Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, described Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “devout believer” and a regular “churchgoer.” He emphasized that the significant transformation in the country's spiritual life, following the persecution of the Church during the Soviet era, is evident not only in the construction of thousands of churches but also in the Orthodox faith embraced by the head of state.
This was reported by The Moscow Times.
"Putin is not a casual parishioner or someone who simply mimics the religion of the majority. Vladimir Vladimirovich is unashamed to attend church or receive Holy Communion. This is significant for the nation as it sets a good example of a devout Christian," said the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church during the Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg.
Putin notably attends services during major church holidays. Typically, on Easter, he visits the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, while on Christmas, he goes to various other locations. The president himself has stated that he sometimes feels compelled to "turn to the Almighty and cross himself," and on occasion, he kneels down. Putin also asserted that the war in Ukraine — a conflict in which Russia has reportedly lost about 1 million people, including 250,000 killed — was “pleasing to God.” Protodeacon Andrey Kuraev remarked that "Putin has a purely PR-oriented attitude toward religion; he and Patriarch Kirill believe in a God who is convenient for them, one who has appointed them to fulfill his will here on earth in Russia. In other words, they envision a God who approves of all their actions in advance."