A man carries an icon during Orthodox Epiphany celebrations in the village of Temnolesskaya, about 19 miles from Stavropol, January 19, 2008.
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No immersion in the Jordan River for the Orthodox celebration of the Baptism of Jesus
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Epiphany celebration leads to cold swim
Posted on Mon Jan 21 2008
United Press International
MOSCOW, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- Epiphany celebrations Saturday in Moscow led Russian Orthodox followers and clergy to swim in the Moskva River, despite the cold winter weather.
For Orthodox Christians, the feast commemorates Christ's baptism by John the Baptist in the River Jordan, and the beginning of Christ's ministry.
A water blessing ceremony was held at the Epiphany Cathedral in Moscow by Patriarch of Moscow and Russia Alexy II, ITAR-TASS reported.
The building was at capacity with about 2,000 people present for the liturgy where hundreds waited to receive blessed drinking water. Police reportedly monitored the area to ensure the safety of those in attendance.
The festival is traditionally marked when priests bless bodies of water by throwing crosses into them before believers cleanse sin from their bodies and souls by taking a plunge, the newspaper said.
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