Orthodox Christmas in Russia

Christmas celebrations in the heart of Moscow, year 2009.

"The Russian Orthodox Church celebrated Christmas Eve at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow, in the presence of Russian President Dmitri Medvedev and his wife. This marks the first Christmas without Alexey II, the Orthodox patriarch who died in December. The ceremony took place at midnight on the night of January sixth. The Russian Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas according to the Julian calendar, introduced by the Roman emperor Julius Caesar in the year 46 B.C., whereas the Catholic Church follows the Gregorian calendar, adopted by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582. The Divine Liturgy was led by Metropolitan Kirill, who has assumed the governing role in the Russian Orthodox Church until the next bishops' synod is held to choose the successor to Alexey II"