(6 Jan 2022) Russian Orthodox worshippers attended services in preparation for the Orthodox Christmas at a Moscow church on Thursday morning.
The Russian Orthodox churches use the old Julian calendar which marks their Christmas day on January 7.
The Gregorian calendar, introduced in 1582, is generally more commonly used elsewhere.
The celebration is a big event in the Russian Orthodox calendar with people attending church services and celebrating at home with their families.
"Christmas has a colossal, huge influence on our spiritual, cultural life - on our history," said Andrey Novikov, rector of Holy Trinity Church on Sparrow Hills in Moscow.
For orthodox Christians, Christmas is the second most important religious holiday after Easter.
Worshippers also consider it to be the beginning of the new year.
Russia's national Christmas service will be held in the Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow on the night of 6/7 January beginning at 2300 local time (2000 GMT).
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