Three members of a Russian feminist punk band have . gone on trial in Moscow today after staging an anti-Putin . protest in the country's biggest cathedral. The band, called 'Pussy Riot,' face seven years in jail after briefly seizing part of the Cathedral Of Christ the Saviour and chanting 'Mother Mary, drive Putin away.' The performance, which was posted on You Tube, has deeply divided Russian society and angered the powerful Russian Orthodox Church which condemned it as 'blasphemous.' Scroll down for video . Members of female punk band Pussy Riot, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova (centre), Maria Alyokhina (right) and Yekaterina Samutsevich, face seven years in jail for their anti-Putin prank . The band's actions have divided Russian society, and angered the Russian Orthodox Church . Yekaterina Samutsevich sits in a district court in Moscow. The band's trial started today amid widespread controversy in Russia . Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, (right), and Maria Alekhina, (background) center, members of feminist punk group Pussy Riot are escorted to the Moscow courtroom today . Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 23, Maria . Alekhina, 24, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29 wore homemade, brightly . coloured ski masks and mini-skirts for the prank. The You Tube video of their performance shows churchgoers looking astonished as the women chant, high-kick and . dance, and then bow and bless themselves as security guards . arrive to remove them. Their trial has begun in Moscow's Khamovniki district court, which was surrounded by dozens of riot policemen, along with the band's supporters and critics. Maria Alyokhina is brought into court ahead of the trial in Moscow . The band members were arrested after their anti-Putin protest in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow in February . The video of their performance has became an internet hit. The band's 'punk prayer' took place two . weeks before March's presidential vote in which Mr Putin won a third . term despite a wave of massive protests against his rule. Their cause and the Russian Orthodox . Church's harsh response to their actions have provoked public outcry and . deeply polarised Russia. The church said the women deserve to be . prosecuted for their performance because it took place in a place where no lay people are allowed to enter - although thousands of . believers have signed a petition urging the church to forgive the band. Pussy Riot gained notoriety in January . for performing a song entitled 'Putin Chickens Out' in Red . Square at a spot where government decrees were announced in czarist Russia. VIDEO: Watch Russian feminist punk band Pussy Riot's protest in Moscow cathedral .
Band face seven years in jail if found guilty of 'hooliganism'
Orthodox Church calls for women to be punished for 'blasphemy'
Trial has divided Russian society .
Three members of a Russian feminist punk band have . gone on trial in Moscow today after staging an anti-Putin . protest in the country's biggest cathedral. The band, called 'Pussy Riot,' face seven years in jail after briefly seizing part of the Cathedral Of Christ the Saviour and chanting 'Mother Mary, drive Putin away.' The performance, which was posted on You Tube, has deeply divided Russian society and angered the powerful Russian Orthodox Church which condemned it as 'blasphemous.' Scroll down for video . Members of female punk band Pussy Riot, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova (centre), Maria Alyokhina (right) and Yekaterina Samutsevich, face seven years in jail for their anti-Putin prank . The band's actions have divided Russian society, and angered the Russian Orthodox Church . Yekaterina Samutsevich sits in a district court in Moscow. The band's trial started today amid widespread controversy in Russia . Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, (right), and Maria Alekhina, (background) center, members of feminist punk group Pussy Riot are escorted to the Moscow courtroom today . Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 23, Maria . Alekhina, 24, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29 wore homemade, brightly . coloured ski masks and mini-skirts for the prank. The You Tube video of their performance shows churchgoers looking astonished as the women chant, high-kick and . dance, and then bow and bless themselves as security guards . arrive to remove them. Their trial has begun in Moscow's Khamovniki district court, which was surrounded by dozens of riot policemen, along with the band's supporters and critics. Maria Alyokhina is brought into court ahead of the trial in Moscow . The band members were arrested after their anti-Putin protest in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow in February . The video of their performance has became an internet hit. The band's 'punk prayer' took place two . weeks before March's presidential vote in which Mr Putin won a third . term despite a wave of massive protests against his rule. Their cause and the Russian Orthodox . Church's harsh response to their actions have provoked public outcry and . deeply polarised Russia. The church said the women deserve to be . prosecuted for their performance because it took place in a place where no lay people are allowed to enter - although thousands of . believers have signed a petition urging the church to forgive the band. Pussy Riot gained notoriety in January . for performing a song entitled 'Putin Chickens Out' in Red . Square at a spot where government decrees were announced in czarist Russia. VIDEO: Watch Russian feminist punk band Pussy Riot's protest in Moscow cathedral .
seven years in jail after briefly seizing part of and Yekaterina Samutsevich, face seven years in actions have divided Russian society, and angered the Russian Orthodox Church . Yekaterina said the women deserve to be . prosecuted for