Orthodox

Sometime after the mid-1970’s an Orthodox Chaplain Kit began being available to Orthodox chaplains. These kits can be found being used well into the 21st century, particularly in garrison settings. This is a kit on display at the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps Museum, labeled as the “first authorized Orthodox kit” (author’s photo):

I came across one of these Orthodox Kits recently and the owner graciously set it up for me at South Iowa Chapel on Fort Leonard Wood so that I could take pictures of it for The Chaplain Kit. This kit has been owned and used by Army Orthodox chaplains since it’s original issue. Many years ago, a retiring Orthodox chaplain “handed it down” to Isaiah Gillette, at the time a new Orthodox chaplain. Upon Chaplain Gillette’s recent retirement, he passed it on to Chaplain Georgel Oanca, a new arrival at Fort Leonard Wood.

It’s a beautiful set, though surprisingly more “lightweight” than I would have expected. The quality is good, however, but likely made lighter since it is a portable kit. Here are some pictures of one set up on the altar (Kit courtesy of Chaplain Oanca; photos by author):

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The even more lightweight “Combat Assault” kits began to be issued in the 1990’s which included one for Orthodox Chaplains.

Current Issue Orthodox Chaplain Kit

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