Jan 8, 2017

Many Orthodox Christians in the Middle East, Russia continue to follow the Julian calendar, several centuries after the West switched to today’s Gregorian calendar. For these Christians, Christmas Day is January 7.

: Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III (C) leads the midnight mass at the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank town of Bethlehem as Orthodox Christmas celebrations kicked off on January 7, 2017, in the traditional birthplace of Jesus Christ. (AFP PHOTO / MUSA AL SHAER)

: Archbishop Alexios leads a Christmas mass at the Saint Porphyrios Greek Orthodox church in Gaza City on January 7, 2017. According to the Gregorian calendar, Orthodox Christmas falls 13 days after the December 25 Western feast celebrated in line with the Julian calendar. (AFP PHOTO / MAHMUD HAMS)

: Palestinian Orthodox Christians attend a Christmas mass at the Saint Porphyrios Greek Orthodox church in Gaza City on January 7, 2017. According to the Gregorian calendar, Orthodox Christmas falls 13 days after the December 25 Western feast celebrated in line with the Julian calendar. (AFP PHOTO / MAHMUD HAMS)

: Russian Orthodox believers attend a Christmas service in Christ the Savior cathedral in Moscow early on January 7, 2017. Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7 in the Middle East, Russia and other Orthodox churches that use the old Julian calendar instead of the 17th-century Gregorian calendar adopted by Catholics, Protestants, Greek Orthodox and commonly used in secular life around the world (AFP PHOTO / Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV)

: A man burns dried oak branches, the Yule log symbol for the Orthodox Christmas Eve in front of Saint Demetrios church in Belgrade, on January 6, 2017, during the Christmas Orthodox Day. The branches are also carried into the homes and burned on Orthodox Christmas Day, which is celebrated according to the Julian calendar, January 7, 2016. (AFP PHOTO / OLIVER BUNIC)

: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (L) attends the Christmas Midnight Mass for the Greek Orthodox as Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III (R) leads the midnight mass at the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank town of Bethlehem as Orthodox Christmas celebrations kicked off on January 7, 2017, in the traditional birthplace of Jesus Christ. (AFP PHOTO / MUSA AL SHAER)

: A Russian Orthodox believer attends a Christmas service in Christ the Savior cathedral in Moscow early on January 7, 2017. Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7 in the Middle East, Russia and other Orthodox churches that use the old Julian calendar instead of the 17th-century Gregorian calendar adopted by Catholics, Protestants, Greek Orthodox and commonly used in secular life around the world. (AFP PHOTO / Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV)

: Archbishop Alexios, center, of the Greek Orthodox community leads Christmas Eve Mass at St. Porphyrios Church in Gaza City, early Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

: Georgians take a part in a religious procession to mark Orthodox Christmas in Tbilisi, Georgia, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017. Christmas falls on Jan. 7 for Orthodox Christians that use the old Julian calendar instead of the 16th-century Gregorian calendar adopted by Catholics and Protestants and commonly used in secular life around the world. (AP Photo/Shakh Aivazov)

: A Georgian man stands by a mural as he waits to participate in a religious procession to mark Orthodox Christmas in Tbilisi, Georgia, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017. Christmas falls on Jan. 7 for Orthodox Christians that use the old Julian calendar instead of the 16th-century Gregorian calendar adopted by Catholics and Protestants and commonly used in secular life around the world. (AP Photo/Shakh Aivazov)

: People gather by a bonfire a night before Orthodox Christmas Eve in Skopje, Macedonia, on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017. Macedonian Christian Orthodox believers celebrate Christmas by the Julian calendar. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)

: Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, lights a candle prior to a midnight Orthodox Christmas Mass at the St. George’s Monastery, Novgorod Region, about 500 kilometers (300 miles) northwest of Moscow, Russia, Friday, Jan. 6, 2017. Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on Jan. 7, in accordance with the Julian calendar. (Mikhail Klimentyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

: A performer dances, during Orthodox Christmas celebrations, in St.Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017. Russian Orthodox believers celebrate Christmas in accordance to the Julian calendar on Jan. 7. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

: Believers listen as Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill serves the Christmas Mass in the Christ the Savior Cathedral in in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Jan. 6, 2017. Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on Jan. 7, in accordance with the Julian calendar. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

: People break traditional Christmas bread to mark the Orthodox Christmas Day festivities in Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017. Children traditionally scramble for a piece of the bread, searching for a gold coin, hidden inside. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

: People light candles in a church to mark the Orthodox Christmas in the St. Volodymyr Cathedral in Kiev, Ukraine, Friday, Jan. 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov)

: Ukrainians in folk costumes hold symbols of the star of Bethlehem as they celebrate Orthodox Christmas in central Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday, Jan. 7 2017. Orthodox Christians mark their traditional Christmas Day Jan. 7, with many ancient symbolic events. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Orthodox Christmas, January 7

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