– It has been interesting to meet both soldiers and personnel and see how the church contributes to spiritual and existential stability. From experience, we know that it affects an individual's resilience in crises and war, says Archbishop Martin Modéus.
On Wednesday evening, an Ash Wednesday mass was held in a vehicle hall that had been temporarily adapted into a worship space with an accompanying altar.
– The responsibility to prepare Sweden and our surrounding area for crisis or war also applies to the Church of Sweden. The number of military chaplains is increasing, and this is one of our contributions to promoting the peacekeeping mission. The church's fundamental task is always peace, says Martin Modéus, and continues:
– In the event of heightened readiness and, in the worst case, war, the church's primary task is to function as normally as possible. Our starting point is worship, teaching, diaconia, and mission. In this way, we contribute to societal stability.
During the mass, field chaplain Jenny Ahlén presented a communion chalice to the battalion from the Swedish Armed Forces headquarters in Stockholm.
– The daily life here in Latvia involves operating close to the front line, making reflections on life and death tangible. One effect of this is high participation in the voluntary services (worship services), both on the base and in the field. Therefore, it felt meaningful to present the communion chalice to the battalion as there has been a high demand for mass, says field chaplain Jenny Ahlén.