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05:31 GMT, Wednesday, 7 January 2009

In pictures: Orthodox Christmas

St Sava's Serbian Orthodox temple in Belgrade is illuminated, 7 January

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Members of some Christian Orthodox Churches around the world are celebrating Christmas, which according to the Julian calendar falls on Wednesday.

Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos III takes part in the Orthodox Christmas procession outside the Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, 6 Jan 2009

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Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos III, surrounded by clergy and pilgrims, took part in the Orthodox Christmas procession outside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

A Bosnian girl lights a candle at the Main Orthodox Church in the western Bosnian town of Banja Luka, 6 Jan 2009

A Bosnian girl lights a candle at the Main Orthodox Church in the western Bosnian town of Banja Luka, 6 Jan 2009

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This girl marked Christmas Eve by lighting a candle to remember relatives at the Main Orthodox Church in the western Bosnian town of Banja Luka.

Two men roast a big in the Bosnian town of Srebrenica (06/01/2009)

Two men roast a big in the Bosnian town of Srebrenica (06/01/2009)

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While in Srebrenica, two men kept themselves warm with a drink as they prepared a traditional meal of roast pig.

Kyrgyz girls light sparklers as they wear fancy dress costumes on the eve of Orthodox Christmas in Bishkek, 6 Jan 2009

Kyrgyz girls light sparklers as they wear fancy dress costumes on the eve of Orthodox Christmas in Bishkek, 6 Jan 2009

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In Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, girls in fancy dress costumes lit sparklers as they celebrated the eve of Orthodox Christmas.

A woman sells dried oak branches for Orthodox Christian Christmas Eve, in front of St Marko church in Belgrade, 6 Jan 2009

A woman sells dried oak branches for Orthodox Christian Christmas Eve, in front of St Marko church in Belgrade, 6 Jan 2009

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Dried oak branches, an Orthodox Christmas symbol, were being offered for sale outside St Marko Church in Belgrade.

A boy watches the ceremonial burning of dried oak branches in Belgrade, 6 Jan

A boy watches the ceremonial burning of dried oak branches in Belgrade, 6 Jan

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This boy watched as oak branches were ceremonially burnt in front of a church in Belgrade.

Priests at the Orthodox Christmas Eve service in Christ the Saviour cathedral, Moscow.

Priests at the Orthodox Christmas Eve service in Christ the Saviour cathedral, Moscow.

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The midnight service in Moscow's Christ the Saviour cathedral was led by the Russian Orthodox Church's interim leader, Metropolitan Kirill.

Russia President Dmitry Medvedev and his wife Svetlana, at a Christmas service in Moscow (06/0

Russia President Dmitry Medvedev and his wife Svetlana, at a Christmas service in Moscow (06/0

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Russian President Dmitry Medvedev attended the service in the ornate cathedral along with his wife, Svetlana.

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