Moscow’s most secure cathedral has ordered the start of the midnight Orthodox service so that Putin can pray alone

Russia’s most secure cathedral has been ordered to hold an Orthodox Christmas service at midnight so Vladimir Putin can pray all alone.

The Moscow despot crosses himself and shuffles uncomfortably during a ceremony at a place of worship where tsars traditionally confess their sins in the Kremlin.

As war rages on in Russian-occupied Ukraine, despite his unilateral ceasefire, he chose the holy Cathedral of the Annunciation for the festive service for the first time since he came to power 23 years ago.

Fear of assassination linked to the war may have caused the lone Putin to avoid his usual appearance at a crowded midnight gathering outside the capital.

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a Christmas service at the Annunciation Cathedral at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, January 6, 2023

Putin crosses himself and shuffles uncomfortably during a ceremony at a place of worship where traditionally tsars confessed their sins, the Annunciation Cathedral at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, January 6, 2023

During the service, an armed presidential bodyguard emerges fleetingly, eyeing the ruler, who has seen more than 100,000 Russian soldiers killed in a bloody war that ravaged Europe that he started ten months ago.

The sullen, cheerless mood in an old cathedral repaired by the paranoid and bloodthirsty Tsar Ivan the Terrible contrasted with Putin’s official Christmas message, which said: “This joyous, beloved holiday inspires and serves to inspire people to good deeds and endeavors ‘To affirm in society such enduring spiritual values ​​and moral standards such as mercy, compassion, kindness and justice.’

In previous years – 2018 and 2019 – he was in his hometown of St. Petersburg amidst other midnight worshipers at the Simeon and Anna Church and the Transfiguration Cathedral respectively.

It is unusual for Putin to meet the Orthodox Christmas celebrations in the city of Moscow – the last time was more than two decades ago in 2001.

Putin was also alone at his official residence outside the capital Novo-Ogaryovo last year as he took extreme precautions due to the pandemic.

In 2021 he attended a service at St. Nicholas Church 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 had chosen the holy Cathedral of the Annunciation for the festival service, the Cathedral of the Annunciation at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, January 6, 2023

During the service, an armed presidential bodyguard makes a glimpse and eyes the ruler, the Cathedral of the Annunciation at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, January 6, 2023

The Cathedral of the Annunciation is located within the walls of the Kremlin Fortress and is considered perfectly safe.

While the 70-year-old Putin is said to have a young family with his lover Alina Kabaeva, 39, a former Olympic gold medalist, Russians are not allowed to know of their existence, and he is never seen with them at Christmas.

The prosecutor’s Telegram channel reported: “The most tearful – 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 their loved ones and like-minded people on this joyful Orthodox holiday.

“And of course a peaceful sky and freedom.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a Christmas service at the Annunciation Cathedral in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, January 6, 2023

Vladimir Putin attends a Christmas service at the Annunciation Cathedral at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, January 6, 2023

Putin’s unique appearance praying alone comes as he is widely rumored to be ready to announce a new mass mobilization of Russians, with some estimates suggesting he could call 500,000 or even a million.

Another fear is that he will soon introduce exit controls to prevent military-age Russians from fleeing the country, as they did immediately after his 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 your pigsty to the Stone Age. He is sad because not all Ukrainians are dead yet.”

Others suggested he was wearing a bulletproof vest and attributed his lonely night watch to his fear of assassination – even from his own security force.

“He feels people’s love so much that he’s afraid to approach them,” one comment read.

Another mocked Putin, saying: “What a crowd, how did they all fit in?

“Is he already afraid of the FSB?”