A bizarre all-women Russian sect has begun worshipping Vladimir Putin as the reincarnation of the early Christian apostle Paul.
According to a news report in The Telegraph, members of the sect believe that the Russian president is the reincarnation of Apostle Paul and on a special mission from God.
The 58-year-old macho politician, according to the sect’s founder who is identified as Mother Fotina in the report, has more than one thing in common with Apostle Paul.
“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,” she 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.”
Members of the sect who live in a Russian village some 250 miles southeast of Moscow are all women who dress like nuns and pray for Putin’s success. The other icons they pray for include some traditional Russian Orthodox ‘saints’. A photograph of Putin has been installed alongside the other Russian icons.
At their meetings, the members are encouraged to sing patriotic Soviet era songs.
The members of the sect reportedly survive on a Spartan diet of turnips, carrots, peas and buckwheat.
The Telegraph report quoting local media said Mother Fotina’s real name is Svetlana Frolova.
Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he was bemused at the report.
“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.”
