The job made for mines. Her. Last winter in moscow. Thousands of people lined up in the middle of the night to be a part of an old ritual. Of the russian soul where do you see going on with which we are facing god makes a strong the serviette out the other a yetta. Something resembling a baptism for adults is taking place next to a church. The faithful take a quick dip in ice cold water. To the earth home during the soviet era this Russian Orthodox ritual to mark a pit and all that disappeared now its being revived. This is not just about face its a way to show the world but russia is capable of. Russian television is here to show president Vladimir Putin taking the plunge. 400 kilometers from moscow the man who serves as a role model for his country and has the chilly water where hes. Got. This ritual goodnights russians in different parts of the country. And the faithful are impressed that their president is leading by example. With both the brought about the love of a good russian a religious russian if you spray people to his roots his countrymen a system in which he let us. Want to bring about peace for us you need someone to lead the way. And thats flat on your part of what you believe many things that were banned in the soviet union are now presented with pride including cossacks traditions. Not far from red square are the offices of saw grad t. V. A broadcaster that propagates a return to traditional values. Even in the lobby its clear who has the say here the president of the patriarch of moscow and all russia. The broadcaster was founded by constantine have an orthodox businessman and putin ally here journalists criticize western decadence and declare homosexuality to be a cardinal sin and so are grad t. V. s biggest star is host under a often nasty have. Thats always true to your hes considered one of the best and definitely have well equipped and russian say in the world. The main specialty of it is a ham brain that i can all for jesus to create or its one of one of the symbols of our channel. In 2017 andre afanasy have made International Headlines when he produced a video offering the russian homosexuals a free one way ticket to the us. Hes a jew from which this is not a joke we really want you to move there where you can openly submit to your servants. I. Saw our grad t. V. Says these kinds of pieces have increased viewer numbers substantially those are the broadcaster claims a quarter of all russians have watched its programs at least once. The us thats a young video if im underage often i see you welcome to the russian answer to. The program spike for family values and against abortion and they depicts the west as decadent and corrupt. These are also favorite topics of owner constantine not a fear of. The 45 year old business tycoon amassed his wealth through banking and internet companies. People call him the orthodox oligarchs though he sees himself as a marxist hes also said to be interact contact with Vladimir Putin. Put him in my house theyre from to substitute for the term for this moment there because what hes doing right now it would be the best what. Could be done by born star. Hitler signifies himself with russia. To pass the sense of patriotism an orthodoxy on to the next generation constantine has also founded a school the st basil the great school is located in an upscale neighborhood in moscow. 400 pupils attend classes in what resembles a palace the school is a Training Ground for russias future elites the walls are lined with images of past czars and famous russian writers constant reminders of the prerevolutionary russian empire. The point was you know for children true no more space paintings. And dates its given something to your hearts and to your mind to run and if you are not meshing has been your module always for the remember you know some some nice you know it back to russian history. Of to make sure nothing distracts from the special atmosphere cell phones arent allowed at the same basel the great school for just over 1000. 00 euros a month even Young Children get to learn all about tradition including Church Slavonic which is still used in orthodox services. Where its a volunteer like church the phonic was if it was. Along with the classical education pupils are also taught good manners proper etiquette and dancing. The way 15 year old barbara is the daughter of an oil company c. And o. Shes attended the school for 4 years. Not too bad. I proceed i only turn. I think theyre doing so and this traditional dance was very popular in the 19th century. And were practicing it for our schools anniversary celebrations was when our parents and many other guests will be clear voice. Celebrated in the style of the imperial era the ball is one of the highlights of the school year barbara will also dance before the watchful eyes of School Founder constantine around here. Ill admit im a bit nervous at the most but after the dress rehearsal there will be less stress and at the ball ill be much better for that your sister. Barbara lives in an exclusive residential area not far from the school with her parents and her younger brother. Room is decorated with russian icons but recently barbara has also been learning to play the guitar and her walls are also covered with posters of rock bands which arent on the curriculum at the st basil the great school. For someone wishing im a completely normal teenager distillate i listen to alternative rock like ramstein 3 days grace and green day. And theres a magic dragons and my chemical romance she made the rainbow flags which symbolize the l g b t Pride Movement herself. I knew my parents dont know what these colors mean and all at school they tell us that homosexuality is something bad. But i think that all people are equal if. You dont. Doesnt even if someone has black skin or a different Sexual Orientation they should be respected and loved with your view wishing youre with them you. Know. This evening barbaras parents are hosting a dinner party her father andre is cooking a specialty from siberia where he grew up. So this is