In an unusual agreement between the Russian Orthodox Church and the army, religion has gained a formal role in the military, where religious practices were forbidden under the atheistic Soviet regime.


The pact could lead to the church eventually placing chaplains with army units.


But the agreement signed Wednesday by Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II and Defense Minister Pavel Grachev raised fears of too cozy a relationship between the Patriarchy and the armed forces.


Gleb Yakunin, a member of the State Duma and long-time advocate of religious rights, said the agreement could lead to discrimination against service people of other religions or fuel Russian Orthodox nationalism in a military that voted heavily for the ultra-nationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky in last year's elections. A church statement Thursday quoted the text of the agreement as saying that the two bodies would work together "in the name of the interests of the Fatherland and the people of Russia."


Alexander Bulekov, head of the Patriarchy's press service, said the agreement's first goal was to provide army bases with religious literature, church services and clerical visits.


According to the church statement, the agreement also created a military-church committee to "work together for the rebirth of Russian spirituality and the tradition of faithful service to the Fatherland."


Bulekov said the committee, headed by a Russian Orthodox priest and a military officer, would include representatives of other religions -- but only Christian ones.


His statement appeared to contradict committee co-chairman Lieutenant General Ivan Mikudin, who was quoted in the Russian newspaper Segodnya as saying the committee would include representatives of all religions, "taking into account that our army is multinational."


"The very fact that religion has a place in the army is good," said Yakunin, a former Russian Orthodox priest, in a telephone interview.


"The danger is that the Church will monopolize freedom of religion in the armed forces. What will it be like for Baptists or Moslems, or for Orthodox believers who don't follow the Russian Patriarchy?"


Bulekov said the agreement was not intended to create an official army religion.


"To the contrary," he said, "such bilateral accords could be signed with other faiths, and I know the defense minister intends to reach agreements with Moslem and Jewish clergy as well."


The Moscow daily quoted Grachev as saying that "the Russian army needs the help of the Church in the upbringing of young people" and that the agreement "orders commanders of military bases to obtain and study church literature."


Bulekov said Grachev had been misquoted and that the agreement merely obligates the church to provide such literature if requested. Calls to the Defense Ministry Thursday were not returned.


Commenting on the church statements linking religion to military service, Yakunin said the agreement could also "dangerously" strengthen the "influence of fascist forces" on the army.


"There is a fascist dialogue going on within the church," said Yakunin, who has accused the Church of harboring extreme nationalism and anti-semitism.


Bulekov said anyone who drew such conclusions from the Patriarch's statement must be "unhealthy."