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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
World
Via AP news wire

Warm weather threatens Epiphany ice water plunges for Russia's Orthodox Christians

Russia Orthodox Epiphany - (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Thousands of Russians celebrating the Orthodox Christian feast day of Epiphany, where worshippers bathe in the icy waters of frozen lakes and rivers, have been forced to cancel their traditional ceremonies amid unusually warm winter temperatures.

Across Russia, the devout and the daring celebrate Epiphany on Jan. 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.

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