Orthodox Christians packed churches Saturday night for Christmas Eve services, a holiday overshadowed for many believers by conflict. Patriarch Kirill, leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, the world's largest Orthodox denomination, led elaborate and well-attended services at Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral. About 80% of believers are Orthodox, belonging to the Russian Orthodox Church, while around 14% are Catholics, living mainly in the west, north and center of the country. He usually attends Christmas Eve services and lights a candle in an Orthodox church. Dozens of Iraqi Armenian Orthodox Christians attended Christmas Eve Mass in Baghdad but the celebration was limited to Christmas prayers and rituals.
