Christians are celebrating Christmas around the world in scenes of hope and resilience in difficult times.
In Athens, people gathered in the streets on Sunday evening to release sky lanterns. Hundreds could be seen floating above the crowds as they drifted into the nighttime sky.
Soldiers of the 14th separate mechanised brigade in Ukraine held candles during a Christmas Eve service near the front line outside Kupiansk, as Ukrainians celebrated their first Christmas according to a new calendar, amid the war with Russia.
Bethlehem, the typically bustling biblical birthplace of Jesus, resembled a ghost town on Sunday after Christmas Eve celebrations were called off due to the Israel-Hamas war, now in its third month.
In Lahore, the capital of the capital of Pakistan’s Punjab province, Christian devotees held candles, with some dressed in Santa outfits, as they took part in a special mass at a church ahead of Christmas.
People release sky lanterns during the Christmas festivities, in Athens, Greece on December 24, 2023
Christian devotees sing while holding candles during a midnight mass on Christmas Eve at the Tugu church in Jakarta on December 24, 2023
Worshippers attend the Christmas Eve service at Al-Tahera Al-Kubra Church in Qaraqosh, also known as Hamdaniyah, in the northern Iraqi province of Nineve on December 24, 2023
Worshippers attend the Christmas Eve service at Al-Tahera Al-Kubra Church in Qaraqosh, also known as Hamdaniyah, in the northern Iraqi province of Nineve on December 24, 2023
In Jakarta, Indonesia, crowds gathered to sing while holding candles during a midnight mass on Christmas Eve at the Tugu church.
In Surabaya, also on the Indonesian island of Java, a sea of glowing candles could be seen at a midnight mass on Christmas Eve at the Bethany church.
Outside Al-Tahera Al-Kubra Church in Qaraqosh, in the northern Iraqi province of Nineve, worshippers and priests stood around a fire during an event to bring in Christmas.
And over in Florida, there were sunny scenes as surfers dressed as Father Christmas braved the waves during the 15th annual Surfing Santas event in Cocoa Beach.
In the slightly cooler waters of Geneva, Switzerland revellers took a dip at Lake Leman, dressed in festive hats and enjoying a few tipples along the way.
Christian devotees hold candles during a midnight mass on Christmas Eve at the Bethany church in Surabaya on December 24, 2023.
Christian devotees hold candles during a midnight mass on Christmas Eve at the Bethany church in Surabaya on December 24, 2023.
Christian devotees hold candles during a midnight mass on Christmas Eve at the Bethany church in Surabaya on December 24, 2023.
Christian devotees sing while holding candles during a midnight mass on Christmas Eve at the Tugu church in Jakarta on December 24, 2023.
Christian devotees sing while holding candles during a midnight mass on Christmas Eve at the Tugu church in Jakarta on December 24, 2023
Christian devotees hold candles during a midnight mass on Christmas Eve at the Bethany church in Surabaya on December 24, 2023
Christian devotees gather for a midnight mass on Christmas Eve at the St. Sebastian Church in Chennai on December 24, 2023.
Christian devotees gather for a midnight mass on Christmas Eve at the St. Sebastian Church in Chennai on December 24, 2023
Christian devotees hold candles as they take part in a special mass ahead of Christmas, at a church in Lahore on December 20, 2023.
Christian devotees take part in a special mass prayer ahead of Christmas, at the Central Brooks memorial church in Karachi, on December 24, 2023.
Revellers are about to release a sky lantern with wishes written on it, at Kotzia Square in central Athens, Greece, on Christmas Eve, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023
People release sky lanterns during the Christmas festivities, in Athens, Greece on December 24, 2023
People release a sky lantern during Christmas festivities, in Athens, Greece, December 24, 2023
A person releases a sky lantern during Christmas festivities, in Athens,
A person releases a sky lantern during Christmas festivities, in Athens, Greece, December 24, 2023
A person releases a sky lantern during Christmas festivities, in Athens
Christian devotees attend evening prayers at St. Mary’s Basilica on the eve of Christmas in Bangalore, India, 24 December 2023
Christian devotees gather around a nativity scene during a Christmas mass at the Saint Francis Xavier’s Church in Halpe on December 25, 2023
People attend a Christmas Eve prayer service at the St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Cathedral in Kyiv, Ukraine, 24 December 2023
People attend a Christmas Eve prayer service at the St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Cathedral in Kyiv, Ukraine, 24 December 2023
A surfer dressed as Santa gets out of the water after riding waves during the 15th annual ‘Surfing Santas’ event in Cocoa Beach, Florida, on December 24, 2023
A surfer dressed as Santa carries a surfboard during the 15th annual ‘Surfing Santas’ event in Cocoa Beach, Florida, on December 24, 2023.
People swim with Santa hats in 8-degree water in Lake Leman at Bains des Paquis on Christmas Eve, in Geneva, Switzerland, Sunday, Dec. 24, 202
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