Russian Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas

Orthodox believers in Russia celebrated Christmas on Monday night. Hundreds of Christian worshippers stood shoulder-to-shoulder for the Orthodox Christmas service at Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev and his wife attended the service that was held by Russian Patriarch. Russian President Vladimir Putin also joined the Christmas service at St Petersburg's Transfiguration Cathedral where he was baptized in secrecy during Soviet times.

The Russian Orthodox, like several other Orthodox denominations, observe Christmas on January 7 because it retained the Julian calendar, as opposed to the Gregorian calendar, for its liturgical schedule.