Christmas

=== Date according to Julian calendar ===

Some jurisdictions of the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]], including those of [[Russian Orthodox Church|Russia]], [[Georgian Orthodox Church|Georgia]], [[Macedonian Orthodox Church|Macedonia]], [[Montenegrin Orthodox Church|Montenegro]], [[Serbian Orthodox Church|Serbia]], and [[Eastern Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem|Jerusalem]], mark feasts using the older [[Julian calendar]]. As of {{currentyear}}, there is a difference of 13 days between the Julian calendar and the modern [[Gregorian calendar]], which is used internationally for most secular purposes. As a result, December 25 on the Julian calendar currently corresponds to January 7 on the calendar used by most governments and people in everyday life. Therefore, the aforementioned Orthodox Christians mark December 25 (and thus Christmas) on the day that is internationally considered to be January 7.<ref name="Jan7">{{cite web |url=http://www.copticchurch.net/topics/coptic_calendar/nativitydate.html |title=The Glorious Feast of Nativity: 7 January? 29 Kiahk? 25 December? |publisher=Coptic Orthodox Church Network |first=John |last=Ramzy |access-date=January 17, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228051302/http://www.copticchurch.net/topics/coptic_calendar/nativitydate.html |archive-date=December 28, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>

However, following the [[Council of Constantinople (1923)|Council of Constantinople in 1923]],<ref name ="nationalgeographic">{{cite web |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/why-celebrate-christmas-january |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416232858/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/why-celebrate-christmas-january |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 16, 2021 |title=Why some people celebrate Christmas in January |last=Blakemore |first=Erin |date=December 26, 2019 |website=www.nationalgeographic.com |publisher=National Geographic Partners LLC |access-date=July 26, 2022}}</ref> other Orthodox Christians, such as those belonging to the jurisdictions of [[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople|Constantinople]], [[Bulgarian Orthodox Church|Bulgaria]], [[Church of Greece|Greece]], [[Romanian Orthodox Church|Romania]], [[Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch|Antioch]], [[Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria|Alexandria]], [[Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania|Albania]], [[Church of Cyprus|Cyprus]], [[Finnish Orthodox Church|Finland]], and the [[Orthodox Church in America]], among others, began using the [[Revised Julian calendar]], which at present corresponds exactly to the Gregorian calendar.<ref name=4Dates>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sacred-destinations.com/israel/bethlehem-christmas|title=Christmas in Bethlehem|website=www.sacred-destinations.com|access-date=June 12, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616161715/http://www.sacred-destinations.com/israel/bethlehem-christmas|archive-date=June 16, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> Therefore, these Orthodox Christians mark December 25 (and thus Christmas) on the same day that is internationally considered to be December 25.

A further complication is added by the fact that the [[Armenian Apostolic Church]] continues the original ancient [[Eastern Christianity|Eastern Christian]] practice of celebrating the birth of Christ not as a separate holiday, but on the same day as the celebration of his baptism ([[Epiphany (holiday)#Oriental Orthodox|Theophany]]), which is on January 6. This is a public holiday in Armenia, and it is held on the same day that is internationally considered to be January 6, because since 1923 the Armenian Church in Armenia has used the Gregorian calendar.<ref>{{cite news |title=Why Do Armenians Celebrate Christmas on January 6th? |url=https://armenianchurch.org.uk/why-do-armenians-celebrate-christmas-on-january-6th/ |access-date=August 13, 2022 |website=armenianchurch.org}}</ref>

However, there is also a small [[Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem]], which maintains the traditional Armenian custom of celebrating the birth of Christ on the same day as Theophany (January 6), but uses the Julian calendar for the determination of that date. As a result, this church celebrates "Christmas" (more properly called Theophany) on the day that is considered January 19 on the Gregorian calendar in use by the majority of the world.<ref>{{cite news |title=Christmas is here- yet again! |url=https://m.jpost.com/christian-news/christmas-is-here-yet-again-386813 |access-date=August 13, 2022 |work=Jerusalem Post}}</ref>

Following the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine|2022 invasion of its territory by Russia]], [[Ukraine]] officially moved its Christmas date from January 7 to December 25, to distance itself from the [[Russian Orthodox Church]] that had supported Russia's invasion.<ref name="ukraine-date">{{cite news |last1=Lukiv |first1=Jaroslav |title=Ukraine moves Christmas Day in snub to Russia |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66341617 |access-date=December 15, 2023 |work=BBC News |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=July 28, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=July 29, 2023 |title=Ukraine moves official Christmas Day holiday to Dec. 25, denouncing Russian-imposed traditions |url=https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-christmas-orthodox-church-calendar-b658c9ebecc91a470866c34b1c1847eb |access-date=July 31, 2023 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref> This followed the [[Orthodox Church of Ukraine]] formally adopting the [[Revised Julian calendar]] for fixed feasts and solemnities.<ref>{{Cite news |last=RFE/RL |title=Orthodox Church Of Ukraine Approves Calendar Switch In Widening Diversion From Russia |language=en |work=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/orthodox-church-ukraine-approves-calendar-switch-russia/32426292.html |access-date=June 18, 2023}}</ref>