siberian sturgeon was the favorite dish of people in the north. That although if we lived in the north for 40 years my parents moved there in their youth in the days when it was still the soviet union also i would cyril. Andre trained as a geologist he worked for an oil company and rose through the ranks until he became its c. E. O. Now he belongs to the russian elite. One of the delicious. She barbaras mother anastasio is also preparing a siberian specialty. At the beijing library impel many dumplings filled with ground russians he loves and thats just. Another married couple and barbers grandparents have been invited for dinner. And of course theres lots to drink 6 years i wish you luck and love the other but were glad youre here. It is up. Here in russia its a tradition to say a toast before drinking another glass. As for that poll says the us will hold our shores and you drink to your big family may it remain united thats whats most valuable the houses of worship or the sand that you honor tradition to you in your specific things weve known each other so long because thats not. Maybe these russians are so focused on tradition because their recent history has been so chaotic for many change breeds fear the bullshit that in russian history is every major changes lead to violence. If you please could you do any preaching to those who believe weve always had bloody revolution losing to crews. With many deaths and lives shattered. Ligi should you. Hear theyre all put in supporters mainly because russia has enjoyed sustained Economic Growth during his rule. Since 1909 the average income has increased 10 fold more using your assumption and today we have more faith in the future. The country has stabilized. We feel protected in every way you can make money legally stability is the most important thing. But putin doesnt just have the wealthy upper class behind him he can also rely on the support of a legendary slavic people known for their courage and fighting skills the cossacks. Their troops on horseback once defended russias borders and spread fear among opponents and religious minorities. Rostov on don in southern russia is the center of don cossack culture. Grigori is 15 years old his father and his grandfather were cossacks his lifes a game is to defend his homeland. In which everyone must decide if hes a patriot or not. So today russia is subject to many dangers from abroad but. Somebody is a she should i have to defend my motherland one day. I mean prepared to sacrifice my life with. The stories we need to instill. Grigori has already internalized the cossacks values of patriotism militarism and orthodoxy. Its a mixture that matches Vladimir Putins conservative ideals. Grigori as a cadet at the highly regarded shakti cossacks school. Here 220. 00 young men are preparing for their military service. Well how this will go off and therefore pale the flags of the Russian Federation and the rest of regional jets go record. In soviet times cossacks were oppressed after the iron curtain collapsed their culture began to flourish again putin officially integrated them into the russian army this school is publicly funded but let me. I expect our president to hold the country together and ensure our welfare system must immediately. Today is most important duty is the security of our country and one must see to it that there is peace in our nation. Because whats happening at our borders frightens us. Any. Good gori and his fellow peoples have the same curriculum as in other russian schools they study everything from math to literature but here theres a special focus on history specifically the history of the cossacks because look at some. Of what i said not. What. The. Global warming isnt good for the cossacks your head covering as a question of honor of our forefathers only removed it to pray when they entered a church or were communing with god. Lets just. Get that across that died on the battlefield he was never buried with his cassock. It was always brought to his widow. To be the one if you will the. Along with the uniforms and weapons pupils are also told about their forefathers heroic deeds grigori and his friends are proud of these stories. But just because the venue because they came in the cossacks played a key role in almost all the wars. Of boy they were the 1st to go into battle. Its because of them that russia was so powerful was just old could be could. So at the school they also put theory into practice they reenact historical battles to internalise heroic feeds from bygone days. This was a car thats come here. For School Director vitali its an indispensable exercise. But the score go boom we want your bread isnt enough we have to put on the uniforms of our forefathers and use their weapons and march for kilometers in the same conditions youll meet you killing mutely we have to withstand cold and snow storms for war thats the only way to learn our history you can though your numbers but. I. Was after an hour of drills in temperatures of minus 15 degree celsius the cossacks students can finally warm up but before they eat they have to pray. Its sad to share. What i. Hear what youre saying its a big issue its a commotion just me i want to share this adventure with my comrades so if he ever need me ill help them out but i feel connected to them and perhaps will serve in the same regiment. Of i have names for fitness. Now the older students are doing bodybuilding their big role model is glad im here putin. Knows what is good in a strong man for you. When youre still here see as a strong character this is him youre going into the speech physically and mentally strong. Much just one of the saudis even a martial arts master with the most prestigious award system thats all you can lead a country of 150000000 people you know them or they just its only you can help our country advance and develop what your is your whats. Yours is just i dont see anyone who can equal him. Good or replace him as president. Yes. Like every weekend grigori is packing his things. Tomorrow hes going home its a 200 kilometer