church representatives

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.