A shocking video vent viral across the internet in the recent months, presenting Russia’s newly constructed Military Church. This massive structure located just outside Moscow, has left viewers around the world stunned, its sheer scale and dystopian design have fueled the Internet’s curiosity.

The “war church” as some called it, is the Russian Armed Forces Main Cathedral, and fully functions as an Orthodox Church. It’s dystopian design blends religious reverence with an unapologetic military symbolism, prompting many to compare it to something “straight out of the Warhammer universe“

Officially conceived by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in 2014, but was only completed in June 2020 due to the pandemic. It was committed to commemorate the 75.th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in World War II and to the Russian military’s historical victories. The construction was carefully designed to evoke all aspects of Orthodox Christianity, militarism and patriotism. It is located within the Patriot Park, just outside Moscow, and stands 95 meters tall with symbolism engraved into every element.There are six golden domes -referencing the 6 branches of the Russian military forces- which all are adorned with battle inspired mosaics, with the main dome’s diameter measuring exactly 19.45 as a direct reference to the year 1945, ending of the Great Patriotic War while its height of 75 meters symbolizing the 75th anniversary of the Soviet Victory.Even the smaller dome’s height of 14.18 meters reflects the 1,418 days of the Soviet war effort.

The main door is forged from melted-down Nazi weapons-symbolically allowing visitors to “walk over the defeated enemy“. Upon entering, visitors are met with an astonishing interior design -traditional orthodox iconography fused with scenes of battle, tanks among other military imagery .At one point, even mosaic portraits of President Vladimir Putin and Joseph Stalin were featured inside the church, thought these were later removed amid controversy and claims of “immaturity” .The visual spectacle only continues upon entering the main hall, where Christ is seen yielding a sword, with Virgin Mary is styled as the Motherland, echoing Soviet Propaganda posters. The central icon, the “Holy Savior” is positioned in the main dome, surrounded by relics of saints significant to Russia’s military legacy, including Fyodor Ushakov, the revered commander and canonized saint. This incredible marvel took only 600 days to complete cost approximately $85 million, with $43 million from public donations, and the remaining covered by Moscow’s public funds

“Warhammer” Comparisons

While the cathedral stands as a testament to Russia’s efforts to intertwine state, church, and military identity under President Vladimir Putin’s vision of a resurgent “Russian World”, the internet quickly noticed the Gothic architecture drawing comparisons to Warhammer 40k universe.

Reddit’s r/ANormalDayInRussia, have described the cathedral as looking like a “Fortress-Monastery” or a “Schola Progenium” from the game, with its grimdark, inspired design. The riveted bronze exterior, the towering, missile-like domes, and the fusion of religious zeal with martial imagery mirror the game’s depiction of a theocratic, militarized Imperium of Man.

However, this resemblance goes beyond sheer architecture, In November 2024, Russian soldiers were ordered to gather at the Cathedral, to receive a special recognition. The soldiers are being served a scroll like badges, called “purity seals” bearing scriptural texts from the bible, especially from Psalm 90, and are affixed to gear as a form of spiritual protection. These badges, are distributed by priests at the church and are produced by Ratnik Tactical -a Russian military outfitter, who has also received a blessing at this very same Cathedral. Critics, such as religious journalist Alexander Soldatov, have condemned this practice, arguing that such amulets veer into “paganism” and “combat magic,” a stark departure from Orthodox norms.

List of Known Information Related to the Main Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces