The national government and one Orthodox church observed Christmas on Dec. 25, distancing themselves from Russian tradition, but another Orthodox church retained the Jan. 7 observance.

Most (but not all) churches in the Greek Orthodox tradition have adopted this, as have those in Romanian, Bulgarian and other traditions. But the Russian Orthodox Church, the largest communion in ...

FILE - Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, center, delivers the Christmas service in the Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Jan. 6, 2023. While much of the world has Christmas ...

FILE - Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, center, delivers the Christmas service in the Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Jan. 6, 2023. While much of the world has Christmas ...

FILE - Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, center, delivers the Christmas service in the Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Jan. 6, 2023. While much of the world has Christmas ...