Adherents of the Russian Orthodox Church, along with the followers of several other local churches, observe Christmas on January 7. Browse this gallery and see how this holiday is celebrated in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Simferopol, Kaliningrad, Grozny and other cities throughout the country.
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Nativity scene in a cathedral in Kazan.
© Sputnik / Sergey Pyatakov / Go to the mediabankRussian Orthodox Christian Patriarch Kirill (L) seen during a midnight Christmas mass in the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow.
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Russian Orthodox Christian Patriarch Kirill (L) seen during a midnight Christmas mass in the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow.
© Sputnik / Vladimir Astapkovich / Go to the mediabankRussian Orthodox Christian Patriarch Kirill (L) holds a midnight Christmas mass in the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow.
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Russian Orthodox Christian Patriarch Kirill (L) holds a midnight Christmas mass in the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow.
© Sputnik / Alexey Nikolsky / Go to the mediabankRussian President Vladimir Putin attends a Christmas mass in a church in St. Petersburg.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a Christmas mass in a church in St. Petersburg.
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Christmas mass in a church in St. Petersburg.
© Sputnik / Alexey Nikolsky / Go to the mediabankRussian President Vladimir Putin attends a Christmas mass in a church in St. Petersburg.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a Christmas mass in a church in St. Petersburg.
© Sputnik / Sergey Pyatakov / Go to the mediabankRussian Orthodox Christian Patriarch Kirill (L) seen during a midnight Christmas mass in the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow.
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Russian Orthodox Christian Patriarch Kirill (L) seen during a midnight Christmas mass in the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow.
© Sputnik / Sergey Pyatakov / Go to the mediabankParishioners at the the Savior Cathedral in Moscow prior to a Christmas mass.
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Parishioners at the the Savior Cathedral in Moscow prior to a Christmas mass.
© Sputnik / Alexander Astafiev / Go to the mediabankRussian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and his wife Svetlana attend a Christmas mass at the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow.
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Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and his wife Svetlana attend a Christmas mass at the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow.
© Sputnik / Sergey Pyatakov / Go to the mediabankPriests at the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow.
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Priests at the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow.
© Sputnik / Sergey Pyatakov / Go to the mediabankPriests at the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow perform a Christmas mass.
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Priests at the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow perform a Christmas mass.
© Sputnik / Vladimir Astapkovich / Go to the mediabankParishioners at the the Savior Cathedral in Moscow during a Christmas mass.
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Parishioners at the the Savior Cathedral in Moscow during a Christmas mass.
© Sputnik / Vladimir Astapkovich / Go to the mediabankParishioners at the the Savior Cathedral in Moscow during a Christmas mass.
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Parishioners at the the Savior Cathedral in Moscow during a Christmas mass.
© Sputnik / Sergey Pyatakov / Go to the mediabankParishioners at the the Savior Cathedral in Moscow prior to a Christmas mass.
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Parishioners at the the Savior Cathedral in Moscow prior to a Christmas mass.
© Sputnik / Alexander Polegenco / Go to the mediabankCathedral of Alexander Nevsky in Simferopol seen prior to Christmas celebrations.
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Cathedral of Alexander Nevsky in Simferopol seen prior to Christmas celebrations.
© Sputnik / Alexander Polegenco / Go to the mediabankChristmas all-night vigil held at the Cathedral of Alexander Nevsky in Simferopol.
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Christmas all-night vigil held at the Cathedral of Alexander Nevsky in Simferopol.
© Sputnik / Alexander Polegenco / Go to the mediabankChristmas all-night vigil held at the Cathedral of Alexander Nevsky in Simferopol.
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Christmas all-night vigil held at the Cathedral of Alexander Nevsky in Simferopol.
© Sputnik / Alexander Galperin / Go to the mediabankChristmas mass at the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg.
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Christmas mass at the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg.
© Sputnik / Alexander Galperin / Go to the mediabankChristmas mass at the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg.
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Christmas mass at the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg.
© Sputnik / Alexander Galperin / Go to the mediabankChristmas decorations at the Kazan Square in St.Petersburg, with Kazan Cathedral seen in the background.
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Christmas decorations at the Kazan Square in St.Petersburg, with Kazan Cathedral seen in the background.
© Sputnik / Said Tsarnaev / Go to the mediabankChristmas mass at the St. Michael the Archangel Church in Grozny.
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Christmas mass at the St. Michael the Archangel Church in Grozny.
© Sputnik / Maxim Bogodvid / Go to the mediabankCandles at a cathedral in Kazan during Christmas mass.
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Candles at a cathedral in Kazan during Christmas mass.
© Sputnik / Igor Zarembo / Go to the mediabankChrist the Savior Cathedral in Kaliningrad seen prior to Christmas celebrations.
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Christ the Savior Cathedral in Kaliningrad seen prior to Christmas celebrations.