Thousands of Russians celebrating the Orthodox Christian feast day of Epiphany, where worshippers bathe in the icy waters of frozen lakes and rivers, have been forced to cancel their traditional ceremonies due to unusually warm winter temperatures.

You could say that the winter chill and icy waters were counterbalanced by the warmth of prayer and the blessings for that water. “It’s the baptism of our Lord on Jan 6. We bless the waters, homes and people in the homes,

Across Russia, the devout and the daring celebrate Epiphany on January 19 by immersing themselves in frigid water through holes cut through the ice of lakes and rivers, imitating

Russians celebrating the Orthodox Christian Epiphany on January 19 have faced disruptions due to unusually warm winter temperatures. Traditionally, worshippers immerse themselves in icy waters—through holes cut in frozen lakes and rivers—to commemorate the baptism of Jesus Christ.