Vladimir Putin has become the object of veneration for a bizarre all-female sect whose followers believe that the Russian prime minister is a reincarnation of the early Christian missionary Paul the Apostle.

Members of the sect in a village 250 miles south-east of Moscow believe that the 58-year-old former KGB agent is on a mission from God. "According to the Bible, Paul the Apostle was a military commander at first and an evil persecutor of Christians before he started spreading the Christian gospel," the sect's founder, who styles herself Mother Fotina, said.

"In his days in the KGB, Putin also did some rather unrighteous things. But once he became president, he was imbued with the Holy Spirit, and just like the apostle, he started wisely leading his flock." The sect's members are all women who dress like nuns and pray for Mr Putin's success in front of Russian Orthodox Church icons alongside a portrait of him. Followers are reportedly encouraged to sing upbeat patriotic Soviet songs at "services" and are said to survive on a diet of turnips, carrots, peas and buckwheat.

Dmitry Peskov, Mr Putin's spokesman, said: "It is impressive that they think so highly of the prime minister's work but I would like to recall the commandment: thou shalt not worship false idols."