Orthodox Christmas celebrations

Bethlehem: People greet the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III, during a ceremony at the Church of the Nativity Photograph: Menahem Kahana/AFP/Getty Images

Jerusalem: A Greek Orthodox altar boy holds a cross as he and others wait for the arrival of Theofilos III at the Mar-Elias monastery Photograph: Ariel Schalit/AP

Sofia, Bulgaria: Bulgarians jump into icy water as they attempt to find a cross Photograph: Nikolay Doychinov/AFP/Getty Images

Athens, Greece: A swimmer blesses a woman with a wooden cross after retrieving it from freezing water during a ceremony Photograph: Orestis Panagiotou/EPA

Istanbul, Turkey: Greek Orthodox Dimitris Kouzounis retrieves a wooden crucifix from the Golden Horn Photograph: Osman Orsal/Reuters

Istanbul, Turkey: Greek Orthodox people kiss the wooden crucifix after it was retrieved from the Golden Horn Photograph: Tolga Bozoglu/EPA

Bethlehem: A Russian nun prays during Orthodox Christmas at the Church of the Nativity Photograph: Oliver Weiken/EPA

Bethlehem: Pilgrims pray at the Church of the Nativity Photograph: Oliver Weiken/EPA

Belgrade, Serbia: Men take part in an Orthodox Christmas church procession Photograph: Marko Drobnjakovic/AP

Keratea, Greece: A Greek Orthodox priest blesses riot police as they guard the site of a proposed protest Photograph: Thanassis Stavrakis/AP

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan: A bell ringer is silhouetted as he stands at the tower of a cathedral during the Orthodox Christmas Eve Photograph: Vladimir Pirogov/Reuters

Frankfurt, Germany: A child receives communion from a Coptic Orthodox priest during a Christmas Eve mass Photograph: Alex Domanski/Reuters

Tbilisi, Georgia: A priest takes part in a Christmas service. Christmas falls on 7 January for Orthodox Christians in the Middle East, Russia and churches that use the Julian calendar Photograph: Vano Shlamov/AFP/Getty Images

Vilnius, Lithuania: Candles are lit during the liturgy in the Prechistensky, the Cathedral Palace Photograph: Mindaugas Kulbis/AP

Los Angeles, US: Parishioners receive communion from the Rev Vicken Vassilian of St Garabed Armenian Apostolic church during Christmas mass Photograph: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Moscow, Russia: Patriarch Kirill I attends an Orthodox Christmas service at Christ the Saviour cathedral Photograph: Sasha Mordovets/Getty Images

Rome, Italy: Worshippers attend a Coptic Christmas mass in the Church of the Virgin Mary. Coptic communities in several European countries have received threats of copycat attacks after the suicide bombing of a church in Alexandra, Egypt, that killed 21 people Photograph: Giorgio Cosulich/Getty Images

Tbilisi, Georgia: Marchers carry national flags during Alilo, a procession to celebrate the Orthodox Christmas Photograph: David Mdzinarishvili/Reuters

Skopje, Macedonia: A girl lights candles during a Christmas liturgy in St Clement cathedral Photograph: Ognen Teofilovski/Reuters

Gaza, Palestine: Worshipers attend Christmas services at a Greek Orthodox church in Gaza City Photograph: Ali Ali/EPA

Belgrade, Serbia: People share a traditional bread to mark the Orthodox Christmas Day Photograph: Andrej Isakovic/AFP/Getty Images