1
Bulgarian men dance in the icy waters of the Tundzha river during a
celebration for Epiphany Day in the town of Kalofer, some 150 km (93
miles) east of Sofia January 6, 2012. It is believed that the ritual
will bring health throughout the new year. REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov
2
Bulgarian men dance in the icy waters of the Tundzha river during a
celebration for Epiphany Day in the town of Kalofer, some 150 km (93
miles) east of Sofia January 6, 2012. It is believed that the ritual
will bring health throughout the new year. REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov
3
Villagers dive to retrieve a crucifix thrown into a river by an
Orthodox priest during Epiphany Day celebrations in Serdanu village, 50
km (31 miles) northwest of Bucharest January 6, 2012. REUTERS/Radu
Sigheti
4
Villagers travel on a horse cart to attend the Orthodox Epiphany Day
celebrations in Serdanu village, 50 km (31 miles) northwest of Bucharest
January 6, 2012. REUTERS/Radu Sigheti
5
A man kisses a cross after winning a competition to retrieve it from
the water during Orthodox Epiphany day celebrations in the port of Porto
Rafti, some 40km (25 miles) northeast of Athens January 6, 2012.
Orthodox priests throughout the country bless the water by throwing a
cross into water bodies as worshippers swim and try to retrieve it.
REUTERS/John Kolesidis
6
A worker prepares a cross shaped hole for bathing during forthcoming
Russian Orthodox Epiphany celebrations in an air temperature of about
minus 32 degrees Celsius, on the Mana river near the village of
Ust-Mana, 31 km (19 miles) south of the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk,
January 18, 2012. Russian Orthodox believers will celebrate the
religious holiday of Epiphany with a midnight immersion in water on the
morning of January 19. REUTERS/Ilya Naymushin
7
Christian pilgrims emerge from the water of the Jordan River during a
ceremony at the baptismal site known as Qasr el-Yahud, near the West
Bank city of Jericho January 18, 2012. Orthodox Christians flocked to
the Jordan River on Wednesday to celebrate the feast of the Epiphany at
the traditional site where it is believed John the Baptist baptised
Jesus Christ. REUTERS/Ammar Awad
8
A man swims in an ice hole in the Sea of Japan in sub zero temperatures
during celebrations for Russian Orthodox Epiphany in Amur Bay, near
Russia's far eastern port of Vladivostok, January 19, 2012. Orthodox
Christians celebrate the religious holiday of Epiphany according to the
Gregorian calendar on January 19. REUTERS/Yuri Maltsev
9
A man kisses a cross after winning a competition to retrieve it from
the water during Orthodox Epiphany day celebrations in the port of Porto
Rafti, some 40km (25 miles) northeast of Athens January 6, 2012.
Orthodox priests throughout the country bless the water by throwing a
cross into water bodies as worshippers swim and try to retrieve it.
REUTERS/John Kolesidis
10
A Belarus Orthodox priest dips a cross into waters of the Tsnyanskoye
reservoir during Epiphany celebrations in Minsk late January 18, 2012.
Orthodox Christians celebrate the religious holiday of Epiphany
according to the Gregorian calendar on January 19. REUTERS/Vladimir
Nikolsky
11
A man dips into the icy waters of Tsnyanskoye reservoir during Epiphany
celebrations in Minsk late January 18, 2012. Orthodox Christians
celebrate the religious holiday of Epiphany according to the Gregorian
calendar on January 19. REUTERS/Vladimir Nikolsky
12
A man takes a dip in the icy waters of the Mana river after the
midnight Orthodox Epiphany service, with the air temperature at about
minus 37 degrees Celsius, near the village of Ust-Mana, 31 km (19 miles)
south of Russia's Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk January 19, 2012.
