Overview
- At Bogoyavlensky Cathedral on January 19, Patriarch Kirill described President Vladimir Putin as an "Orthodox leader" by conviction during his Epiphany sermon.
- Kirill delivered the remarks after the Divine Liturgy and characterized the moment as a miracle granted by God, according to RIA Novosti.
- Following the service, he performed the great water‑blessing and sprinkled clergy and worshippers with holy water, TASS reported.
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin regards Epiphany as a big holiday and emphasized that taking part in the rite is a personal choice.
- Peskov also offered holiday greetings to journalists, as the Russian Orthodox Church marks Epiphany with water‑blessing rites on January 18–19 and widespread ice‑water dips.