On July, during the Liturgy at the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg, Patriarch Kirill stated, on the day of the Orthodox commemoration of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul: "What is important for us is the change that has taken place in the life of the country, which is so clearly expressed in the Orthodoxy of the first person of our state. Vladimir Vladimirovich is never ashamed to go to church or participate in the Holy Mysteries of Christ. This is important for the whole nation. This is a good example of a good Christian."
Patriarch Kirill I, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), plays a crucial role in the religious legitimisation of Vladimir Putin’s power. His actions and statements construct an image of Putin as a “good Christian” who not only governs Russia but also safeguards the spiritual values of Orthodoxy. Kirill presents Putin’s authority as divinely ordained, frequently referencing biblical teachings on “God’s order,” emphasising that obedience to authority is a Christian duty. In 2012, during Putin’s inauguration, Kirill remarked, “Something has happened that some may consider a miracle – a significant part of the nation has trusted one man… Through you, through your authority, God acts in the history of Russia.” This designation of secular power as a “miracle of God” was an unprecedented affirmation of a political leader. In an interview that same year, Kirill stated, “I see that the President of Russia carries God in his heart. And I say this not out of political sympathy, but as a clergyman.” In 2022, Kirill said that the President of Russia “has never been on the side of the forces of evil,” directly referencing the opposition of good and evil in religious narratives. Kirill also emphasises Putin’s personal religiosity, recalling that Putin was secretly baptised by his own father and that Putin wears a commemorative cross. Images of Putin with Kirill in churches, near icons, all serve to build the image of a humble, Orthodox Christian.
A Man of Many Faces
However, this statement by Kirill I – like many others – primarily demonstrates that Vladimir Putin is a man of many faces. Over more than two decades in power in Russia, he has managed to transform his image from a stern, silent KGB functionary into a hyper-masculine alpha male, and then into a “pious” defender of Christianity, an “Orthodox president.” For a considerable part of the Russian population, he is now a materialised deity. Meetings with him are accompanied by an atmosphere of religious exaltation. This metamorphosis is not accidental; religion in Russia is part of a strategy to maintain power, with spirituality subordinated to a geopolitical agenda. From the very beginning of this process, the media have obediently fulfilled their assigned task of continuously crafting Putin’s image.
Reformer
However, this was not always the case. At the beginning of his presidential career (1999–2004), Vladimir Putin primarily presented himself as a technocrat, a man of the services, and a pragmatist – cold, disciplined, and loyal to the state. He was portrayed as a former KGB officer who “knows how the state works.” He did not say much, but his manner – economical in words, disciplined, and composed – was intended to suggest professionalism and control. Russians, tired of the chaos of the 1990s (the collapse of the USSR, hyperinflation, the war in Chechnya, the oligarchs), needed a leader who would restore order and control. He was portrayed as a patriot, but not a nationalist. In the initial phase of his rule, Putin avoided radical ideological references, being perceived more as a pragmatist. He used the language of modernisation, technology, and state power, emphasising the importance of economic stability and sovereignty. His early addresses focused on the “reconstruction of Russia,” but did not yet speak of a historical or spiritual mission. In practice, he very quickly began to curtail the influence of the oligarchs (e.g. Mikhail Khodorkovsky), but did so under the banners of combating corruption and strengthening the state, not revenge. Putin was presented as a modern man, without addictions, athletic, German-speaking, oriented towards the West, but also strongly rooted in the “Russian national interest.”
Alpha Male
Even then, photo sessions with the military, special forces, and shots of judo, diving, or piloting appeared – but they were still quite spare. The key message was that Putin is the antithesis of the weak Yeltsin – younger, stronger, and “in control of the situation.” Against the backdrop of Yeltsin’s weakness, he presented himself as a reincarnation of Russian strength. However, something gradually began to change. Photographs with bears, bare-chested, in the saddle or with barbells, became so frequent that they resembled a comic-book stereotype of masculinity. Putin shot, hunted, piloted, played hockey – and triumphed. In this way, he built a myth of an indestructible leader. He was no longer just a politician – he was a brand, a Russian export commodity. Russian women wanted to lose their virginity to him. He was the ideal husband and father, so lacking in contemporary Russia. The world began to admire this Putin, either mocking him or beginning to fear him – seeing him as an unpredictable tough guy.
Orthodox President
Religion, tradition, and the “spiritual mission of Russia” emerged later – after 2012, when Putin began his third term. He then started seeking new sources of legitimisation for his power. Of course, Putin had appeared in churches before, but these were mainly Christmas and Easter celebrations. Putin merely stood with a candle in hand, not singing, behaving like an average Russian. It is also worth remembering that all physical strength has its limits. An aging leader cannot perpetually feign being a young hunter. Then, a new persona entered the stage – pious, focused, even contemplative. Instead of judo – prayer. Instead of a bare chest – longer stays in church, visits to monasteries. Putin learned liturgical rites and
gradually took the role of defender of spiritual values, transforming himself into a guardian of “holy Russia” against the moral decay of the West.
The Mechanism of Metamorphosis
This metamorphosis was clever and deliberate. Russia is a country where religiosity – although suppressed for years by communism – has returned with a vengeance. Churches have been rebuilt, icons have returned to homes, and Orthodoxy has become the glue of national identity. Putin has exploited this potential. His alliance with Patriarch Kirill proved to be significant, although it was not a meeting of minds, but rather a political contract. Religion has become a tool for controlling the masses, and Christian rhetoric – a weapon in the arsenal of propaganda. It even reached the point where a reconstruction of a church adjacent to Putin’s residence on Rublevka was carried out in Putin’s bunker, all to imitate the president’s participation in church ceremonies together with neighbours from the street. And when Putin visited monasteries, he was accompanied by a retinue of monks shorter than him.
War
This transformation of Putin became the most apparent when he unleashed the war against Ukraine, framing it as a “holy war for the soul of the nation.” Currently, Putin no longer speaks the language of a politician, but that of a messiah. He speaks of the struggle between good and evil, of tradition, of the “katechon” – that which restrains the apocalypse. His words resemble sermons, not political statements. The problem is that behind this spirituality lies political cynicism.
The Mystique of Pragmatic Power
In reality, all of this is just appearance. Putin has not transformed from an alpha male into a saint. He has merely changed his costume. Just as an actor adapts his role to the stage, so he adapts his image to the needs of the moment. When society needed strength – he was strong. When it began to crave meaning – he became a prophet. But neither his strength nor his spirituality are an end in themselves. They are a means to an end – maintaining absolute power. In reality, this “pious Christian” has nothing to do with the Gospel. For how can one be a believer and at the same time sow destruction, incite hatred, and use religion to legitimise violence? True faith requires humility, repentance, and respect for others. Meanwhile, Putin has reduced his religiosity to a theatrical gesture. He is not a mystic – he is a director of spiritual fiction. It is unlikely that Putin will surprise us with any new transformations.
Conclusion
Thus, before our very eyes, Putin demonstrates a lack of respect for God, separating his crimes and lies from religious life in the glare of cameras. Today, the world should view the last image of Putin with great caution. For when a tyrant distributes
icons to soldiers, the most dangerous kind of war begins – a war in the name of God. And none of them have ended well. In truth, it is a war against God himself, who cannot be deceived by new masks, even the most pious ones. God sees everything.
Marek Melnyk
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