On 7 January, Christmas is celebrated by the Russian Orthodox Church, the Georgian, Jerusalem, Serbian churches, Athos monasteries, as well as the Eastern Catholic Church and Old Believers.
On 7 January, Christmas is celebrated by the Russian Orthodox Church, the Georgian, Jerusalem, Serbian churches, Athos monasteries, as well as the Eastern Catholic Church and Old Believers.
The main Christmas service is held by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow.
The Russian president traditionally celebrates Christmas at church (Boris Yeltsin was the first post-Soviet leader to visit the festive service in 1992).
Russian President Vladimir Putin has attended an overnight Orthodox Christmas service at the Transfiguration Cathedral in St. Petersburg. Putin presented the cathedral with the icon of Christ Pantocrator.
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev attended, together with his wife Svetlana, the Christmas service at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow.
The commentary is provided by Orthodox expert Elena Verevkina and RT journalist Daniel Bushell.
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