It's astounding to see the leader of the biggest nation on earth, and a most self-possessed politician, talk about the intimate: faith and family.

On Christmas in 2012 at 3 am, after a night service at the Transfiguration Cathedral in St Petersburg, Vladimir Putin was, of course, met by reporters.

Maybe because he saw that they had been waiting for them, and were obviously jumping up with excitement that they were talking to him, he smilingly answered their questions.

He tells them the story of his baptism (hidden from his father, a devout Communist). He talks about his parents, of why this particular church is so special to him.