Epiphany celebrations in Russia

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A girl emerges from cold water after plunging into an icy pond to mark the upcoming Epiphany in northwestern Moscow, Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011. Thousands of Russian Orthodox Church followers plunged Tuesday into icy rivers and ponds across the country to mark the upcoming Epiphany, cleansing themselves with water deemed holy for the day. Water that is blessed by a cleric on Epiphany is considered holy and pure until next year’s celebration, and is believed to have special powers of protection and healing. The Russian Orthodox Church follows the old Julian calendar, according to which Epiphany falls on Jan. 19. Moscow temperatures on Tuesday morning dropped to -13 C ( 9 F). (AP Photo/Mikhail Metzel)

Russian orthodox believers march towards an ice hold during a religious procession to mark the Epiphany at Kolomenskoe park, on the outskirts of Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011. Thousands of Russian Orthodox Church followers plunged Tuesday and Wednesday into icy rivers and ponds across the country to mark the upcoming Epiphany, cleansing themselves with water deemed holy for the day. Moscow temperatures on Wednesday dropped to -14 Celsius (7 Fahrenheit). (AP Photo/Mikhail Metzel)

An Orthodox priest conducts a service at an ice hole in a pond in Kolomenskoe park, on the outskirts of Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011. Thousands of Russian Orthodox Church followers plunged Tuesday and Wednesday into icy rivers and ponds across the country to mark the upcoming Epiphany, cleansing themselves with water deemed holy for the day. Moscow temperatures on Wednesday dropped to -14 Celsius (7 Fahrenheit). (AP Photo/Mikhail Metzel)

Russian believers gather as orthodox priests conduct a service at the ice hole of the pound in the Kolomenskoe park on the outskirts of Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011. Thousands of Russian Orthodox Church followers plunged Tuesday and Wednesday into icy rivers and ponds across the country to mark the upcoming Epiphany, cleansing themselves with water deemed holy for the day. Water that is blessed by a cleric on Epiphany is considered holy and pure until next year’s celebration, and is believed to have special powers of protection and healing. The Russian Orthodox Church follows the old Julian calendar, according to which Epiphany falls on Jan. 19. Moscow temperatures on Wednesday night dropped to -14 C ( 7 F). (AP Photo/Mikhail Metzel)

Source:www.pravoslavie.ru