In the Russian Church ... a few of the weekdays of Great Lent), the present Calendar follows the Typicon's preferred practice. While most Orthodox Christians are perhaps aware of the general rule of ...

A majority of Russian Orthodox churches worldwide use the Julian calendar, which celebrates Christmas on Jan. 7, instead of using the Gregorian calendar proposed by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582.

“Today is a culmination of 40 days of fasting. We’re celebrating ... which is much older than the Gregorian calendar,” said Sorochka. The Russian Orthodox Christmas Eve mass brings together ...