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Traditions of Russian Orthodox 'Ice Bucket Challenge': Epiphany in Pictures

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On January 19, Russian Orthodox Christians commemorate Jesus Christ’s visit to the Jordan River where he was baptized by John the Baptist.

The Epiphany, a Christian feast day marking the baptism of Jesus, is celebrated in Russia on January 19. On this day, the faithful commemorate Jesus Christ’s visit to the Jordan River where he was baptized by John the Baptist.

© Sputnik / Igor Russak / Go to the mediabankEastern Christians commemorate the baptism of Jesus as his manifestation to the world as the Son of God. Epiphany in Greek means "Vision of God".
Above: Believers in an ice-hole near the Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg.
Tradition of Russian Orthodox 'Ice Bucket Challenge': Epiphany Celebration in Pictures - Sputnik International
1/16
Eastern Christians commemorate the baptism of Jesus as his manifestation to the world as the Son of God. Epiphany in Greek means "Vision of God".
Above: Believers in an ice-hole near the Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg.
© Sputnik / Mihail Mokrushin / Go to the mediabankThe Epiphany concludes the traditional Christmas holiday season in Russia.
Above: Epiphany bathing in the Black Sea on the beach in Adler.
Tradition of Russian Orthodox 'Ice Bucket Challenge': Epiphany Celebration in Pictures - Sputnik International
2/16
The Epiphany concludes the traditional Christmas holiday season in Russia.
Above: Epiphany bathing in the Black Sea on the beach in Adler.
© REUTERS / Maxim ZmeyevEvery year hundreds of thousands of Christians across Russia plunge into freezing waters to commemorate the Epiphany.
Above: People gather at the so-called Izmailovo Kremlin during celebrations for the Russian Orthodox Epiphany in Moscow.
Tradition of Russian Orthodox 'Ice Bucket Challenge': Epiphany Celebration in Pictures - Sputnik International
3/16
Every year hundreds of thousands of Christians across Russia plunge into freezing waters to commemorate the Epiphany.
Above: People gather at the so-called Izmailovo Kremlin during celebrations for the Russian Orthodox Epiphany in Moscow.
© AFP 2023 / MAX VETROVOn January 19, the Russian Orthodox Church conducts the rite of the Great Blessing of the Waters also known as "The Great Sanctification of the Water".
Above: An Orthodox priest sprays holy water on a faithful during the celebration of the Epiphany holiday outside Sevastopol.
Tradition of Russian Orthodox 'Ice Bucket Challenge': Epiphany Celebration in Pictures - Sputnik International
4/16
On January 19, the Russian Orthodox Church conducts the rite of the Great Blessing of the Waters also known as "The Great Sanctification of the Water".
Above: An Orthodox priest sprays holy water on a faithful during the celebration of the Epiphany holiday outside Sevastopol.
© Sputnik / Maksim Bogodvid / Go to the mediabankBelieving that on the Epiphany the water becomes holy and is imbued with special powers, people in many Russian regions cut holes in the ice of lakes and rivers, often in the shape of a cross.
Above: A believer in an ice hole of Raifa Monastery of the Mother of God, Kazan, Russia.
Tradition of Russian Orthodox 'Ice Bucket Challenge': Epiphany Celebration in Pictures - Sputnik International
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Believing that on the Epiphany the water becomes holy and is imbued with special powers, people in many Russian regions cut holes in the ice of lakes and rivers, often in the shape of a cross.
Above: A believer in an ice hole of Raifa Monastery of the Mother of God, Kazan, Russia.
© Sputnik / Alexandr Kryazhev / Go to the mediabankRussian authorities built more than 3,000 plunging pools across the country.
Above: Russian Orthodox believers dip into ice water of the Ob River in Novosibirsk, Russia.
Tradition of Russian Orthodox 'Ice Bucket Challenge': Epiphany Celebration in Pictures - Sputnik International
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Russian authorities built more than 3,000 plunging pools across the country.
Above: Russian Orthodox believers dip into ice water of the Ob River in Novosibirsk, Russia.
© Sputnik / Valeriy Melnikov / Go to the mediabankMore than 1.3 million people took part in the Epiphany ritual this year, according to officials.
Above: Congregation members at an Epiphany ice-hole near the Church of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste in Pereslavl-Zalessky, Russia.
Tradition of Russian Orthodox 'Ice Bucket Challenge': Epiphany Celebration in Pictures - Sputnik International
7/16
More than 1.3 million people took part in the Epiphany ritual this year, according to officials.
Above: Congregation members at an Epiphany ice-hole near the Church of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste in Pereslavl-Zalessky, Russia.
© REUTERS / Sergei KarpukhinParticipants in the ritual may dip themselves three times under the water, honoring the Holy Trinity, to symbolically wash away their sins from the past year, and to experience a sense of spiritual rebirth.
Above: A man immerses himself in the icy waters of the Volga river during celebrations for Russian Orthodox Epiphany in the town of Tutayev, Yaroslavl region, Russia.
Tradition of Russian Orthodox 'Ice Bucket Challenge': Epiphany Celebration in Pictures - Sputnik International
8/16
