Orthodox Christians are celebrating Christmas, marking the 12th day of Christmas, with some looking forward to Epiphany and the baking of the first king cakes. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus', who also heads the ROCOR, led the Christmas liturgy in Moscow, while Russian President Vladimir Putin, in his Christmas speech, highlighted the merits of the church in supporting the heroes of the Northern Military District and the residents of new regions. Putin also attended a Christmas service with families of soldiers who died in the 'special military operation', emphasizing 'duty to the motherland' and expressing gratitude for the dead. While celebrations are widespread, some are overshadowed by war. Leaders worldwide, including those from the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, extended Christmas greetings to Orthodox Christians, Coptic Christians, and Eastern Rite Catholics, with messages of light, charity, and peace, and hopes for a joyful fraternity.
Merry Christmas to my Orthodox friends and colleagues! ☦️🎄 https://t.co/ulQOW6FBUp
Today I celebrated Orthodox Christmas with members of the St. Garabed Armenian Apostolic Church #OnlyinDistrictOne. We must continue to support the Christian Armenians in Artsakh. @ANCA_DC https://t.co/uBVdo9vi7V
Merry Christmas to my Orthodox friends! https://t.co/Ek7FtEdTAw
Wishing a joy-filled Orthodox Christmas. May the spirit of kindness and compassion prevail in our lives.
Wishing a merry Christmas to Orthodox Christians on the Old Calendar who celebrate today.
🔴 Putin stages lavish dinner for dead soldiers' families on Orthodox Christmas Eve. Read more here ⬇️ https://t.co/LU1n0mEF0z https://t.co/LbnKw3Q51M
Merry Christmas to our brothers and sisters in the Russian Orthodox Community who celebrate today! An honor to join this moving service this morning. https://t.co/F0LO61UvGR
Happy orthodox Christmas everybody!! https://t.co/Bm1jhu8CDo
‘We want to believe in miracles’: Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas https://t.co/ns0hl0rvvn
Today millions of Orthodox Christians across the world are celebrating #Christmas. I hope this will be a time of joy and peace for you and your family as you celebrate. #Watford https://t.co/XcG3hRK4Gt
Merry Christmas to my Orthodox followers!
Sending warm wishes to our Orthodox neighbors today. As you celebrate, may your homes be filled with joy, family, and good health. Merry Christmas! https://t.co/wImW5iKS0W
Merry Christmas to all Orthodox Christians who are celebrating today! https://t.co/8iYxpPSmG1
To those Orthodox Christians, including Coptic Christians, and Eastern Rite Catholics who are celebrating Christmas today: May your day be spent with loved ones – and filled with peace, hope, and reflection. Merry Christmas! https://t.co/NklfMecgRK
Russian President Vladimir Putin attended Christmas church service in his residence in Novo-Ogaryovo alongside relatives of fallen servicemen https://t.co/RUoGXOWFjA
Wishing a blessed and joyous Orthodox Christmas to all who celebrate. https://t.co/Rdz4zucH2T
Happy Orthodox Christmas! May this occasion strengthen the bonds of family and community. https://t.co/WbxoZQE2fb
Today, the ecclesial communities of the East that follow the Julian Calendar celebrate Holy Christmas. In a spirit of joyful fraternity, I express my hope that the birth of Lord Jesus may fill them with light, charity, and peace.
Putin met with the families of those killed in the "special military operation" on Christmas Eve. He cynically congratulated them on their "family holiday". Look at his smirking face. He sent their fathers and husbands to their deaths, looks them in the face and smiles. Do… https://t.co/RWRRIcaZ1c https://t.co/mWSEsaGXCI
In the Kremlin, Putin met with families of Russians died in a "special military operation". The bloody dictator gathered children and wives on Christmas Eve and did not forget to remind about "duty to the motherland" and gratitude for the dead. He promised that "we will always be… https://t.co/c1324lukDS
To all who celebrate, in my constituency of Jarrow and beyond, I'm wishing you a blessed and joyous Orthodox Christmas and Coptic Christmas. https://t.co/jrRByUVkZr
We'd like to wish a very happy Christmas to Orthodox and Coptic Christians around the world. https://t.co/Z7z3axRP6D
I wish all our Orthodox followers a Merry Christmas! We wish you peace, goodness and prosperity. https://t.co/HOx92UqgYQ
Putin celebrates Christmas with families of fallen heroes 'We will always be by your side,' the Russian president told the relatives of slain soldiers https://t.co/YjQi38xfox https://t.co/WY5haPxCLC
Wishing a very Merry Christmas to Orthodox and Coptic Christians celebrating today! https://t.co/MayiJ9kmNy
To all who celebrate, the Labour Party wishes you a blessed and joyous Orthodox Christmas and Coptic Christmas. https://t.co/SI6OIuPc3J
Merry Christmas to all of those celebrating today from the Orthodox Christian community. https://t.co/SMeqrEBV4C
‘We will always be by your side’: Putin meets with families of fallen soldiers on Christmas Eve https://t.co/CCNwc3RtN5
The Global Imams Council wishes all Orthodox Christians a Happy and Blessed Christmas Day. #OrthodoxChristmas https://t.co/UEIXG8jVHa
Orthodox Christians mark Christmas, but celebrations for many overshadowed by war https://t.co/sM8RMcYNFY . Click to read ⬇️
A very happy Christmas to our Orthodox sisters and brothers. [Simon Usakov, "Theotokos Kikkotissa" (c1668) from the Vatican's Russian Collection] https://t.co/Vy6WglX81L
Once again Merry Orthodox Christmas and have a blessed Christmas night with your family and friends. https://t.co/5eJkih3zkA
Vladimir Putin celebrates Christmas Eve in church with Russian military families. https://t.co/Xgxx2svTjY
☦️ Merry Christmas to all my Orthodox Christian followers https://t.co/T2xAQmCW1E
Putin celebrated Christmas at the church in Novo-Ogarevo together with the families of fallen Heroes of Russia https://t.co/sZ43lIz44d
Putin, together with the relatives of the fallen heroes of the SMO, attended the Christmas service at the Church of the Savior Not Made by Hands in Novo-Ogarevo, near Moscow. https://t.co/3XdJ2MP9aZ
MERRY ORTHODOX CHRISTMAS! I hope all my Orthodox friends in the World have a Merry Christmas. In photo 1 you see Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Kirill led the Christmas liturgy in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow. He is also the head of ROCOR , Russian Orthodox… https://t.co/qMgeRlP2ct
Vladimir Putin in his Christmas speech spoke about the merits of the church in supporting the heroes of the Northern Military District and residents of new regions “The efforts of religious organizations aimed at supporting our heroes - participants in the special operation,… https://t.co/E3Jk7NoMZH
Happy Orthodox Christmas to all believers who are listening today. Christ is born https://t.co/pTtuxaQEMa
“May God’s blessing abide over all of you: over our people, over our Fatherland, over the world in which we live”: Patriarch Kirill congratulated Orthodox Russians on Christmas Merry Christmas my orthodox friends! https://t.co/mGVWKKh49x
Wishing a happy holiday to all the Orthodox Christians in New Jersey and around the world celebrating Christmas this weekend!
Blessed Theophany to all my Orthodox friends.
🍁 Today is Christmas Day - the harbinger of a great holiday ☦️ Orthodox churches that follow the Julian calendar celebrate Christmas day today. https://t.co/E2Ie4TwO1X
happy orthodox christmas to those who celebrate ;) https://t.co/yxJRAAF0Sn
Today is the 12th day of Christmas. I have to turn off the lights on the tree this evening. Tomorrow is Epiphany and the first king cakes get baked. Merry Christmas to all of you and, to my Orthodox friends, Happy Christmas Eve. The Light has come into the world.