No Russian Epiphany without ice hole swim

Jan 22 2013

RBTH

This festival is also known as the Day of Enlightenment, and the Day of Lights because people want to join the church are traditionally baptized on the eve of this festival - in essence, this is spiritual enlightenment. (Moscow region, Russia)

Ria Novosti

In the middle of winter holes are cut in the ice and thousands of Russian Orthodox Christians gather to submerge themselves in the freezing water to mark the festival of the Epiphany.

events winter RIR Multimedia In pictures