Merry Christmas! Did You Know on January 7 Many Celebrate - Brief History + FULL Text Christmas Message of Pope Leo XIV to Oriental Christians + Orthodox

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS! Christmas is celebrated on January 7, 2026 for those following the Julian Calendar. This applies to many Eastern Orthodox Churches and Eastern Rite Catholic Churches. There is a custom is to refrain from meat on Christmas Eve. The Julian calendar was also used in Europe until 1582 and in England until 1752. The Gregorian calendar replaced the Julian. Pope Gregory XIII introduced this calendar which corrected some inaccuracies of astronomy. The Julian Calendar is 13 days behind and the Gregorian. Russian, Serbian, Macedonian, Coptic, Georgian, follow this date for Christmas. Most American Orthodox follow the Revised Julian Calendar which uses Dec. 25.


On X - Twitter Pope Leo XIV wrote: "My thoughts turn to the ecclesial communities of the East that celebrate Christmas according to the Julian calendar. Dear brothers and sisters, may the Lord Jesus grant you and your families serenity and peace!"

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