A new messaging application, Zosima, has emerged on Google Play, drawing comparisons to WhatsApp due to its faith-based focus. However, officials from the Russian Orthodox Church have distanced themselves from the initiative, expressing skepticism regarding its intent and execution.
Development and Purpose
Created by the Innotech XXI Foundation, Zosima was originally slated for a November 2024 release. The reasons behind the unexpected early launch on September 23 remain unclear. Initially designed to foster connections between parishioners and their local churches, the app has evolved into a more extensive social networking platform, akin to VKontakte, as noted by Innotech XXI’s head, Alexei Agapov.
Despite its religious branding, church representatives have stated they were not consulted during the app’s development. Vakhtang Kipshidze, a spokesperson for the Moscow Patriarchate, commented, “We are not aware of this project, and the initiative has not been discussed with the relevant church institutions. We believe that launching such projects without prior discussion is not the best idea.”
Broader Implications
Agapov clarified that Zosima “cannot be considered Orthodox” without the endorsement of Patriarch Kirill, emphasizing that the platform is open to individuals of all faiths. Named after a sixth-century monastic saint, Zosima began as a side project related to Innotech XXI’s efforts to restore churches in the Yaroslavl region. An official presentation for the app is scheduled for October 30.
The launch of Zosima coincides with increasing restrictions on Western technology platforms in Russia. Following the designation of Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, as an “extremist” organization in 2022, the messaging app itself remains operational but has faced limitations, particularly regarding video call functionalities. Despite these constraints, WhatsApp continues to be the most widely used messaging service in Russia.
Interestingly, the Russian Orthodox Church had previously ventured into the digital space with its own messenger app in 2017, which reportedly connected 130,000 users with 15,000 churches. The emergence of Zosima presents a new chapter in the intersection of faith and technology within the Russian context.
