In Church or immersed in icy waters Orthodox Russians celebrate the Epiphany

Today the Russian Orthodox Church marks the baptism of Christ. Alexy II presides over the liturgical celebration in the Cathedral of the Epiphany.  More than 2 thousands people gather in Moscow for the traditional vigil swim at -30°.

Moscow (AsiaNews) – In church or in the icy waters of rivers and lakes Orthodox Russians today celebrated the feast of the Epiphany.  13 days later than the event is marked on the Gregorian calendar, the Orthodox Church celebrates the feast on the 19th of January as laid out by the Julian Calendar. It is during the Epiphany that the Orthodox Church commemorates the baptism of Christ in the river Jordan.

'The Lord, who came to the Jordan and blessed its water, has initiated a great mystery through which every one of us becomes an Orthodox Christian.". This was the message of Alexei II, Patriarch of Moscow and primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, to the thousands of pilgrims gathered in the Cathedral of the Epiphany this morning.  During the celebration he reminded the congregation that , 'the water which we bless today and which we take home sanctifies our life'.

Directly after the festive service the Patriarch conducted the Great Blessing of Water. For this purpose, fonts had been installed in the church in advance so that the parishioners could by tradition take some of the blessed water home.

On the feast of the Epiphany, it is tradition in Russia to bless water in rivers and lakes.  In the past people would break wide holes in the ice, called Jordan, around which a procession with the cross was held. The water from these "Jordans" was believed to have healing power and to ward off evil, thus people brought it home and kept it for a whole year.

In memory of the traditional healing powers of these waters Orthodox Russians to this very day bath in the freezing waters or in wide holes dug from the frozen rivers. On the eve of the Epiphany in Moscow more that 2 thousand people withstood the winter cold to take the icy plunge.  The heroic bathers were blessed by a priest, and made the sign of the cross before diving into the freezing waters. Most wore only bathing suits despite the sub zero temperatures which have been gripping Russia for some days .

It was also a tradition in some Russian provinces in the 19th century to arrange bride shows at the blessed ice-holes. Dressed-up girls would line up at the bank for lads to look out for brides for themselves.

Old Russians also believed that the newly-born God was travelling through the earth for the twelve holy days from Christmas to Epiphany, therefore it was considered a sin to disregard it by doing any work during these days.

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