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

The Very Rev. Protopresbyter Robert Buczak, Christ the Saviour Cathedral pastor, holds the chalice during a procession at the Orthodox Feast of the Nativity Divine Liturgy service in the West End section of Johnstown on Tuesday, January 7, 2025.

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.

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,

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,