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In pictures: Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas

byAdmin
January 7, 2025

Orthodox Christians around the world celebrate Christmas by attending church services.

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

This is because they follow the Julian calendar, unlike Christian denominations that follow the Gregorian calendar.

Getty Images A worshiper receives communion during the Christmas Mass at the Saint Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church (Saint Sarkis) in Bab Sharqi in the Old City of Damascus on January 6, 2025.Getty Images

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

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

In Egypt, a priest representing the Coptic Orthodox Church – the largest Christian denomination in the Middle East – walks past worshipers at the Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church in Cairo.

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

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

Getty Images Believers and religious leaders attend the ceremony as Patriarch Theophilus III of Jerusalem leads the day of Orthodox Christmas celebrations at the Church of the Nativity, believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in Bethlehem, West Bank, on January 6, 2025.Getty Images

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

Getty Images Worshipers hold candles and sing religious hymns as they gather on the eve of Ethiopian Orthodox Christmas celebrations at Bole Medhanialem Church in Addis Ababa on January 6, 2025. Getty Images

Ethiopian worshipers held candles and chanted hymns at Bole Medhanialem Church in Addis Ababa.

EPA Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) attends Christmas Mass at St. George Church in Moscow, Russia, January 06, 2025Environmental Protection Agency

Millions of Russians celebrate Christmas and President Vladimir Putin (left) celebrates the holiday season at St. George Church in Moscow.

People from the Environmental Protection Agency walk past holiday street decorations in Moscow, Russia, January 6, 2025.Environmental Protection Agency

Festive decorations can be seen on the streets of Moscow.

Getty Images Prince Philip (L) of Serbia attends a ceremonial burning of dried oak branches, the Christmas symbol of Orthodox Christmas Eve, in front of Beli Dvor on January 06, 2025 in Belgrade, Serbia.Getty Images

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

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

In the Armenian capital, Yerevan, Armenian Apostolic Christians attended a mass in the Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator.

AFP People holding candles gather to celebrate Orthodox Christmas Eve along Rustaveli Avenue in central Tbilisi on January 6, 2025.Agence France-Presse

Georgian Christians came out for a candlelight celebration in Tbilisi.

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2025-01-07 02:03:00

byAdmin
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