Russian Orthodox church prays for 'correction' of anti-Putin Pussy Riot

Vandalised icons were brought to Moscow for the occasion. They included one that had been slashed with an axe in March by a man latter committed to hospital and another that was sprayed with bullets under Communism.

Patriarch Kyrill compared those who insult the Church today to the enemies of Jesus and called for prayers to help save young people from the "devil's seduction."

The Patriarch has suffered from a series of personal scandals in recent months related to his alleged ownership of expensive properties and a photograph on his website that was doctored to hide a $30,000 watch.

Hundreds of motorists, including the bikers' group the Night Wolves, also turned out for demonstrations over the weekend in support of Orthodoxy under the slogan "For the Patriarch, for the Church and for the Motherland."