For millions of Orthodox believers, this date remains a sacred time to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, regardless of when other Christian sects.

Ethiopian pilgrims pray during a Mass service for Ethiopian Christmas at the Bole Medhane Alem cathedral in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. (AP Photo) Christian Orthodox believers, who follow the Julian calendar and celebrate Christmas on Jan.

More than 200 million Christians are associated with Orthodox Churches and most celebrate Christmas on 7 January.

Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7, following the Julian calendar. This highlights historical resistance to the Gregorian calendar, creating the distinction between "Old Christmas Day" and December 25.

Christians around the world celebrate Christmas on December 25, but Tuesday marked the birth of Christ for many others. For most of the world, the Christmas season has come and gone, but for many Orthodox Christians,

Christos razdajetsja! “Christ is born.” Today is Christmas for those of the Orthodox faith. Throughout the area, Carpatho-Russian Orthodox and Ukrainians are prepared for the celebration of the birth

The Orthodox Church adheres to the Julian calendar, which places its Christmas celebration later than Dec. 25 when it is recognized throughout almost all of the Christian world. “That gives us a lot of opportunity to come together as a church,” Amy Mastrine said.

While many have taken down their Christmas trees and put away their decorations until next year, Christians in Eastern Orthodox churches will begin celebrating the holiday today. The Rev. Stavrophor Rajko Kosic of Holy Resurrection Serbian Eastern Orthodox Church explained that’s because the church and many others of the Eastern Orthodox faith observe

Orthodox Christians in Ethiopia follow the Julian calendar, which is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar used by Catholic and Protestant churches. They celebrate Christmas with special traditions. Families slaughter animals,