Across Russia, the devout celebrate Epiphany on January 19 by immersing themselves in frigid water through holes cut through the ice of lakes and rivers, imitating the baptism of Jesus Christ in the River Jordan. However, unusually warm winter temperatures have prompted local emergency services in some regions to cancel events, saying that the ice is simply too thin for worshippers to bathe safely.
Orthodox Russians take a cold water dip on Epiphany amid unusually warm weather
Across Russia, the devout celebrate Epiphany on January 19 by immersing themselves in frigid water through holes cut through the ice of lakes and rivers, imitating the baptism of Jesus Christ in the River Jordan. However, unusually warm winter temperatures have prompted local emergency services in some regions to cancel events, saying that the ice is simply too thin for worshippers to bathe safely.