The Russian Orthodox Church is clearly having a weird time this year. First, Patriarch Kirill was photographed wearing an extra-expensive handwatch. Next, he was awarded The Silver Shoe, a kind of The Raspberry Award. And now the TV-savvy priest claimed that God revealed to him that He did not forgive Pussy Riot for their punk-mass.

      According to Father Vsevolod Chaplin, the committed sin should be punished both here, on Earth by the powers-that-be, and in afterlife. He stressed that only one of the band members did something worthy of forgiveness when she quoted a line from a poem, saying "I'm sorry" just for the sake of it. Unfortunately, the band members whose arrest has been extended for another month are not about to regret their actions. Should the jury find them guilty, they face up to 7 years in prison. Two of the young women have small children.

      Meanwhile, Pussy Riot receive support globally and from other Russians. One of the film stars wore a bag on her head at the opening of the 34th Moscow International Film Festival, thus declaring her solidarity with the girls. And in Novosibirsk an icon celebrating the punk band appeared.

      Source: RBC, BBC.