In Pictures: Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas

More than 200 million Christians around the world are associated with Orthodox Churches and most celebrate Christmas on 7 January as they follow the Julian calendar, unlike those Christian denominations which follow the Gregorian calendar.

Ceremonies and processions marking the event have been taking place around the world from Cairo to Moscow.

The majority of Orthodox Christians are based in eastern Europe, with many living in Russia and Ukraine. But in response to the ongoing war with Russia, many Ukrainians celebrated Christmas on 25 December last year, following a change in the law.

A woman in Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan lights a candle during Christmas celebrations at a service at an Orthodox church.

While most Ukrainians celebrated Christmas Day on 25 December in response to the ongoing war with Russia, others - such as those living in Russian-controlled Donetsk - celebrated Orthodox Christmas as usual in January.

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the Orthodox Christmas service at the Church of the Not-Made-By-Hands Image of Christ the Saviour at Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow, Russia.

Georgians in Tsbilisi taking part in an annual procession called Alilo celebrating Orthodox Christmas.

Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III leads a Christmas Eve mass at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem - said to be the birthplace of Jesus.

Serbians in Belgrade gather around a traditional Christmas bread during the Orthodox Christmas Day celebrations.

Children singing religious songs during a Christmas Eve service at the St. Kliment Central Orthodox Church in Skopje, North Macedonia.

A Coptic Orthodox clergy member walks past worshippers as he leads a Christmas Eve mass at the Angel Mikhail Coptic Orthodox Church in Cairo, Egypt. The Coptic Orthodox Church is the largest Christian community in the Middle East.

Ethiopian Orthodox worshippers hold candles during a Christmas Eve celebration at Bole Medhanialem Church in the capital Addis Ababa.