Orthodox Christians around the world celebrate Christmas by attending church services.
While most of the Christian world celebrates Christmas on December 25, for many of the world’s 200 million Orthodox Christians, the birth of Jesus Christ is celebrated on January 7.
This is because they follow the Julian calendar, unlike Christian denominations that follow the Gregorian calendar.
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A woman in the capital of Syria, Damascus, receives Holy Communion at the Armenian Apostolic Church of Mar Sarkis. This is the first Christmas that Syrians have celebrated since the fall of their longtime ruler, former President Bashar al-Assad.
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In Egypt, a priest representing the Coptic Orthodox Church – the largest Christian community in the Middle East – walks past worshipers at Michael the Archangel Coptic Orthodox Church in Cairo.
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A young worshiper lights a candle during Orthodox Christmas Eve celebrations in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
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Earlier, believers and religious leaders gathered at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, in the occupied West Bank, which is believed to be the birthplace of Jesus.
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Ethiopian worshipers hold candles and sing hymns at Bole Medhanialem Church in Addis Ababa.
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Millions of Russians celebrate Christmas and President Vladimir Putin (left) marked the festive season at Moscow’s St. George Church.
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Festive decorations can be seen on the streets of Moscow.
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In the Serbian capital Belgrade, Prince Philip was photographed holding a burning oak branch, or bajanak, in a traditional ceremony.
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In the Armenian capital of Yerevan, Armenian Christian apostles attended a service in the Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator.
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Georgian Christians came to celebrate with candles in Tbilisi.
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