Foreign astronauts take Orthodox priest's blessing

Moscow, November 21 (Interfax) - Rector of St. George Church in Baikonur Archpriest Sergy Bychkov told that astronauts, including foreigners, feel reverence for Orthodoxy.

"Everyone is awesome. Catholics try to come to the church and confess before the flight as in any case a person understands that he won't be able to make an emergency stop in the places where he goes to," the priest told BBC Russian Service.

According to him, every of them tries to take a blessing, to kiss the cross and asks to be blessed with the holy water.

Foreigners confess in Russian, "even if it's not perfect," Father Sergy said.

"They can also confess in English. I can't say that I speak very well, but I understand the language and can communicate," he added.

It has become a tradition in Baikonur to bless carrier rockets and astronauts before the flight.