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In pictures: Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas

Orthodox Christians around the world are celebrating Christmas on 7 January.

News imageDado Ruvic / Reuters A Bosnian Orthodox priest Marko Males leads a mass on the eve of Orthodox Christmas in Church of the Holy Mother of God in Zenica, Bosnia and HerzegovinaDado Ruvic / Reuters
Orthodox priest Marko Males leads a mass on the eve of Orthodox Christmas in the Church of the Holy Mother of God in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
News imageMussa Issa Qawasma / Reuters Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos IIIMussa Issa Qawasma / Reuters
Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III smiles as he arrives at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas according to the Eastern Orthodox calendar.
News imageMussa Issa Qawasma / Reuters Women take pictures of Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos IIIMussa Issa Qawasma / Reuters
Crowds of people watch his arrival.
News imageDado Ruvic / Reuters Fireworks above the Church of the Holy Mother of GodDado Ruvic / Reuters
Fireworks are seen above the Church of the Holy Mother of God in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
News imageMarko Djurica / Reuters Believers burn dried oak branchesMarko Djurica / Reuters
In the Serbian capital Belgrade residents attended the ceremonial burning of dried oak branches in front of the Temple of Saint Sava.
News imageMaxim Shemetov / Reuters Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia conducts the Orthodox Christmas serviceMaxim Shemetov / Reuters
Russian Patriarch Kirill led a Christmas service at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in the capital Moscow.
News imageSergei Krasnoukhov / TASS / Getty Images A believer takes a picture during a Christmas service at the Nativity CathedralSergei Krasnoukhov / TASS / Getty Images
Russia is home to the world's biggest Orthodox community.
News imageSputnik/Aleksey Nikolskyi/Kremlin via Reuters Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the Orthodox Christmas service in MoscowSputnik/Aleksey Nikolskyi/Kremlin via Reuters
Russian President Vladimir Putin lights a candle at the Church of the Saviour of the Miraculous Image in Novo-Ogaryovo, his state residence outside Moscow.
News imageSemyon Antonov / TASS / Getty Images An Orthodox believer lights a candle during a Christmas liturgySemyon Antonov / TASS / Getty Images
An Orthodox believer lights a candle during a Christmas liturgy at the Church of New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia.
News imageKhaled Desouki / AFP Egyptian Coptic Priests lead the Christmas Mass at the Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church in CairoKhaled Desouki / AFP
Coptic Christians have been in Egypt for nearly 2,000 years. Here Egyptian Coptic Priests lead Christmas Mass at the Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church in Cairo.
News imageLouai Beshara / AFP Syrian Christian worshippers light candlesLouai Beshara / AFP
Syrian Christian worshippers light candles at the Mar Sarkis Armenian Orthodox Church in Damascus.
News imageAziz Karimov / Getty Images A woman prays during an Orthodox Christmas serviceAziz Karimov / Getty Images
A woman prays during in a Holy Myrrhbearers Cathedral in Baku, Azerbaijan.