A Russian non-profit organization dedicated to restoring churches has announced plans to launch a faith-based messaging app named “Zosima,” often referred to as “Orthodox WhatsApp,” this November, according to state media reports.
The app aims to facilitate direct communication between users and their local churches and clergy, allowing for seamless donations as well. Alexei Agapov, president of the Innotekh XXI foundation, shared this information in a statement to the RBC business news outlet, noting, “We’ll launch it in November 2024.” He described Zosima as similar to WhatsApp but did not elaborate on its specific features.
Following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia blacklisted WhatsApp’s parent company, Meta, along with Facebook and Instagram, labeling them as an “extremist” organization. Despite this designation, the messaging service itself has remained in use.
Zosima originated as a side initiative linked to the Innotekh XXI foundation’s church restoration projects in the Yaroslavl region. Agapov emphasized that the app is now designed for broader participation, stating, “But [now] everyone can join in; it will be available for download on major mobile platforms.”
Previously, the Russian Orthodox Church had launched a messaging application in 2017, which successfully connected more than 130,000 users with over 15,000 churches through Android and desktop platforms. The new Zosima app seeks to build on this foundation by providing a modern communication tool tailored for the Orthodox community, further enhancing engagement between clergy and parishioners while fostering donations and support for church activities.
