MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin and many Orthodox pilgrims braved a sour winter snap in a single day to take the annual plunge into icy water in a conventional ritual marking the baptism of Jesus.
In some spaces, the extraordinary temperatures -- which in portions of Siberia dropped to minus 68 levels Celsius (minus 90 Fahrenheit) -- the native government cancelled the rite which marks Epiphany.
Surrounded through Orthodox priests and glittering non secular icons, and with the temperature hovering around minus five levels C, Putin diminished himself into the freezing waters of Lake Seliger some 350 kilometres (220 miles) northwest of Moscow.
Many different Russians followed swimsuit, submerging themselves in the freezing waters in a widely-observed ritual generally observed on 18-19 of January and which last yr saw two million other people make the leap.
In Norilsk, a town past the Arctic Circle, native government on Thursday banned the extraordinary bathing rite "for security reasons" as temperatures hit minus 52 Celsius and robust winds whipped up a snow fall, RIA Novosti information company reported.
Many trustworthy also marked the date in neighbouring Ukraine and Belarus, either one of which might be also predominantly Orthodox, native media said.
According to Orthodox tradition, worshippers are supposed to immerse themselves thrice -- in the identify of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit -- to bear in mind the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan.
To mark the instance, Orthodox priests also pass out to bless rivers and reservoirs, and even bodies of water like the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea.
In some spaces, the extraordinary temperatures -- which in portions of Siberia dropped to minus 68 levels Celsius (minus 90 Fahrenheit) -- the native government cancelled the rite which marks Epiphany.
Surrounded through Orthodox priests and glittering non secular icons, and with the temperature hovering around minus five levels C, Putin diminished himself into the freezing waters of Lake Seliger some 350 kilometres (220 miles) northwest of Moscow.
Many different Russians followed swimsuit, submerging themselves in the freezing waters in a widely-observed ritual generally observed on 18-19 of January and which last yr saw two million other people make the leap.
In Norilsk, a town past the Arctic Circle, native government on Thursday banned the extraordinary bathing rite "for security reasons" as temperatures hit minus 52 Celsius and robust winds whipped up a snow fall, RIA Novosti information company reported.
Many trustworthy also marked the date in neighbouring Ukraine and Belarus, either one of which might be also predominantly Orthodox, native media said.
According to Orthodox tradition, worshippers are supposed to immerse themselves thrice -- in the identify of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit -- to bear in mind the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan.
To mark the instance, Orthodox priests also pass out to bless rivers and reservoirs, and even bodies of water like the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea.
Putin takes Epiphany's icy plunge with pilgrims
![Putin takes Epiphany's icy plunge with pilgrims]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
January 19, 2018
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