ISTANBUL — Orthodox Christian worshippers plunged into chilly waters across southern and eastern Europe on Friday to retrieve crucifixes in ceremonies commemorating the baptism of Jesus Christ.

A shivering crowd of around 100 men defied Covid-19 restrictions on January 6 to jump into Bulgaria’s Tundzha river – an icy swim marking the Epiphany, which is supposed to bring good health. Rumen ...

Epiphany, celebrated every 6 January, marks the baptism of Jesus Christ and is a public holiday in Greece. In the Blessing of the Waters ceremony, swimmers dive to retrieve a floating cross, a ...

Russian President Vladimir Putin and an estimated 270,000 other Muscovites followed an Orthodox Church tradition and jumped into icy waters to celebrate Epiphany. Many Orthodox Russians traditionally ...

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 ...

Orthodox Christians across Europe have celebrated the feast of Epiphany with icy dips in freezing water. The traditional date for the feast is January 6. However, Eastern Churches following the Julian ...

To celebrate the feast of Epiphany marking the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan, thousands of Russian Orthodox faithful take a dip in icy... In Russia, Epiphany Comes With A Shockingly Cold Swim ...

If you think it's cold here, spare a thought for these Russian Orthodox believers who took an ice bath yesterday. Swimming in icy water on January 19 is a traditional way for Orthodox Christians to ...