Participants in the ritual may dip themselves three times under the water, honoring the Holy Trinity, to symbolically wash away their sins from the past year, and to experience a sense of spiritual rebirth.
Above: A man immerses himself in the icy waters of the Volga river during celebrations for Russian Orthodox Epiphany in the town of Tutayev, Yaroslavl region, Russia.
© Sputnik / Konstantin Chalabov / Go to the mediabankThose who did not jump into the icy waters have an opportunity to take the blessed water home with them. They can use it in times of illness, to bless themselves and their family members, or to drink.
Above: Epiphany bathing in the village of Staroye Rakamo in the Novgorod region.
Tradition of Russian Orthodox 'Ice Bucket Challenge': Epiphany Celebration in Pictures - Sputnik International
9/16
Those who did not jump into the icy waters have an opportunity to take the blessed water home with them. They can use it in times of illness, to bless themselves and their family members, or to drink.
Above: Epiphany bathing in the village of Staroye Rakamo in the Novgorod region.
© Sputnik / Taras Litvinenko / Go to the mediabankSome Russians believe any water poured or bottled on Epiphany becomes holy water, since all the water in world is blessed on this day.
Above: Believers during Epiphany bathing in the Black Sea in Crimean Yalta, Russia.
Tradition of Russian Orthodox 'Ice Bucket Challenge': Epiphany Celebration in Pictures - Sputnik International
10/16
Some Russians believe any water poured or bottled on Epiphany becomes holy water, since all the water in world is blessed on this day.
Above: Believers during Epiphany bathing in the Black Sea in Crimean Yalta, Russia.
© AP Photo / Dmitry LovetskyMore than 35,500 personnel of the Russian Emergency Ministry maintained security during this year’s Epiphany bathing across the country.
Above: Rescue workers control a Russian Orthodox believer swimming in the icy water on Epiphany in the Neva River in St.Petersburg, Russia.
Tradition of Russian Orthodox 'Ice Bucket Challenge': Epiphany Celebration in Pictures - Sputnik International
11/16
More than 35,500 personnel of the Russian Emergency Ministry maintained security during this year’s Epiphany bathing across the country.
Above: Rescue workers control a Russian Orthodox believer swimming in the icy water on Epiphany in the Neva River in St.Petersburg, Russia.
© Sputnik / Sergey Pyatakov / Go to the mediabankAbove: Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia conducts a divine liturgy with a rite of blessing waters in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Moscow.
Tradition of Russian Orthodox 'Ice Bucket Challenge': Epiphany Celebration in Pictures - Sputnik International
12/16
Above: Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia conducts a divine liturgy with a rite of blessing waters in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Moscow.
© REUTERS / Maxim ShemetovMoscow authorities set up 70 plunging sites across the city. In the Moscow region there were more than 90 locations.
Above: A man immerses himself in an ice-hole in the Moskva river during celebrations for Russian Orthodox Epiphany on the outskirts of Moscow.
Tradition of Russian Orthodox 'Ice Bucket Challenge': Epiphany Celebration in Pictures - Sputnik International
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Moscow authorities set up 70 plunging sites across the city. In the Moscow region there were more than 90 locations.
Above: A man immerses himself in an ice-hole in the Moskva river during celebrations for Russian Orthodox Epiphany on the outskirts of Moscow.
© AP Photo / Ivan SekretarevAll the plunging spots in Moscow had medical personnel and volunteers ready to provide any assistance.
Above: Russian Orthodox believers cross themselves bathing in the icy water on Epiphany in Moscow.
Tradition of Russian Orthodox 'Ice Bucket Challenge': Epiphany Celebration in Pictures - Sputnik International
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All the plunging spots in Moscow had medical personnel and volunteers ready to provide any assistance.
Above: Russian Orthodox believers cross themselves bathing in the icy water on Epiphany in Moscow.
© AFP 2023 / VASILY MAXIMOVMore than 150,000 Muscovites took part in the tradition this year.
Above: An Orthodox believer dips into the icy waters of a pond during the celebration of the Epiphany holiday in Moscow.
Tradition of Russian Orthodox 'Ice Bucket Challenge': Epiphany Celebration in Pictures - Sputnik International
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More than 150,000 Muscovites took part in the tradition this year.
Above: An Orthodox believer dips into the icy waters of a pond during the celebration of the Epiphany holiday in Moscow.
© Sputnik / Evgenya Novozhenina / Go to the mediabankWhile plunging into freezing waters is a popular tradition, it promotes the idea of the holiday to people, Russian priest Maksim Kozlov believes.
Above: Clergymen at the New Jerusalem Museum and Exhibition Complex during Epiphany celebrations, Moscow Region.
Tradition of Russian Orthodox 'Ice Bucket Challenge': Epiphany Celebration in Pictures - Sputnik International
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While plunging into freezing waters is a popular tradition, it promotes the idea of the holiday to people, Russian priest Maksim Kozlov believes.
Above: Clergymen at the New Jerusalem Museum and Exhibition Complex during Epiphany celebrations, Moscow Region.
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