Orthodox Epiphany Celebrations 2012

A Greek orthodox Christian pilgrim pray at the Monastery of St John the Baptist near the Jordan River during the Epiphany celebrations on January 18, 2011 in Kasser el-Yahud. Thousand of Orthodox Christian pilgrims participated in the procession at the Jordan River baptismal site of Kasser el-Yahud to celebrate the annual festival, marking Jesus' baptism, when the gospels say a dove settled onto him and a voice from heaven declared him 'my beloved son.' According to tradition John baptized Jesus at the Jordan River in the Holy Land.

Greek Orthodox clergy take part in a procession toward the baptismal site known as Qasr el-Yahud on the banks of the Jordan River, 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.

A woman prepares to take a dip in icy waters of the Ob river in sub zero temperatures during Orthodox Epiphany celebrations in the city of Barnaul, the capital of the Altai region, January 19, 2012. Orthodox Christians celebrate the religious holiday of Epiphany according to the Gregorian calendar on January 19.

Metropolitan Amfilohije Radovic (C) prepares to throw a wooden cross from a boat into the Moraca river, before swimmers rush to retrieve it during Epiphany day celebrations, in Podgorica January 19, 2012. The retrieval of a cross is a traditional event that marks the Orthodox Epiphany, which according to the Gregorian calendar falls on January 19.

Swimmers hold a cross made of ice after it was retrieved from the Savsko lake in Belgrade January 19, 2012 during Epiphany day celebrations.

An Ethiopian Orthodox Christian priest baptises a boy with water from the Jordan river during a ceremony at the baptismal site known as Qasr el-Yahud on the banks of the Jordan River near the West Bank city of Jericho January 19, 2012. Orthodox Christians flocked to the Jordan River on Thursday to celebrate the feast of the Epiphany at the traditional site where it is believed John the Baptist baptised Jesus Christ.

Ethiopian Orthodox Christian pilgrims chant during a ceremony at the baptismal site known as Qasr el-Yahud on the banks of the Jordan River near the West Bank city of Jericho

An orthodox Christian Israeli Arab swims with the cross in the Mediterranean Sea during the annual Epiphany prayer celebration outside Saint Michel church in the old city of Jaffa

Greek Orthodox Bishop Damaskinos (C-R) throws a cross into the Mediterranean Sea during the annual Epiphany prayer celebration outside Saint Michel church in the old city of Jaffa

People enact a battle as part of celebrations for the Orthodox Epiphany in Kiev on January 19, 2012.

Younths plunge into ice cold water to mark Orthodox Epiphany in Kiev on January 19, 2012.

People swim in the icy waters of Lake Ohrid to search for a cross during Epiphany celebrations in Ohrid, about 170 km (106 miles) west of Skopje January 19, 2012. It is believed that the man who is the first to grab the cross, thrown into the water by an Eastern Orthodox priest, will be healthy throughout the New Year.

Vladimir Stojanovic (C) looks at a wooden cross that he managed to catch after it was thrown by a priest in the waters of Nisava river during Epiphany celebrations in Nis, south-eastern Serbia January 19, 2012. The retrieval of a cross is a traditional event that marks Orthodox Epiphany, which according to the Gregorian calendar falls on January 19.

A priest blesses believers during celebrations marking Orthodox Epiphany in Kiev on January 19, 2012.

Servicemen of the Belarussian Interior Ministry's special unit walk after they dipped into the icy waters of a lake near the village of Zadomlia, some 40 km (25 miles) east of Minsk, January 19, 2012. Orthodox believers marked Epiphany on January 19 by immersing themselves in icy waters regardless of the weather.

Believers take part in Orthodox Epiphany celebrations on the river Kara-Balta near the village of Sosnovka, some 90 km outside the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek, January 19, 2012.

A woman is helped while taking a dip in the icy waters of the Bazaikha river after the Orthodox Epiphany service, with the air temperature at about minus 30 degrees Celsius, in the surburb of Russia's Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk January 19, 2012.

QASER AL-YAHHUD, WEST BANK - JANUARY 18: Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Metropolitan Theophilos holds his staff with a white dove balanced on the top as he is surrounded by priests and pilgrims during the Epiphany ceremony January 18,2012 at the Qaser al-Yahud baptismal site near Jericho, West Bank. Qaser al-Yahud is the spot where John the Baptist is said to have baptized Jesus. Thousands of pilgrims flocked to the holy site for the ceremony.

Christian pilgrims arrive at the Monastery of St John the Baptist, near the Jordan River, during Epiphany celebrations on January 18, 2011 in Kasser el-Yahud. Thousands of Orthodox Christian pilgrims participated in the procession at the Kasser el-Yahud to celebrate the annual festival, which commemorates Christ's baptism by St John in the Jordan River, according to tradition.

Christian Orthodox worshippers from Eritrea, wait for a baptism bath in the Jordan River during Epiphany celebrations at Qasr-el Yahud near Jericho, in the West Bank, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012.

Romanian Orthodox Church priests perform ceremonies marking Orthodox Epiphany on the river Nera, between the two countries Serbia, left bank, and Romania, near the village of Vracev Gaj, some 50 kilometers (30 miles) northeast of Belgrade, Serbia, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012. Orthodox Serbs celebrate Epiphany on January 19 , following old Julian calendar, with traditional retrieving of crosses from the rivers and lakes.