Russian Church launches “Christian mobile operator”

Devout Russian Christians will soon be able to sign up to the country’s very own Orthodox mobile operator.

As well as deals on mobile internet and calls, Blagovest will let users sign up for added bonuses such as text alerts from the Russian Patriarch, the business daily Vedomosti reported Tuesday.

The company’s website also contains a special page to help users connect to their local monastery or congregation, claiming “that multiple Moscow parishes” were already using the service.

In November 2015 the Moscow Patriarchate announced the launch of a special Wi-Fi network which will block content deemed extremist, sectarian or pornographic, as well as “distorted historical facts.” Contents promoting “the right values” will be favored.