Vladimir Putin and the patriarch of Russia’s Orthodox Church sent a rather unfriendly message to the West during their festive celebrations earlier today. The church, which celebrates Christmas on January 7 in line with the Julian calendar,

Russia's invasion, which began in February 2022, has also been a source of religious controversy within the Eastern Orthodox Church and has driven a split among believers in both Russia and Ukraine.Vi

The patriarch of Russia's Orthodox Church, celebrating Christmas alongside Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, said on Tuesday that the Western world despised Russia and its "alternative path of civilised development".

Moscow Patriarch Kirill accused the West of "hating" Russia because it represents "an alternative path of civilizational development." He made the comments during the celebration of the Christmas Mass on Jan.

Area residents celebrated Russian Orthodox Christmas on Tuesday. A majority of Russian Orthodox churches worldwide use the Julian calendar, which celebrates Christmas on Jan. 7, instead of using

Christians around the world celebrate Christmas on December 25, but Tuesday marked the birth of Christ for many others. For most of the world, the Christmas season has come and gone, but for many Orthodox Christians,

Vladimir Putin has marked Russian Orthodox Christmas by attending church in Moscow alongside fighters in his war against Ukraine and their families - despite being responsible for hundreds of thousands killed.