Moscow, Russia - An all-female sect in Russia has anointed Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and believes the tough-talking former top Russian spy, is a reincarnation of the early Christian missionary Paul.
The all-female sect was based in a remote Russian village some 250 miles southeast of the capital Moscow. The sect's followers believe Putin was sent by God to fulfill a mission on Earth.
The Telegraph quoted the sect's founder who calls herself Mother Fotina as saying, "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."
"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."
The sect's followers are living a Spartan life and are surviving on turnips, carrots, peas and buckwheat. They are encouraged to sing upbeat patriotic Soviet songs during "services" instead of the traditional religious hymns.
But a local priest in the village dismissed Mother Fotina whose real name is Svetlana Frolova.
Father Alexei commented, "Her so-called teachings are a nonsensical mixture of Orthodoxy, Catholicism, the occult, Buddhism and political information."
Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesman said, "This is the first I've heard of such a religious group. 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."