MOSCOW, Russia: A new legislation drawn up in Russia by the military procurator's office would introduce chaplains into the Russian armed forces.

Priests once served in the Tsarist army and, if new legislation coming before the Russian parliament has its way, priests will serve in the modern Russian Army.

Archpriest Dmitry Smirnov, head of the department of the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church for relations with the armed forces, sees it as the restoration of the natural order of things. A vocal advocate of the bill, he says that no one can doubt the central place of the Orthodox Church in Russian society.

The bill has set alarm bells ringing -- both among secular Russians and among members of others faiths, in particular Russia's fast-growing Muslim community. It's estimated that some 20 percent of Russians come from historically Islamic nationalities. Among conscription-age Russians the percentage is even higher.

The gathering reiterated its resolve to further promote Husseini thought in order to maintain Iraq unity.