In pictures: Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas

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In pictures: Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas
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Orthodox Christians around the world have been celebrating Christmas by attending church services.

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

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

Getty Images A worshipper receives communion during the Christmas service at the Armenian Apostolic Church of Mar Sarkis (St Sargis) in Bab Sharqi in the old city of Damascus on January 6, 2025.Getty Images

A woman in Syria’s capital Damascus receives Holy Communion at the Armenian Apostolic Church of Mar Sarkis. This is the first Christmas Syrians are celebrating 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 Middle East’s largest Christian community – walks past worshippers at the Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church in Cairo.

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

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

Getty Images Believers and religious leaders attend the ceremony as Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem leads the day of Orthodox Christmas celebrations at the Church of the Nativity, believed to be the birth place of Jesus Christ, in Bethlehem, West Bank, on January 06, 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.

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

Ethiopian worshippers have been holding candles and singing hymns at Addis Ababa’s Bole Medhanialem Church.

EPA Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) attends the Christmas Service at the Saint George Church in Moscow, Russia, 06 January 2025EPA

Millions of Russians are celebrating Christmas and President Vladimir Putin (left) observed the festive season at Moscow’s St George’s Church.

EPA People walk past street decorations for Christmas holidays in Moscow, Russia, 06 January 2025.EPA

Festive decorations can be seen in Moscow’s streets.

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

In Serbia’s capital Belgrade, Prince Philip was pictured holding a burning oak branch or badnjak in a traditional ceremony.

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

In the Armenian capital Yerevan, Armenian apostolic Christians attended a service at St Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral.

AFP People holding candles gather to celebrate Orthodox Christmas eve along Rustaveli Avenue, in central Tbilisi on January 6, 2025.AFP

Georgian Christians turned out to celebrate with candles in Tbilisi.

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