Excellent Blessed Water on the feast of Epiphany

During celebrations of the Epiphany, a pilot from Belarus who flies for Aeroflot, the largest airline company in Russia, shows that he feels good after plunge three times (in respect of Holy Trinity) in icy water in the lake Krugloe, about 25 km from Moscow city, not far from Sheremetyevo airport. The temperature outside was about -12 degrees C (10 degrees F). Russian pilots are brave not only in the air, but in icy water as well!

On the day of Epiphany, thousands of Russians bath in the frozen rivers, lakes or ponds to commemorate the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan river, which occurred on 19 January according to Julian calendar. Orthodox Christians believe that icy-cold water is holy for the day. Traditionally very cold weather with frosts occurs in this period. The bathing spots are normally prepared in a special way: cross-shaped holes are made in the ice and wooden stairs are fixed to make it more comfortable for the believers to go through the ritual.

Photo #035 taken on January 19, 2016