Orthodox Nativity Celebrations Worldwide – Snaps

Jerusalem - A member of the clergy and a worker spread a carpet on a floor in the Church of the Nativity, the site revered as the birthplace of Jesus, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, ahead of the Eastern Orthodox Christmas January 5, 2011.

Ecumenical Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I talks to worshippers at the patriarchal cathedral of St. George in Istanbul

Bulgarian Orthodox Church Patriarch Maxim

Egypt - Riot police stand guard near the Orthodox church where Saturday's bomb attacks took place in Alexandria January 6, 2011. Egypt tightened security around churches on the eve of Coptic Christmas after a New Year's Day bombing killed up to 23 and sparked angry protests by Christians demanding more protection from Muslim militants

Patriarch Daniel of Romania leads the Divine Liturgy

Armenia - His Holiness Karekin II, global head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, conducts Apostolic Christmas liturgy ceremony in Echmiadzin about 24 km (15 miles) east of the capital Yerevan, Armenia

Christmas Liturgy in Antelias - Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia

A young worshipper greets the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Metropolitan Theophilos (L) upon his arrival to the Church of Nativity for Orthodox Christmas in the West Bank town of Bethlehem January 6, 2011.

Christian clerics pray during Divine Liturgy to celebrate the Orthodox Christmas at Saint Serkis church in Damascus - - Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All East

Macedonia - People gather by a bonfire in Macedonia's capital Skopje, on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011, a night before Christian Orthodox Christmas Eve. Macedonian Christian Orthodox believers celebrate Christmas by the Julian calendar.

Ukraine - A child wearing a traditional costume carries a sheaf of wheat, known as "Didukh" during a celebration of the Orthodox Christmas in the centre of Lviv, January 6, 2011. "Didukh", an Ukrainian Christmas ornament, symbolises best wishes for crops and the harvest for the coming year.

Serbia - A Serbian woman arranges dried oak branches for sale, the Yule log symbol for the Orthodox Christmas eve, in Belgrade

A Syrian Orthodox Priest In India carefully involves in cutting cake for Nativity

Russia - People participate in the Nativity Liturgy lead by Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia

Ethiopian Orthodox worshippers pray at the Ethiopian section of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City January 5, 2011.

Georgia - Young faithful of the Georgian Orthodox Church carry national flags during a religious procession in Tbilisi, Georgia on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010, to mark the Orthodox Christmas.

Albania - Albanian Orthodox Youth Celebrate Christmas

India - A huge Christmas Star hanging in front of a Church. The Indian Orthodox Christians celebrate Nativity on 25th of December

Eriterian Orthodox Bishop of USA, Abune Makarius reads out Nativity Message

Kosovo - Kosovo Serbs carry oak to prepare to celebrate Orthodox Christmas in the town of Gracanica, some 6 km (4 miles) southeast of Kosovo's capital Pristina

Patriarchate of Alexandria - Patriarch Theodoros II with Children during Nativity celebrations in Cairo

Finland - A Small Smile. Photo From Orthodox Aid Website

Latvia - Latvian Orthodox Christians during Nativity and New Year Liturgy

Poland - Polish Orthodox Christians Celebrate Christmas at Biala Podlaska

Orthodox Church of the Czech lands and Slovakia - Celebrations in Czech

United Kingdom - The British Orthodox Christians

Lithuania- Lithuanian Orthodox Church believers attend the liturgy on Orthodox Christmas Eve in the Prechistensky, the Cathedral Palace in Vilnius

A Coptic priest wafts incense near Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's sons Alaa Mubarak (2nd L) and Gamal Mubarak (R) during the Coptic Christmas eve mass, which will be led by Pope Shenouda III, the 117th Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark Cathedral, in Cairo January 6, 2011