In pictures: Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas


Orthodox Christians around the world have always celebrated Christmas by attending church services.

While most of the Christian world celebrates Christmas on December 25, for many of the world’s 200 million Orthodox Christians, the birth of Jesus Christ is on January 7.

This is because they follow the Julian calendar, unlike Christian sects who follow the Gregorian calendar.

A believer receives Holy Communion during the Christmas service at the Armenian Apostolic Church of St Sargis in Bab Sharqi, the old city of Damascus, on January 6, 2025.Getty Images

A woman receives Holy Communion at the Armenian Apostolic Church of Marsarkis in Damascus, the Syrian capital. This is the first Christmas that Syrians are celebrating since the fall of their long-time ruler, former President Bashar al-Assad.

A priest presides over Orthodox Christmas Eve celebrations at the Coptic Orthodox Church of Archangel Michael on January 6, 2025 in Cairo. Getty Images

In Egypt, a priest representing the Coptic Orthodox Church, the largest Christian community in the Middle East, walked past worshipers at the Coptic Orthodox Church of Archangel Michael in Cairo.

A worshiper lights a candle during Orthodox Christmas Eve celebrations at the Russian Orthodox Church in Sharjah, Gulf emirate, January 6, 2025.Getty Images

A young worshiper lights a candle during an Orthodox Christmas Eve celebration in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

On January 6, 2025, Bishop Theophilos III of Jerusalem presided over Orthodox Christmas celebrations in the presence of believers and religious leaders at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, West Bank, which is considered the birthplace of Jesus Christ.Getty Images

Earlier, believers and religious leaders gathered at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, said to be the birthplace of Jesus.

On January 6, the eve of the Ethiopian Orthodox Christmas celebrations, believers gathered at the Bole Medhanialem Church in Addis Ababa, holding candles and singing religious hymns. Getty Images

Ethiopian believers hold candles and sing hymns at the Bole Medhanialem Church in Addis Ababa.

Russian Environmental Protection Agency President Vladimir Putin (left) attends a Christmas ceremony held at St. George's Church in Moscow, Russia, on January 6, 2025USEPA

Millions of Russians are celebrating Christmas, with President Vladimir Putin (left) celebrating the holiday at St. George’s Church in Moscow.

People walk through streets decorated for the Christmas holidays on January 6, 2025 in Moscow, Russia.USEPA

The streets of Moscow are filled with festive decorations.

Prince Philip of Serbia (left) participates in a burning ceremony of dry oak branches, a symbol of Orthodox Christmas Eve, in front of Beli Dvor on January 6, 2025, in Belgrade, Serbia.Getty Images

In the Serbian capital Belgrade, Prince Philip was photographed holding a burning oak branch, or badnjak, during a traditional ceremony.

An Armenian Apostolic Christian prays during a ceremony at St. Gregory the Great Cathedral as the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates Christmas in Yerevan on January 6, 2024Getty Images

In the Armenian capital Yerevan, Armenian Apostolic Christians took part in a ceremony at the Cathedral of St. Gregory the Great.

AFP On January 6, 2025, people holding candles gathered on Rustaveli Avenue in downtown Tbilisi to celebrate Orthodox Christmas Eve.AFP

Georgian Christians celebrate with candles in Tbilisi.



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