Orthodox Christmas 2027 falls on Thursday, January 7, 2027. Churches that follow the Julian calendar, including the Russian Orthodox Church, celebrate the Nativity of Christ on this date, with Christmas Eve on Wednesday, January 6.
This guide covers the exact dates, why the holiday comes 13 days after December 25, which countries observe it, and the traditions that define it.
When Is Orthodox Christmas 2027?
Orthodox Christmas 2027 is on Thursday, January 7, 2027. The date is the same every year in the Gregorian calendar, so it never moves.
Here are the key dates for the 2026-2027 season:
- November 28, 2026: The Nativity Fast begins (November 15 on the Julian calendar).
- January 6, 2027 (Wednesday): Christmas Eve, known as Sochelnik in Russia and Badnjak in Serbia.
- January 7, 2027 (Thursday): Christmas Day, the Feast of the Nativity.
- January 19, 2027: Theophany (Epiphany) on the Julian calendar.
Russian Orthodox Christmas 2027
Russian Orthodox Christmas 2027 is also on January 7, 2027. The Russian Orthodox Church uses the Julian calendar for all its fixed feasts, so Christmas lands on January 7 in the civil calendar.
January 7 is an official public holiday in Russia. The Soviet government discouraged religious holidays for decades, and Russia restored Christmas as a national holiday in 1991.
Midnight liturgies on January 6-7 are the center of the celebration. Many churches, including Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow, hold services that last several hours.
Why Is Orthodox Christmas on January 7?
Orthodox Christmas is on January 7 because some Orthodox churches still use the Julian calendar, which runs 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar. Their December 25 is our January 7.
The Julian calendar, introduced by Julius Caesar in 45 BC, adds a leap day every four years without exception. That makes its year slightly too long, about 11 minutes longer than the solar year, so it drifts by roughly one day every 128 years.
Pope Gregory XIII corrected this in 1582 by skipping leap days in most century years. Catholic countries adopted the new calendar quickly. Orthodox churches did not, partly to avoid following Rome and partly to keep a shared calendar for Easter and the feast cycle.
The gap grew to 13 days by 1900. It will widen to 14 days after February 2100, which will move Orthodox Christmas to January 8 in the Gregorian calendar.
Why Do Orthodox Christians Celebrate Christmas on January 7?
They celebrate on January 7 because they keep December 25 on the older Julian calendar. The theological date has not changed; only the calendar has.
This is not a different Christmas. Both traditions mark the birth of Jesus Christ on December 25 in their own calendar. The Orthodox Church in America explains that calendar choice is a matter of church tradition, not doctrine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Orthodox Christmas the same as Russian Christmas?
Mostly, yes. “Russian Christmas” usually means Christmas celebrated on January 7 by the Russian Orthodox Church. Other Orthodox churches, such as the Serbian and Georgian churches, celebrate on the same day.
Is Orthodox Christmas 2027 on a weekday?
Yes. January 7, 2027, is a Thursday.
How many days after Christmas is Orthodox Christmas?
Thirteen days. This gap will stay the same until 2100.
Do all Orthodox Christians celebrate on January 7?
No. Greek, Romanian, Bulgarian, and Cypriot Orthodox churches celebrate on December 25. The Armenian Church celebrates on January 6.
How do you greet someone on Orthodox Christmas?
Say “Christ is born!” and the reply is “Truly, He is born!” In Russian, it is Khristos rodilsya! Slavite Yego! In Serbian, it is Hristos se rodi! Vaistinu se rodi!
Sources
- Pew Research Center, Orthodox Christianity in the 21st Century (2017)
- Orthodox Church in America (oca.org), resources on the Nativity of Christ and the church calendar
- Russian Orthodox Church, Department for External Church Relations (mospat.ru)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica, entries on the Julian calendar, the Gregorian calendar, and Christmas
- Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (goarch.org), Nativity of Christ
- Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, Genna observance
Note for editors: verify the current legal status of Christmas holidays in Ukraine and Moldova before publishing, since both countries changed their rules in recent years.
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