Vladimir Putin worshipped as Paul the Apostle by all-female sect

[Maniacal]

Members of the sect that has sprung up in a Russian village some 250 miles southeast of Moscow believe that the 58-year-old macho Russian politician is on a special mission from God.

"According to the Bible, Paul the Apostle was a military commander at first and an evil persecutor of Christians before he started spreading the Christian gospel," the sect's founder, who styles herself Mother Fotina, said.

"In his days in the KGB, Putin also did some rather unrighteous things. But once he became president, he was imbued with the Holy Spirit, and just like the apostle, he started wisely leading his flock. It is hard for him now but he is fulfilling his heroic deed as an apostle."

Reports from the sect's headquarters close to the town of Nizhny Novgorod say that its members are all women who dress like nuns and pray for Mr Putin's success in front of traditional Russian Orthodox Church icons that have been placed alongside a portrait of the Russian prime minister himself.

Followers are reportedly encouraged to sing upbeat patriotic Soviet songs at 'services' rather than hymns.

As befits a sect that worships a man who has denounced the decadence of the oligarchs, the sect's members are said to survive on a Spartan diet of turnips, carrots, peas and buckwheat.

According to local media, Mother Fotina's real name is Svetlana Frolova.

Father Alexei, the priest in the local village church, has dismissed the sect.

"Her so-called teachings are a nonsensical mixture of Orthodoxy, Catholicism, the occult, Buddhism and political information," he said.

"But (Mother) Fotina does not come across as a mad person."

Mr Putin's spokesman said he was bemused.

"This is the first I've heard of such a religious group," said Dmitry Peskov. "It is impressive that they think so highly of the prime minister's work but I would like to recall another of the main commandments: thou shalt not worship false idols."

A new political front created by Mr Putin meanwhile announced it may choose a candidate to run in the 2012 presidential election, in the latest sign the Russian strongman is eyeing a Kremlin return.

Mr Putin set up the Popular Front political movement to unify his supporters, from celebrities to pensioners alike. Dmitry Medvedev, the current president, vowed to respond to Mr Putin’s new coalition, by promising to create “other election alliances”, in the latest sign of a rivalry between the duo.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...ships-Vladimir-Putin-as-Paul-the-Apostle.html

Strange group, but not any more so than any other religious group. I wonder if we will get a "Saint Putin".

 

[bestrfcplayer]

Way to go Putin. This pic sums it up quiet nicely.

 

[Maniacal]

Thats not irony, thats learning from first hand experience.

 

[Huayna Capac357]

I'd like to see pictures of icons with Putin on them.

 

[Thorvald of Lym]

Considering that business about sanctifying Stalin, this isn't that big a leap.

 

[Xanikk999]

That sect would fit right at home with many radical right wing fundamentalists in the United States.

Can we deport them to Russia?

 

[Maniacal]

Russia is looking to increase its population, and they are usually anti-abortion anyway so its win win!

 

[_random_]

Huh. Well this is a little bit blasphemous. I don't know much about Putin, but on the off-chance that icons are ever made of him, they ought to be made after his death by actual nuns.

 

[Zack]

Vladimir Putin worshipped as Paul the Apostle by all-female sect

All-female sect? I'm not female.