News+Politics January 7, 2013
Merry (Orthodox) Christmas: Orthodox Christians Around The World Are Celebrating The Birth Of Jesus

merry-orthodox-christmas-orthodox-christians-around-the-world-are-celebrating-the-birth-of-jesus-feature5.jpg
People attend a Christmas service in the town of Verbovichi, Belarus - AFP/Getty Images

Orthodox Christians around the world - from Russia to the West Bank - are celebrating Christmas and the birth of Jesus today.

Orthodox Christians use the Julian calendar and celebrate Christmas on or near January 7th - as opposed to December 25th under the Gregorian or 'Western' calendar.

The Julian calendar was introduced by Julius Caesar in 45 BCE (Before Common Era) and replaced the Roman calendar.

Here are some of the best photos we've seen today celebrating Orthodox Christmas ceremonies and traditions.

merry-orthodox-christmas-orthodox-christians-around-the-world-are-celebrating-the-birth-of-jesus-feature1.jpg
A Palestinian Orthodox Christian girl lights a candle in a church during Christmas celebrations in Gaza City - AFP/Getty Images

merry-orthodox-christmas-orthodox-christians-around-the-world-are-celebrating-the-birth-of-jesus-feature2.jpg
People attend a ceremonial burning of dried oak branches, the Yule log symbol for the Orthodox Christmas Eve, in front of a church in Sabac, Serbia - AFP/Getty Images

merry-orthodox-christmas-orthodox-christians-around-the-world-are-celebrating-the-birth-of-jesus-feature6.jpg
A Greek Orthodox man kisses the wooden cross he retrieved from the Bosphorus river's Golden Horn as part of Epiphany celebrations in Istanbul - AFP/Getty Images

merry-orthodox-christmas-orthodox-christians-around-the-world-are-celebrating-the-birth-of-jesus-feature4.jpg
Bosnian Serb children break the traditional Christmas bread in front of an Orthodox Church in Banja Luka - AP

merry-orthodox-christmas-orthodox-christians-around-the-world-are-celebrating-the-birth-of-jesus-feature10.jpg
Masked men, symbolising death, perform Christmas carols, known locally as Kolyadki, in the Ukrainian city of Lviv - Reuters

merry-orthodox-christmas-orthodox-christians-around-the-world-are-celebrating-the-birth-of-jesus-feature9.jpg
Orthodox women attend Christmas midnight mass led by the head of the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church, at a cathedral in Cairo - AFP/Getty Images

merry-orthodox-christmas-orthodox-christians-around-the-world-are-celebrating-the-birth-of-jesus-feature8.jpg
People in Santa Claus costumes take part in an annual race in Belgrade, Serbia - Reuters

The Telegraph has more photos here. Al-Jazeera has more here. And NBC has more here.

Related stories

Christmas Thing Of The Day: A Very Pagan Christmas

Christmas Thing Of The Day: The History Of Santa Claus

Swedish Toy Company Puts Out Christmas Catalogue With "Gender Neutral" Photos

Comments

Comments

Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are pre-moderated/reviewed and published according to our submission guidelines.