Russian Orthodox Church consecrates military cathedral

Russia's Orthodox Patriarch Kirill consecrated the country's new cathedral of the armed forces outside Moscow on Sunday, in a ceremony attended by the country's top military brass and soldiers wearing WWII-era uniforms.

In a speech to soldiers assembled outside the cathedral after the consecration, the Orthodox leader emphasised the strong bonds between Russia's church and military.

Earlier, the patriarch praised the military for defending the country "from external and internal enemies" and thanked Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu for their support in building the church.

The cathedral was built in just under 600 days and was opened on May 9, dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory in World War II.

At the ceremony, Shoigu thanked the private donors who had contributed to the cathedral's construction.

The church sparked controversy earlier this year when photographs were leaked online of mosaics featuring Russian President Vladimir Putin and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin intended for the cathedral.

Plans to install the mosaics were later dropped after a public outcry.

A museum at the church complex features exhibitions about the history of Russia's armed forces and the Great Patriotic War.

The Soviet Union lost an estimated 26 million people including 8.5 million soldiers in the Great Patriotic War, and remembrance of the victory in the war has become a fundamental piece of Russian national identity.