While most Christians globally celebrate Christmas on December 25, an estimated 200 million Orthodox Christians honor the holiday on January 7, following the Julian calendar. This year, celebrations included church services filled with communion, candlelight hymns, and rich cultural traditions across various regions.
Orthodox Christians Worldwide Celebrate Christmas on January 7
Orthodox Christians Worldwide Celebrate Christmas on January 7
From the Middle East to Eastern Europe, Orthodox Christians mark the birth of Jesus with age-old traditions and vibrant celebrations.
In photos capturing the spirit of Orthodox Christmas, Christians around the world gathered in their churches to mark this holy occasion. Unlike the majority who celebrate on December 25, Orthodox Christians, numbering around 200 million, commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ on January 7, adhering to the Julian calendar.
In the heart of Syria's capital, Damascus, congregants received Holy Communion at the Armenian Apostolic Church of Mar Sarkis, marking this Christmas as significant as it coincides with the first festive season after the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad's long reign.
Across Egypt, a priest greeted worshippers at the Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church in Cairo, which serves the region's largest Christian community, emphasizing the vibrant Orthodox faith in the Middle East.
In the UAE, a young believer lit a candle during the Christmas Eve festivities in Sharjah, showcasing the region's diverse celebrations, while in Bethlehem, religious leaders and devotees gathered at the Church of the Nativity, believed to be the birthplace of Jesus.
Back in Ethiopia, worshippers filled Addis Ababa's Bole Medhanialem Church, participating in candlelight ceremonies and singing hymns, a tradition rich in culture and spirituality. Meanwhile, in Russia, President Vladimir Putin attended celebrations at St George's Church in Moscow, where the streets were adorned with festive decorations, embodying the spirit of the holiday.
In Serbia, a vivid ceremony took place where Prince Philip held the traditional burning oak branch, known as badnjak, while Armenians in Yerevan observed this holy day with devotion at St Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral.
Georgians also took part in the festivities, lighting candles in Tbilisi, uniting their community in shared faith. This January 7, Orthodox Christians around the globe embraced their traditions and spiritual heritage, celebrating the joyous birth of Christ with fervor.
In the heart of Syria's capital, Damascus, congregants received Holy Communion at the Armenian Apostolic Church of Mar Sarkis, marking this Christmas as significant as it coincides with the first festive season after the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad's long reign.
Across Egypt, a priest greeted worshippers at the Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church in Cairo, which serves the region's largest Christian community, emphasizing the vibrant Orthodox faith in the Middle East.
In the UAE, a young believer lit a candle during the Christmas Eve festivities in Sharjah, showcasing the region's diverse celebrations, while in Bethlehem, religious leaders and devotees gathered at the Church of the Nativity, believed to be the birthplace of Jesus.
Back in Ethiopia, worshippers filled Addis Ababa's Bole Medhanialem Church, participating in candlelight ceremonies and singing hymns, a tradition rich in culture and spirituality. Meanwhile, in Russia, President Vladimir Putin attended celebrations at St George's Church in Moscow, where the streets were adorned with festive decorations, embodying the spirit of the holiday.
In Serbia, a vivid ceremony took place where Prince Philip held the traditional burning oak branch, known as badnjak, while Armenians in Yerevan observed this holy day with devotion at St Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral.
Georgians also took part in the festivities, lighting candles in Tbilisi, uniting their community in shared faith. This January 7, Orthodox Christians around the globe embraced their traditions and spiritual heritage, celebrating the joyous birth of Christ with fervor.
