Putin apparently underwent a moving conversion experience after a house fire, in which he was able to save his daughters against serious odds and later found his baptismal cross in the ashes. He had apparently worn the cross but never attached meaning to it or followed the faith. It was his feeling that the cross should have burned and its survival was a message for him (ie, as in related to burning and crosses. lol)
Since this conversion, which Putin has discussed in interviews you can find on the web, he has made many serious moves to indicate he is now truly following the Orthodox Christian faith.
One is his public address several years ago on Christmas, in which he made a statement about why Christ had come into the world.
Another was his highly visible monastic visitation schedule, particularly on one occasion.
Additionally we in the church have seen several instances of teachings from the church in Putin's addresses to the Russian people. One was his statement after the theatre hostage ended, in which he said "Forgive us, we could not rescue them all"
Another was his recent public address about the history of the treatment of Jews in Russia.
"The German chancellor recently said that he was ashamed of the past, but it is the past, and we must be ashamed of the present. Even in Russia that contributed the most in the victory over the Nazi and in the liberation of Jews, we can often see the manifestation of this plague," the president said. "We are ashamed of it," the president confessed. These words were hailed with a storm of applause."
This is a lovely result of Putin's studies in the church on humility.
Thanks for your comments.
This thread has been an eye-opener. Thanks for the info. God bless you and yours.