Many thousands Russian orthodox believers gathered on the night on January 7 in churches to attend Christmas services.

      The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill adressed his tradition holidays speech in Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral, calling on the believers to “follow the Savior’s path of love” and to “always think about the wellbeing of all people, the Fatherland and the Church.”

      Christmas services will continue until Monday evening, and Church leaders will deliver their congratulations after the Great Vespers, to begin at 16:00 Moscow time (12:00 GMT). As well as in the other countries, Christmas in Russia is a warm family holiday, which is usually celebrated at home with relatives and friends.

      The Orhodox Christmas is celebrated on January 7 by the Russian, Jerusalem, Serbian and Georgian Orthodox churches, Athos monasteries, some Catholics and some Protestants, according to the Julian calendar, while Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans and some Orthodox churches celebrate the holiday on December 25.