Vladimir Rozanskij

This year the dates of the Orthodox and Catholic Easter coincide. Two thousand young faithful in procession to ask for the return of St. Petersburg church. The elaborate preparation of Miron, the Holy Thursday oil which also anointed the tsars. Some martyrs of the Soviet period "downgraded" to mere "victims of repression."

The lack of reaction to the unusual chain of events, from street demonstrations in Moscow, the chemical bombing and American retaliation to the attack in Stockholm show a "weakness" in Putin. The escalation of the Hybrid War.

The Duma set to discuss a regulation on the matter. The Moscow Patriarchate says it "offends human dignity" and should be banned both on a commercial and voluntary basis. Children of "surrogates" will be baptized only after the period of parental penance. The proposed adoption by infertile couples. Russia passes from atheism to religion, while the West goes in the opposite direction.

What is new is not Alexei Navalny, but the protests of young people. Medvedev and his jogging "shoes" fetish. Putin's nationalism losing support, partly because of the economic crisis. Russia, like the rest of the world, seeing the impoverishment of the middle class.

The commemoration of the centenary of the Russian Revolution of 1917 has begun. A major historical revision is underway. Our post-globalisation times resemble 1917. The Moscow Patriarchate and Vladimir Putin are silent on the matter.

For the students it was a "obligated holiday." Flyers promised 400 rubles "for three hours of work", actually to participate in the "Anniversary celebrations." Several representatives of political parties and nationalist movements have repeated the proposal to make March 18 an official holiday, and - to the glory of the Crimean referendum - a fixed day for the most important votes.

The Moscow Patriarchate has decided to include the memory of the patron saint of the Irish in its liturgical calendar. The decision is also perhaps to be seen in light of the desired Russian-American friendship, envisaged after the election of President Trump, or perhaps it is a consequence of the resumption of Catholic-Orthodox dialogue, followed the meeting of Patriarch Kirill with Pope Francis of last February 2016 in Cuba.

A poem ironizes on a recognition - rather unique - awarded by the Minister of Defence and not by the Geographical Society raises a protest Authority for complaints against the press.

A deputy of the president's party reports a miraculous liquid appeared in a conquered Crimea church by a bust of the last Tsar, canonized in 2000, and a mayor of tears from a statue of Lenin.

Everything had seemed set for a great deal that included the cancellation of sanctions against Russia, in exchange for Russian support in the fight against Islamic Terrorism. The new "cold war" 2.0 is not between America and Russia, or between East and West, but everyone against everyone.

Only 2% is willing to engage in ascetic practices of the 40 days. 30% try to limit alcohol consumption; 15% are willing to stop sexual relations; 19% to give up social media and online entertainment. Orthodox Lent requires a strict vegan diet: complete abstinence from all animal food. Belonging to Orthodoxy is seen as of socio-cultural and religious value.

The leaders of two hieratic religious traditions hugged in a bare "Soviet" atmosphere, sterilised from the presence of people, but with dignitaries, politicians and journalists. The Joint Declaration contains important points, and sets the stage for missionary work for the coming centuries. Putin overshadows the Syrian issue. Kirill wins over Uniatism and Ukraine. However, the real world will be the test of the agreement.