PHOTOS: Epiphany Bathing In Russia 2014
One Yakutia bather said “No, I am not worried at all!” one of the Yakutian bathers told Ruptly news agency. “This is the fifth year I’m bathing on Epiphany. The feeling is just great, rejuvenating, I would say, it is like being born again. I have never got ill after swimming, everything is perfect.”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF AN INCREDIBLY COLOURFUL RUSSIAN MONASTERY
The belief of the Orthodox Church is that on the evening of the 18th of January all water becomes holy, even the stuff coming out of your taps. So many people bottle the water on the 18th and 19th to keep it for miraculous emergencies throughout the year. The belief that the water becomes holy on these days has existed since 1525 but the full body bathing in frigid waters has only really taken off since the 1990’s.
