Russian space center gets a priest

MOSCOW, July 26 (UPI) -- A Russian Orthodox priest has been assigned to the Plesetsk space center in northern Russia, the Church's Moscow Patriarchate announced Friday.

A project to restore a military priesthood, which existed from the 18th century to the start of the Soviet era in Russia, was begun in 2009.

Archpriest Artemy Emke will be responsible for religious work at the space center, the Russian news agency RIA Novosti said.

"Any military unit should have a priest to help believers among soldiers and officers, in line with the Russian Constitution, to follow their religious beliefs," said Sergei Privalov of the Russian Orthodox Church.