In Photos: Russians Celebrate Epiphany By Plunging Into Freezing Waters
Orthodox Christians across Russia celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany on Sunday by plunging themselves into frigid seas, lakes and rivers in just their bathing suits.
According to tradition, one must dip below the water's surface three times to symbolize the Holy Trinity.
In the Black Sea coastal city of Anapa, Russians took their traditional Epiphany dips in waters affected by a major oil spill despite concerns about the toxic pollution.
The Kremlin has not released footage of President Vladimir Putin taking part in Epiphany bathing since 2021.
Here's a selection of photos from this year's celebrations across the country:
According to tradition, one must dip below the water's surface three times to symbolize the Holy Trinity.
In the Black Sea coastal city of Anapa, Russians took their traditional Epiphany dips in waters affected by a major oil spill despite concerns about the toxic pollution.
The Kremlin has not released footage of President Vladimir Putin taking part in Epiphany bathing since 2021.
Here's a selection of photos from this year's celebrations across the country:
A man takes his son for a dip into the Neva River near the Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg.
Peter Kovalev / TASS
A man climbs out of the waters of the Lena River in Yakutsk, a city in Russia's Far East located about 450 kilometers south of the Arctic Circle.
Vadim Skryabin / TASS
A woman takes a dip in an anabranch of the Ob River in Novosibirsk.
Kirill Kukhmar / TASS
Believers take dips into the Volga River in Volgograd.
Dmitry Rogulin / TASS
A woman wades into the frozen Sumka River at the Raifa Bogoroditsky Monastery in the republic of Tatarstan.
Yegor Aleyev / TASS
A man takes a dip in the ice hole on the frozen Sumka River at the Raifa Bogoroditsky Monastery in Tatarstan.
Yegor Aleyev / TASS
Epiphany bathing in the Big Vorontsovsky Pond in Moscow.
Vasily Kuzmichenok / Moskva News Agency
Epiphany bathing at Lake Svyatoye in Moscow's Kosino-Ukhtomsky district.
Arthur Novosiltsev / Moskva News Agency
Epiphany bathing at the Lake Svyatoye in Moscow's Kosino-Ukhtomsky district.
Arthur Novosiltsev / Moskva News Agency
Epiphany bathing in the Bolshoi Vorontsovsky pond in Moscow.
Vasily Kuzmichenok / Moskva News Agency
