A cult leader who worships Vladimir Putin as a saint claims that myrrh is oozing from an icon of the prime minister as a sign of God's blessing.
The cult, led by former convict Svetlana Frolova, is based in the Nizhny Novgorod region and considers Putin to be the? reincarnation of? the apostle Paul.
"Attention! Starting from Thursday, the icon of Vladimir Putin was renewed and started seeping myrrh," the cult said in a statement on its web site. "God is giving us signs of His gracious presence."
Myrrh seeping out of icons and the renewal of icons, when their colors brighten up, are attributes of the Russian Orthodox faith.
The news about the "miracle" broke over the weekend, but neither Putin nor the Russian Orthodox Church have commented on it.
Frolova, known by followers as , also considers Putin an embodiment of the tsar. She has been running the cult since at least 2005.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.