Actually, Putin has been a believer in the Russian Orthodox Church for quite a while, all during the Bush Admin, and who knows how far back in his own personal history. I think it is part of his deep nationalism and love of his own country and its history, unlike our own leader who is a globalist at best, who has a chip on his shoulder and a faint distaste for his own country.
"Faint"? You're far more generous than I!