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Russia’s most secure cathedral has been ordered to host a midnight Orthodox Christmas service so Vladimir Putin could worship alone.
The despot of Moscow is seen crossing himself and shuffling restlessly during a ceremony at a place of worship where tsars traditionally confessed their sins in the Kremlin.
As the war continues in Russian-occupied Ukraine, despite its unilateral ceasefire, it was the first time since it came to power 23 years ago that it chose the holy Annunciation Cathedral for the festive service.
Fear of war-related assassination may have led the reclusive Putin to avoid his usual appearance at a crowded midnight gathering at venues outside the capital.
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a Christmas service at the Annunciation Cathedral in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on January 6, 2023.
Putin is seen crossing himself and shuffling uneasily during a ceremony at a place of worship where tsars traditionally confessed their sins, the Cathedral of the Annunciation in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on January 6, 2023.
During the service, an armed presidential bodyguard appears fleetingly observing the ruler who has seen more than 100,000 Russian soldiers die in a bloody war that marks Europe and that he launched ten months ago.
The dour and joyless mood in an old cathedral repaired by the paranoid and bloodthirsty Tsar Ivan the Terrible was in stark contrast to Putin’s official Christmas message which read: “This bright and beloved holiday inspires people to good deeds and aspirations, serves to affirm lasting spiritual values in society”. and moral guidelines such as mercy, compassion, kindness and justice.’
In previous years, in 2018 and 2019, he had been among other midnight worshipers in his hometown of St. Petersburg at the Church of Simeon and Anna and the Transfiguration Cathedral, respectively.
It is unusual for Putin to meet Orthodox Christmas in the city of Moscow; the last time was over two decades ago in 2001.
Putin was also alone last year, at his official residence outside the capital, Novo-Ogaryovo, at a time when he was taking extreme pandemic precautions.
In 2021, he attended a service at the Church of Saint Nicholas on the island of Lipno, near Veliky Novgorod, northwest of Moscow.
It was the first time since he came to power 23 years ago that Putin chose the holy Annunciation Cathedral for the festive service, the Annunciation Cathedral in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on January 6, 2023.
During the service, an armed presidential bodyguard appears fleetingly looking at the ruler, the Annunciation Cathedral in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on January 6, 2023.
The Annunciation Cathedral is located within the walls of the Kremlin fortress and is considered fully secure.
While Putin, 70, is believed to have a young family with his mistress Alina Kabaeva, 39, a former Olympic gold medal-winning rhythmic gymnast, the Russians are not allowed to know of their existence, and never he is not seen with them even at Christmas.
The Procurator Telegram channel reported: “The most heartbreaking, and indeed revealing, video on this [Orthodox] Christmas morning is a lonely Vladimir Putin in the Annunciation Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin.
‘We wish our subscribers to be close to loved ones and like-minded people on this bright Orthodox holiday.
And, of course, a sky of peace and freedom.
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a Christmas service at the Annunciation Cathedral in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on January 6, 2023.
Vladimir Putin attends a Christmas service at the Annunciation Cathedral in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on January 6, 2023.
Putin’s singular appearance in prayer only comes as he is rumored to be ready to announce a new mass mobilization of Russians, and some estimates suggest he could summon 500,000 or even a million.
Another fear is that he imminently imposes exit checks to prevent Russians of military age from leaving the country, as they did immediately after their September 2022 draft.
A sick Russian comment read: ‘Our Vladimir the Great. A true patriot and a believer. Look, Ukrainians, the one who will finally drive his pigsty back to the Stone Age. He is sad because not all Ukrainians are dead yet.
Others suggested that he was wearing a bulletproof vest and attributed his lonely vigil to his fear of being killed, including by his own security service.
“He feels so much love from people that he is afraid to get close to them,” said one comment.
Another mocked Putin, saying: ‘What a crowd, how did they all fit in?
‘He’s already afraid of the FSB, too?’