Religious Acceptance Worldwide Religious institutions in general seemed to be more reluctant to take to the new system. German Protestants used the old calendar until 1776, three quarters of a century after their countries had adopted the Gregorian system. Sweden retained the old Easter rules for 90 years after switching to the Gregorian calendar, and many Middle Eastern Christian sects still retain the Julian calendar. The Russian Orthodox Church still follows the Julian system. Additional topics: * Brief History of the Gregorian Calendar * Political Acceptance World Wide * Political Acceptance in Europe * Julian Period * History and DECwindows Calendar