Pope Francis sends Christmas greetings to Oriental Christians

Pope Francis has congratulated Orthodox Christians and Eastern rite Catholics on the upcoming feast of the Nativity of Christ, which they celebrate on January 7th, RIA Novosti reports

photo: www.reuters.com

The Pontiff addressed the faithful from the window of the Apostolic Palace on the occasion of the feast of the Epiphany, which the Roman Catholic Church celebrates today.

““I offer my most heartfelt wishes for a Holy Christmas to the communities of the Eastern Churches, both Catholic and Orthodox, who will celebrate Christmas tomorrow,” said Pope Francis.

The Roman Catholic Church celebrates Christmas on December 25th according to the Gregorian calendar. Russian, Jerusalem, Georgian, Serbian and some other Orthodox churches, as well as Old Believers and Old Calendar churches, celebrate Christmas on January 7th (December 25th according to the Julian calendar).