Orthodox Christians celebrate the religious holiday of Epiphany
according to the Julian calendar on January 19. REUTERS/Ilya Naymushin
13
A woman takes a dip in the icy waters of the Mana river after the
midnight Orthodox Epiphany service, with the air temperature at about
minus 37 degrees Celsius, near the village of Ust-Mana, 31 km (19 miles)
south of Russia's Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk January 19, 2012.
Orthodox Christians celebrate the religious holiday of Epiphany
according to the Julian calendar on January 19. REUTERS/Ilya Naymushin
14
A woman's hair freezes after taking a dip in the icy waters of the Mana
river after the midnight Orthodox Epiphany service, with the air
temperature at about minus 37 degrees Celsius, near the village of
Ust-Mana, 31 km (19 miles) south of Russia's Siberian city of
Krasnoyarsk January 19, 2012. Orthodox Christians celebrate the
religious holiday of Epiphany according to the Julian calendar on
January 19. REUTERS/Ilya Naymushin
15
A boy is helped while taking a dip in the icy waters of the Mana river
after the midnight Orthodox Epiphany service, with the air temperature
at about minus 37 degrees Celsius, near the village of Ust-Mana, 31 km
(19 miles) south of Russia's Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk January 19,
2012. Orthodox Christians celebrate the religious holiday of Epiphany
according to the Julian calendar on January 19. REUTERS/Ilya Naymushin
16
A man is surrounded by steam after taking a dip in the icy waters of
the Istra river during Orthodox Epiphany celebrations in Russia's town
of New Jerusalem in Moscow Region, January 19, 2012. Orthodox Christians
celebrate the religious holiday of Epiphany according to the Gregorian
calendar on January 19. REUTERS/Anton Golubev
17
Spectators watch as people take a dip in the icy waters of the Istra
river during Orthodox Epiphany celebrations in Russia's town of New
Jerusalem in Moscow Region, January 19, 2012. Orthodox Christians
celebrate the religious holiday of Epiphany according to the Gregorian
calendar on January 19. REUTERS/Anton Golubev
18
A man takes a dip in the icy waters of the Istra river during Orthodox
Epiphany celebrations in Russia's town of New Jerusalem in Moscow
Region, January 19, 2012. Orthodox Christians celebrate the religious
holiday of Epiphany according to the Gregorian calendar on January 19.
REUTERS/Anton Golubev
19
Orthodox priests conduct a service at Epiphany celebrations on the
Bolshaya Almatinka river bank in Almaty January 19, 2012. Orthodox
Christians celebrate the religious holiday of Epiphany according to the
Gregorian calendar on January 19. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov
20
A man crosses himself after taking a dip in the icy water of the
Bolshaya Almatinka river, as an emergency rescuer looks on, during
Epiphany celebrations in Almaty January 19, 2012. Orthodox Christians
celebrate the religious holiday of Epiphany according to the Gregorian
calendar on January 19. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov
21
A woman pours water on herself during Epiphany celebrations on a bank
of the Bolshaya Almatinka river in Almaty January 19, 2012. Orthodox
Christians celebrate the religious holiday of Epiphany according to the
Gregorian calendar on January 19. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov
22
An Orthodox priest dips a cross in the water of the Istra river during
Orthodox Epiphany celebrations in Russia's town of New Jerusalem in
Moscow Region, January 19, 2012. Orthodox Christians celebrate the
religious holiday of Epiphany according to the Gregorian calendar on
January 19. REUTERS/Anton Golubev
23
A man takes a dip in the icy waters of the Istra river during Orthodox
Epiphany celebrations in Russia's town of New Jerusalem in the Moscow
Region, January 19, 2012. Orthodox Christians celebrate the religious
holiday of Epiphany according to the Gregorian calendar on January 19.
REUTERS/Anton Golubev
24
An Orthodox priest conducts a service at Epiphany celebrations on the
Bolshaya Almatinka river bank in Almaty January 19, 2012. Orthodox
Christians celebrate the religious holiday of Epiphany according to the
Gregorian calendar on January 19. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov
