Orthodox Christmas

Strikes continue in east Ukraine despite Putin's ceasefire order for Orthodox Christmas

Russia's President Vladimir Putin on Thursday called a 36-hour ceasefire for Orthodox Christmas. Unlike the rest of the Christian world, both Ukraine and Russia celebrate Christmas on 7 January

Explained: What is Orthodox Christmas for which Vladimir Putin has ordered a ceasefire in Ukraine?

Vladimir Putin has ordered a 36-hour ceasefire in Ukraine to mark Orthodox Christmas. This 7 January holiday stems from Christians using different calendars. While most use the Gregorian one and mark Jesus’ birth on 25 December, there are some — a majority in Russia — that follow the Julian one

Orthodox Christmas truce: Putin orders unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine on 6 & 7 Jan; Kyiv calls its 'propaganda'

Both nations celebrate Orthodox Christmas and the Russian president's order came after a ceasefire was urged by Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russia's spiritual leader Patriarch Kirill

Orthodox Christmas truce: Putin orders unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine on 6 & 7 Jan to let people attend church services

Kremlin called on the Ukrainian side to declare a ceasefire and give people the opportunity to attend church services on Christmas Eve, as well as on the Day of the Nativity of Christ. Earlier in the day, Erdogan called on Putin to declare a unilateral ceasefire

Russian spiritual leader calls for ceasefire on Orthodox Christmas in Ukraine

Russia's spiritual leader, Patriarch Kirill gave his blessing to Russian troops fighting in Ukraine and delivered heavily anti-Western and anti-Kyiv sermons throughout the conflict