Eastern Orthodox Christmas / Date
Wed, Jan 7, 2026
People also ask
Is Orthodox Christmas on January 6 or 7?
Orthodox Christians in central and eastern Europe and other parts of the world celebrate Christmas on January 7. The Christmas dates around January 7 may vary among some churches. The day is a time of reflection, inner thoughts and healing in many eastern European countries.
What's the difference between Christmas and Orthodox Christmas?
Orthodox communities in Europe, Africa and the Middle East - which make up more than 12% of all Christians according to the Pew Research Center - celebrate the big day weeks after most of the Western world. It's because they use a different calendar, called the Julian calendar, to work out when Christmas should be.
Jan 7, 2025
Which countries celebrate Christmas on 6th January?
Most people in the Greek Orthodox Church celebrate Christmas on December 25th. But some still use the Julian calendar and so celebrate Christmas on 7 January! Some Greek Catholics also celebrate on 7 January. In Armenia, the Apostolic Church celebrates Christmas on 6 January.
Why is Russian Christmas on January 7th?
In Russia the Gregorian calendar was adopted only in 1918 by the decree of the Soviet Government. January 31 that year was followed by February 14. The Russian church didn't accept the changes and continue to celebrate Christmas on 25 December in the Julian calendar, which is 7 January in the Gregorian calendar.
Jan 7, 2025 · People in the Ukrainian and Russian Orthodox faiths will have 12 traditional dishes during Christmas Eve, representing Christ's apostles - they ...
Jan 5, 2024 · Technically, there aren't. All Eastern Orthodox agree that Dec. 25 is the date of Christmas, or the Feast of the Nativity, as they call it. The ...
In the Orthodox Church January 6 is officially called the Baptism of our Lord – Theophany (sometimes called simply Epiphany). Theophany means “God's appearance” ...
Because of the thirteen-day difference between the two calendars, the Eastern Orthodox. Christmas falls on January 7 in the. Gregorian (Western) calendar. The ...
Christmas was promoted in the East as part of the revival of Orthodox Christianity that followed the death of the pro-Arian Emperor Valens at the Battle of ...
Many Orthodox Christians annually celebrate Christmas Day on or near January 7 to remember Jesus Christ's birth, described in the Christian Bible.
Dec 20, 2023 · Celebrating an Orthodox Christmas means going to church. As best you can, attend the Vigil on Christmas Eve and the Liturgy on Christmas morning ...
Jan 6, 2025 · More than 200 million Christians are associated with Orthodox Churches and most celebrate Christmas on 7 January.
The Orthodox Church recognises January 7th as the day that Jesus was born. Elsewhere in the world, Christmas is celebrated on December 25th. Orthodox Christians ...
Deacon George Tsourous, reflects on his childhood memories of the celebration of Christmas in Greece.