trip. He lives in a small town of some 8000 people in this house. Miss you so much. I miss you too. These. Are gorgeous parents are divorced. His mother yelena works in a medical lab and earns around 300 euros a month. When her son comes home she lets him sleep in the only bad. It is it was a live broadcast my brother was just going to school because hes a soldier in a special forces unit its nice youll notice you do it as you do you know hes my role model. Thats what a real man and soldier should be like the beach. The way you approach the chilly. Yelena does worry about her boys but her love for her country is paramount. And the most important thing is that my sons defend our nation. And they must be prepared to sacrifice themselves for their comrades if necessary. Is this ive raised my sons to be real men. Because. She thinks putin is a good president. He supports the revival of also doxy and has had many churches built for us cossacks thats important. Since putin has been in power the Russian Orthodox church has enjoyed a noticeable revival. In the last 2 decades around a 1000 churches have been restored or rebuilt each year. Many were destroyed during stalins rule. Since 201165 churches have been erected in moscow alone another 150 are in the planning. The idea is for every muscovite to have a house of worship within easy reach. The moscow patriarchate has even been offered the citys green spaces as building sites. The conflict has erupted between residents and Church Leaders over the tough young park in northern moscow. On the one side or priests and the faithful who are staking their claim by holding regular man. Says here. On the other side are angry locals who dont want to lose their park on the spot but here natasha is the groups spokeswoman for 2 years shes been fighting to have the construction stopped or at least postponed. The shows or there are already 4 churches in this district this would be the 5th why did they have to destroy the park when there are already so many people. Recently natasha and her friends were attacked by a group of thugs. Nearby doing just what i was punched in the head they gave me a black eye and broke my bra bones welcome to because generally because i filed a Police Report i received threats will kill you in the name of our faith. Little on. The other protesters were beaten up too but to date the police have stood idly by you know like you know it so i want to ask you if many of us were attacked and injured by s. S. Type thoughts yet nothing was done about it. Why dont you would russia were not going to. Eat. Any of. The group which calls itself 40 times 40 is protected by the authorities. It acts on behalf of the Orthodox Church the name 40 times 40 refers to the 1600. 00 churches that were said to exist in moscow before the revolution former hooligans and martial artists comprise the armed twin of the Orthodox Church. The group holds president putin in high esteem and claims to act. In russias interest these teens show 40 times 40 s violent intervention a tour for young. In their own way they demonstrate the growing power of the Russian Orthodox church was was at it was. We meet members of the group. One of its leaders invited us to a church. In the basement theyre practicing martial arts. Beforehand they also pray here. With our sympathy and welcome. All. The way to cumberland lined up to pray. Option national recently missing the city at sea with her the plea gets us to the woodward affair will be seen as a mini flip National Solution it doesnt the group is comprised of a colorful mix of Students Police officers and i t experts like. Twice a week they gather here to train after work. For the family so lets go now to. Her thoughts and keep moving. Feeling you know. What archie and tells us that to defend their conservative faith they need to be physically fit. Single source articles with cigarettes and it will work for emblem is up here but there is an orthodox knight who defends the Russian Church with a sword in a field so its a good thing for a muslim its there to get over it or push the world so so much longer than most of the orthodoxy in our country are important to us were going to see alters the motion you are seeing. During the soviet era such emblems were forbidden. Now theyre being used to when the faithful respect the bush and those dives i should say so i we have to protect our members in our cathedrals i think if someone attacks us or makes fun of holy things then we have to try to defend them with a book in which we must defend the thing of that with all of the good report thats in the schechter or. I. Think over time 40 times 40 have made themselves into sponsible. You know as far as you know that place were taking on more and more do easter. At 1st we only defended holy sites or she just says that now we also help with the patriarchs Church Services will disappear after that. On the same evening 40 times 40 will be on duty at a ceremonial mass attended by then Prime Minister dimitri meant to be and if. The cathedral of christ the savior moscows largest cathedral is heavily guarded only invited guests are allowed in. And thats it this is the invitation and if you needed to get an awful lot of moving around well you can almost live where i got it thats a secret to a difference he used to like head. I chum and his friends dont need an invitation. Around a dozen people from their group are in attendance. To officially theyre here as stewards for little cushion for a real crazy thing reverses going to what i can. See. Was the cathedral is full of security personnel. The Church Service is being transmitted live on television. Was. Then Prime MinisterDmitri Medvedev has come to hear Patriarch Kirill sermon in person. The. Trochee. Presence is a good omen. The. Culture of russia start anew somewhere with our best times were always when political power in. Church where united the sun little as long as this alliance lasts nothing can happen to us of this star nation with the rights. That you give us here to represent glad im here putin who is attending