Orthodox Christmas Around the Globe - 07.01.2023, Sputnik International

Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus and many other countries on January 7.

The holiday itself does not begin on Christmas Day: it is preceded by 40 days of fasting. Christmas Eve - January 6 - is also of utmost importance. It is recommended to clean the house, visit church, confess and take the Sacrament. Christmas is a symbol of hope and a new beginning, the chance for humanity to be redeemed.

This gallery offers you an opportunity to take a look at how Christmas is celebrated by Orthodox Christians all around the globe.

1 / 12

Ethiopian Orthodox priests stand to sing at Saint Mary's Church in Lalibela on January 6. Ethiopian Christmas is also called 'Gena' in Amharic. (Photo by Amanuel Sileshi / AFP)

2 / 12

People attend the annual ceremony of lighting a bonfire of dried oak branches, the Yule log symbol for the Orthodox Christmas Eve, according to the Julian calendar, at the Church of Saint Sava in Belgrade on January 6. (Photo by OLIVER BUNIC / AFP)

3 / 12

Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus' Kirill during a carol service in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow.

Go to the mediabank

4 / 12

A boy lights a candle during Orthodox Christmas Eve celebrations at the Russian Orthodox Church in the Gulf emirate of Sharjah on January 6. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)

5 / 12

Civilians take part in Orthodox Christmas Eve celebrations in the western Ukrainian city of Lvov on January 6. (Photo by YURIY DYACHYSHYN / AFP)

6 / 12

Local residents attend the annual bonfire of dried oak branches to mark the Orthodox Christmas Eve at the Church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Sarajevo on January 6. (Photo by ELVIS BARUKCIC / AFP)

7 / 12

Holding stars, the faithful gather to sing carols on Christmas Eve during a religious service to celebrate Orthodox Christmas in St. Clement Cathedral in Skopje on January 6. Orthodox believers mark Orthodox Christmas on January 7, according to the old Julian calendar. (Photo by Robert ATANASOVSKI / AFP)

8 / 12

An Orthodox believer prays during a religious service on the eve of Orthodox Christmas at a cathedral in the capital Yerevan, Armenia, on January 6. (Photo by KAREN MINASYAN / AFP)

9 / 12

A general view shows the Nativity Church in the biblical city of Bethlehem during epiphany and eastern Christian churches' Christmas celebrations, on January 6. (Photo by HAZEM BADER / AFP)

10 / 12

Serbian Orthodox bishop Joanikije attends the annual bonfire of dried oak branches, the Yule log symbol for the Orthodox Christmas Eve, in front of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPS) Cathedral in Podgorica on January 6. The branches are carried into the homes and burned on Orthodox Christmas Day, which is celebrated according to the Julian calendar, January 7. (Photo by SAVO PRELEVIC / AFP)

11 / 12

A believer attends the Orthodox Christmas service at the Cathedral of Sameba in Tbilisi, Georgia, on January 6. (Photo by Vano SHLAMOV / AFP)

12 / 12

Egyptian Copts attend the Christmas mass at the Saint Simon Monastery, also known as the Cave Church, in the Mokattam mountain of Egypt's capital Cairo on January 6. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP)