Ukraine’s capital celebrated Orthodox Christmas on Jan. 7, drawing hundreds of Orthodox Christians to Kyiv’s St. Sophia and St. Michael’s squares.
St. Michael’s Cathedral held Christmas masses to mark the holiday. Priests from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church blessed carolers, who came out in droves while wearing traditional clothing and carrying large, papier-mâché stars to sing Christmas carols.
Theologically, the Orthodox Christmas differs only from the Western one by date. It falls on Jan. 7, according to the Julian calendar, rather than Dec. 25, according to the modern-day Gregorian calendar, started in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII.
Orthodox New Year — or “Old New Year” — is celebrated on Sunday, Jan. 14.
