Russian Orthodox leaders in the Yaroslavl region have declared 11 January a "day of silence without abortions" with the backing of the Yaroslavl health department.
"On this day it is forbidden to carry out abortions in all state medical institutions in Yaroslavl Region," a statement on the diocese website reads, adding that the Church want private clinics to respect the ban.
Abortion is legal in Russia and medical expenses are provided by the state.
The Russian Orthodox Church strongly opposes abortion; in September last year, Patriarch Kirill recommended that abortion be excluded from state health insurance coverage.
The Massacre of the Innocents story can be found in the Gospel of Matthew.
In the account, King Herod ordered the execution of all male children under the age of two in Bethlehem and its vicinity.