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The Origins of Russian Orhodox Christmas

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Christmas in Russia is celebrated on January 7, due to the Russian Orthodox Church's use of the Julian calendar. This tradition dates back to the Baptism of Rus by Prince Vladimir in the late 10th century, when Eastern Slavs first accepted Orthodox Christianity during a mass baptism in Kiev.

Christmas in Russia is celebrated on January 7, due to the Russian Orthodox Church's use of the Julian calendar. This tradition dates back to the Baptism of Rus by Prince Vladimir in the late 10th century, when Eastern Slavs first accepted Orthodox Christianity during a mass baptism in Kiev.

© Sputnik / Vladimir Astapkovich / Go to the mediabankChristmas in Russia is celebrated on January 7, due to the Russian Orthodox Church's use of the Julian calendar.

Above: Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia (center) during the Christmas Eve service at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow.
The Origins of Russian Orhodox Christmas - Sputnik International
1/16
Christmas in Russia is celebrated on January 7, due to the Russian Orthodox Church's use of the Julian calendar.

Above: Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia (center) during the Christmas Eve service at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow.
© Sputnik / Vladimir Astapkovich / Go to the mediabankThe tradition dates back to the Baptism of Rus by Prince Vladimir in the late 10th century, when Eastern Slavs first accepted Orthodox Christianity during a mass baptism in Kiev.

Above: Nuns during a Christmas service at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow.
The Origins of Russian Orhodox Christmas - Sputnik International
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The tradition dates back to the Baptism of Rus by Prince Vladimir in the late 10th century, when Eastern Slavs first accepted Orthodox Christianity during a mass baptism in Kiev.

Above: Nuns during a Christmas service at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow.
© Sputnik / Sergey Pyatakov / Go to the mediabankLong services, including the Royal Hours, Vespers and the All Night Vigil, are held in churches and cathedrals across the country.

Above: Priest seen here at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow prior to the Christmas Eve service.
The Origins of Russian Orhodox Christmas - Sputnik International
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Long services, including the Royal Hours, Vespers and the All Night Vigil, are held in churches and cathedrals across the country.

Above: Priest seen here at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow prior to the Christmas Eve service.
© Sputnik / Sergey Pyatakov / Go to the mediabankPatriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia during the Christmas Eve service at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow.
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Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia during the Christmas Eve service at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow.
© Sputnik / Alexei Druzhinin / Go to the mediabankRussian President Vladimir Putin attends a Christmas Eve service at the Church of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin in the village of Otradnoye, Vornezh Region. January 7, 2015.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a Christmas Eve service at the Church of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin in the village of Otradnoye, Vornezh Region. January 7, 2015.
© Sputnik / Alexei Danichev / Go to the mediabankWhile being mainly a religious event, Christmas in Russia has been observed as a national holiday since 1992.

Above: Visitors at the Christmas fair in Pionerskaya Square, in St. Petersburg.
The Origins of Russian Orhodox Christmas - Sputnik International
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While being mainly a religious event, Christmas in Russia has been observed as a national holiday since 1992.

Above: Visitors at the Christmas fair in Pionerskaya Square, in St. Petersburg.
© Sputnik / Evgeny Biyatov / Go to the mediabankBoth families who attend the church service and those who don't, celebrate the occasion with a traditional Christmas Eve supper.

Above: A girl visits the Seasons fair in Moscow Hermitage Garden.
The Origins of Russian Orhodox Christmas - Sputnik International
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Both families who attend the church service and those who don't, celebrate the occasion with a traditional Christmas Eve supper.

Above: A girl visits the Seasons fair in Moscow Hermitage Garden.
© Sputnik / Vladimir Pesnya / Go to the mediabankVisitors shopping for Christmas decorations at the New Year fair in TSUM (Central Department Store).
The Origins of Russian Orhodox Christmas - Sputnik International
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Visitors shopping for Christmas decorations at the New Year fair in TSUM (Central Department Store).
© Sputnik / Valeriy Melnikov / Go to the mediabankChristmas fairs are a fairly recent addition to the Christmas celebrations in Russia.

Above: Participants and guests of a Christmas fair at the Moscow Hermitage Garden.
The Origins of Russian Orhodox Christmas - Sputnik International
9/16
Christmas fairs are a fairly recent addition to the Christmas celebrations in Russia.

Above: Participants and guests of a Christmas fair at the Moscow Hermitage Garden.
© Sputnik / Alexei Danichev / Go to the mediabankVisitors watch a show at the Christmas fair in Pionerskaya Square, in St. Petersburg.
The Origins of Russian Orhodox Christmas - Sputnik International
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Visitors watch a show at the Christmas fair in Pionerskaya Square, in St. Petersburg.
© Sputnik / Ruslan Krivobok / Go to the mediabankChristmas in Russia marks the beginning of Christmastite (known locally as Svyatki) - a festival pre-dating Christianity - which culminates in the celebration of Epiphany on January 19.

Above: An open-air party in Kolomna.
The Origins of Russian Orhodox Christmas - Sputnik International
11/16
Christmas in Russia marks the beginning of Christmastite (known locally as Svyatki) - a festival pre-dating Christianity - which culminates in the celebration of Epiphany on January 19.

Above: An open-air party in Kolomna.
© Sputnik / Sergey Pyatakov / Go to the mediabankHorse-drawn sled riding in Kolomenskoye during Christmastide.
The Origins of Russian Orhodox Christmas - Sputnik International
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Horse-drawn sled riding in Kolomenskoye during Christmastide.
© Wikipedia / Lobachev VladimirOne of the chief activities that Christmastide revellers engage in is singing carols.
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One of the chief activities that Christmastide revellers engage in is singing carols.
© Sputnik / Aleksandr Kondratuk / Go to the mediabankFortune telling was one of the of the important aspects of Christmastide in Russia. Today it is done mostly for fun.

Above: Girl divines her fortune during the Christmas holidays in Chelyabinsk.
The Origins of Russian Orhodox Christmas - Sputnik International
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Fortune telling was one of the of the important aspects of Christmastide in Russia. Today it is done mostly for fun.

Above: Girl divines her fortune during the Christmas holidays in Chelyabinsk.
© Sputnik / Aleksandr Kondratuk / Go to the mediabankA girl tries to divine her fortune by examining a boot during Christmastide.
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A girl tries to divine her fortune by examining a boot during Christmastide.
© Sputnik / Alexey Kudenko / Go to the mediabankDivination was especially popular among young unmarried women who wanted to find out who they were going to marry.

Above: Girls divining their fortunes on Christmastide.
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Divination was especially popular among young unmarried women who wanted to find out who they were going to marry.

Above: Girls divining their fortunes on Christmastide.
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