Russian Orthodox Patriarch’s Watch Causes Buzz

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia is abuzz with talk of the value of the Orthodox Church patriarch’s watch after it mysteriously disappeared from his wrist in a website picture.

Speculation about Patriarch Kirill’s timepiece reached a climax this week when bloggers spotted a photo of him wearing the watch, which allegedly costs some $30,000.

By Thursday, the site’s editors had doctored the photo, erasing the watch but failing to get rid of its reflection.

Reacting to bloggers’ indignation, the patriarch’s office promptly apologized for “a mistake” of an employee.

The scandal has revived a discussion about the church’s wealth and close links to the Kremlin.

Critics have said the church lost its impartiality when Kirill signaled support for Prime Minister Vladimir Putin shortly before March’s presidential vote.