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# Head of Phanar сelebrates old-style Christmas with Russians in Istanbul
- URL: https://uoj.news/news/83915-head-of-phanar-selebrates-old-style-christmas-with-russians-in-istanbul/
- Published: 2025-01-07T10:55:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-25T16:11:26.000Z
- Description: Patriarch Bartholomew was greeted by Russian women wearing traditional kokoshniks.
- Author: News
- Tags: #Category: News, Istanbul, Christmas, Patriarch Bartholomew, Phanar, Patriarchate of Constantinople, Turkey, Russia

On January 7, 2025, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople officiated the Nativity liturgy for the Russian-speaking community at the Church of St. Andrew the First-Called in Istanbul. The service was streamed live on the [official Facebook page of the Ecumenical Patriarchate](https://www.facebook.com/ecumenicalpatriarchate/videos/570967012371968?locale=uk%5FUA).

Parishioners welcomed the head of the Phanar dressed in traditional Russian kokoshniks and presented him with a symbolic loaf of bread. After the service, they also gifted him a handmade crocheted tablecloth.

Patriarch Bartholomew conducts Christmas services according to the Julian calendar for the Russian-speaking community in Istanbul annually. In 2024, [parishioners similarly greeted him in traditional Russian attire](https://spzh.eu/en/news/77874-head-of-phanar-leads-a-christmas-service-in-istanbuls-russian-community).

Previously, the UOJ reported that [OCU "Metropolitan" Mykhailo Zinkevych stated that those celebrating Christmas on January 7 are not aligned with Ukraine](https://uoj.news/news/83896-zinkevych-those-who-celebrate-christmas-on-january-7-are-not-with-ukraine/).