church Archives

AppWizard

February 16, 2026

Russian Soldiers Resist Orders to Install State Messaging App “MAX” in Donetsk Region

Russian servicemen in the Donetsk region are resisting orders to adopt the state-controlled messaging app “MAX,” as reported by ATESH partisan movement agents monitoring the 27th and 144th motorized rifle divisions. A directive requires all personnel to transition to “MAX” by February 18, banning other platforms, which has caused dissatisfaction among soldiers and officers. Communication issues have worsened due to recent disruptions to Starlink services, leading to personnel losses and the abandonment of positions, particularly in the Huliaipole direction. Some servicemen plan to use a second phone for inspections to comply with the order, while officers may overlook continued use of Telegram. Soldiers fear that using the state messenger could result in criminal charges. The internal resistance occurs amid broader communication setbacks for Russian forces, with reports indicating that the loss of Starlink has weakened operational command and control capabilities. Russian military bloggers had warned that cutting off Starlink would hinder frontline coordination. Additionally, a priest from the Russian Orthodox Church has called for prayers to restore Telegram following stricter regulations imposed by Russia’s media regulator.

AppWizard

February 13, 2026

Russian Orthodox Priest Urges People to Pray for End to Telegram Messenger App Ban

A priest from the Russian Orthodox Church, Alexander Mikushin, has urged believers to pray for the restoration of access to Telegram after Russia's communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, announced stricter limitations on the platform. He emphasized Telegram's importance as a space for prayer and conversation and composed a prayer for the officials involved in the decision-making process. On February 10, Roskomnadzor planned to escalate measures against Telegram due to its non-compliance with Russian law, leading to access issues reported in 64 regions by February 13. Telegram's user base surged from 91 million in October to 105 million in November, coinciding with the blockage of WhatsApp in Russia. The platform has been crucial for Russian forces in the Ukraine conflict, but outages have raised concerns about communication vulnerabilities. Mikushin has previously advocated for a free internet and participated in a rally against online restrictions. A senior church official advised clergy not to frame the blocking of Telegram in religious terms. Bishop Pitirim of the Skopin Diocese linked the ongoing conflict in Ukraine to "unclean forces" from occult practices and abortions.

AppWizard

December 23, 2025

Like a good ol’ southern potluck, South of Midnight had me going back to play for seconds, and then thirds, thanks to all its little details

The PC Gamer team is celebrating their favorite games of the year alongside their Game of the Year Awards for 2025, revealing a new personal pick each day throughout the month. One highlighted game is Complusion's gothic action-adventure title, South of Midnight, which the author played three times in eight months. The game features a narrative that resonates with the author's childhood experiences in Mississippi and portrays themes of community support during crises, exemplified by a scene involving the Cajun Navy. The game also incorporates cultural elements, such as regional dialects and local humor, enhancing its authenticity. The author expresses a strong emotional connection to the game and considers a fourth playthrough to further explore its themes.

AppWizard

November 27, 2025

Galaxy Princess Zorana is like if you made BG3 passive checks into a whole game, a great tale of political intrigue, and will give you like 4,000 ways to die embarrassingly

Galaxy Princess Zorana's reign ended abruptly during a space-football game orchestrated by the Pope, resulting in her untimely death. The event was broadcast live, shocking the citizens of her interplanetary realm. Zorana, the inexperienced heir to a fractured empire, struggles with court politics and her education after her father's suspicious death. Players engage in a sports event to gain favor with the church, but her awkward interactions lead to an unfavorable outcome at Space Old Trafford. The narrative emphasizes the complexities of leadership and the balance between diplomacy and espionage.

AppWizard

November 3, 2025

Arc Raiders Blue Gate quest – how to complete A First Foothold

Players must complete the A First Foothold quest in Arc Raiders by visiting four key locations on The Blue Gate map: Data Vault, Olive Grove, Ridgeline, and Trapper's Glade. 1. Data Vault: Located to the north, players need to rotate the satellite dishes on a dilapidated church's roof. 2. Olive Grove: Players must activate the communications terminal found in this area, known for its olives, lemons, and apricots. 3. Ridgeline: At the observation deck, players need to stabilize it by interacting with the front. 4. Trapper's Glade: Players must ascend the Raider structure and secure its roof plates to complete the quest. There is no rush to complete these tasks in one outing, and players can prioritize nearby points of interest before returning to Speranza. Additionally, keeping an Arc Raiders Hatch Key can help with exiting The Blue Gate.

