest in 2016, one of his tasks has been visiting units performing tasks in the bases of the Serbian Army in the Ground Safety Zone.

As he says, one of his main missions is to nurture spiritual and moral values and strengthen patriotism among the members of the Serbian Army.

"We remind people of our rich military history, of our heroes who laid down their lives for the honorable Cross and golden freedom. The military priest, as we know from history, has always been with his army, whether in war or peace. Today is no different; I am with the soldiers in the Ground Safety Zone, during exercises, and in barracks", Ganic said.

He speaks about how he administers communion to the unit members in the field, conducts liturgies in religious spaces within military tents, performs the sacred sacrament of confession, and engages in sincere conversations where they open their souls to him.

"I strive to approach people with my knowledge of God and offer them assistance. It is essential to dedicate yourself to conversations with soldiers, for them to open up, to build trust in you, and this mission is much better accomplished in the field than in the barracks. They are there on tasks that require significant psychophysical efforts, and through conversations with the priest, they find it easier to endure separation from their families. The Holy Sacrament of Communion and the Holy Sacrament of Confession give them spiritual strength", Ganic says.

He visits the field in accordance with the orders of the relevant command and with the blessing of the Eparch of Lipljan and military Dositej, and the Eparch of Nis, Mr. Arsenije...

Although he is sometimes in camouflage uniform, soldiers still see him as a priest. On the other hand, when performing religious activities, he dresses in priestly attire prescribed by the Serbian Orthodox Church according to its canons.

"In addition to the Holy Liturgy, in the field, I also perform the Holy Sacrament of Confession, and I have given lectures on various spiritual and moral topics several times. I am a member of the Third Brigade of the Ground Forces, a unit that cherishes the traditions of the renowned Second Infantry Regiment 'Knjaz Mihailo' of the first calling, better known as the Iron Regiment. The heroism of the Iron Regiment members is an inexhaustible strength for the members of the Third Brigade", Ganic states.

However, when on a mission, a soldier carries out his duty wherever he may be.

"That is the fate of each of us, soldiers, that we must be constantly ready to be engaged. There were instances when we were deployed during holidays, and even today, soldiers accept it as their mission. If you are a soldier, you must be prepared to always be in the field. Thank God, when there is peace, they would prefer to be at home with their loved ones the most. But when they are in the field, there is no sense of sadness or sorrow. They are together as one family, and indeed, they spend the holiday as if they were at their own homes", Ganic adds.

Kosovo Online interlocutor has been in the religious service of the Serbian Army for 10 years, since its inception, with its jubilee celebrated in 2023.

"During this time, much has been done and improved; many religious spaces have already been consecrated and exist in the barracks. Many military priests have been appointed to important positions, and people truly carry out their work honorably. We, military priests, differ from other officers because we wear beards, and don't carry weapons, but bear the sword of truth, the spiritual sword. We teach people to be invincible in their work, yet to remain humane, as our late Patriarch Pavle said. How do we do it? Through conversation and worship, and as the center of everything, we appeal to people to attend Holy Liturgies as much as possible to receive the grace of our Savior, Jesus Christ, whose Nativity we will soon celebrate", Father Ivan concluded.