AppWizard

October 27, 2025

After Bloodlines 2 I was going to return to VTM’s underrated battle royale game, but there’s bad news

In May 2023, Sharkmob announced the end of active development for Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodhunt, leading to a decline in player engagement. By September 2023, the game reached a standstill, and Sharkmob confirmed that the servers will permanently close on April 28, 2026. Players can no longer purchase Tokens, the in-game currency, but the store remains open for spending remaining balances. The daily player count had dwindled to 400 to 600. After April 28, 2026, the game will no longer be available for play or purchase on PC and PlayStation platforms.

AppWizard

October 19, 2025

Top 10 Android Apps You Need to Try in 2025

Grace is trying to support Jasper after the loss of his father. She prepares coffee to comfort him but finds him upset and angry after receiving a phone call. Jasper accuses Grace of pretending to care and expresses his belief that she is only interested in his family's ranch. Their conversation escalates into a confrontation where Jasper reveals his feelings of betrayal and hurt over Grace's past actions. Despite Grace's declarations of love, Jasper tells her to leave, overwhelmed by his grief. After leaving, Grace returns home and breaks down in front of her father, seeking comfort.

AppWizard

September 30, 2025

Holy data grab Meet Zosima, Russia’s Orthodox Christian messenger app no one asked for

Zosima, an Orthodox Christian messaging app from Russia, briefly appeared on Google Play in late September before being removed. Officially launching on October 30, the app is designed for believers to connect with local parishes, receive updates about churches, request prayers, and interact with church leaders. Initially conceived as a project for the Yaroslavl region, Zosima's vision expanded to create a nationwide platform. It was intended for a limited trial launch in November 2024 but faced delays, with no official launch occurring by summer 2025. Zosima resurfaced on Google Play in September 2025, although access was restricted after media interest. The app is developed by a team of about 30 people, with Denis Osipov listed as the developer. Promised features include personal and group chats, photo and video sharing, livestreaming, and donation capabilities for churches, but many functionalities are currently unavailable, and testers found the app unfinished. Registration options include email, VK accounts, or the Gosuslugi portal, but the app's privacy policy raises concerns about data collection. Comparisons to Russia's state-backed Max app highlight Zosima's lack of functionality and potential security issues, with some users mocking it in reviews. Agapov insists it is an "Orthodox" messenger, welcoming all faiths, but its future remains uncertain amidst concerns over user privacy and data security.

AppWizard

September 25, 2025

Russian ‘Orthodox WhatsApp’ Debuts Without Church’s Endorsement

A new messaging application called Zosima has been launched on Google Play, initially intended for release in November 2024 but made available early on September 23. Developed by the Innotech XXI Foundation, Zosima aims to connect parishioners with local churches but has evolved into a broader social networking platform. Officials from the Russian Orthodox Church have distanced themselves from the app, stating they were not consulted during its development. The church's spokesperson, Vakhtang Kipshidze, expressed skepticism about the initiative. Zosima is named after a sixth-century monastic saint and is open to individuals of all faiths, but cannot be considered Orthodox without endorsement from Patriarch Kirill. An official presentation for the app is scheduled for October 30. The launch occurs amid increasing restrictions on Western technology platforms in Russia, with WhatsApp remaining the most widely used messaging service despite limitations. The Russian Orthodox Church had previously launched its own messenger app in 2017, connecting 130,000 users with 15,000 churches.

AppWizard

September 9, 2025

Catholic church canonises its first gamer saint, and one of his favourite games was Halo

Carlos Acutis was canonised as a saint after passing away at the age of 15 from leukaemia in 2006. His canonisation process began in 2012, and he was declared "Venerable" in 2018, "Blessed" in 2020, and formally recognised as a saint in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City. Acutis created a website documenting miracles to promote the Catholic faith, earning the nickname "God's influencer." His final resting place in Assisi has become a pilgrimage site. The Catholic Church will commemorate him annually on a designated feast day.