Orthodox Epiphany-Snaps

Russian Orthodox priest, right, and believer help a girl to get out of ice cold water after plunging into icy pond to mark the upcoming Epiphany in the northwestern Moscow, Monday, Jan. 18, 2010. Thousands of Russian Orthodox Church followers plunged Monday into icy rivers and ponds across the country to mark the upcoming Epiphany, cleansing themselves with water deemed holy for the day. Water that is blessed by a cleric on Epiphany is considered holy and pure until next year’s celebration, and is believed to have special powers of protection and healing. The Russian Orthodox Church follows the old Julian calendar, according to which Epiphany falls on Jan. 19. Moscow temperatures on Monday morning dropped to -20 Celsius (-4 Farenheit).

A man plunges into an icy pond to mark the upcoming Epiphany in the northwestern Moscow, Monday, Jan. 18, 2010. Thousands of Russian Orthodox Church followers plunged Monday into icy rivers and ponds across the country to mark the upcoming Epiphany, cleansing themselves with water deemed holy for the day. Water that is blessed by a cleric on Epiphany is considered holy and pure until next year’s celebration, and is believed to have special powers of protection and healing. The Russian Orthodox Church follows the old Julian calendar, according to which Epiphany falls on Jan. 19. Moscow temperatures on Monday morning dropped to -20 C (-4 F).

Christian Orthodox pilgrims pause inside a church just before a traditional Epiphany baptism ceremony, at the baptismal site of Qasr el Yahud, near the West Bank town of Jericho, Monday, Jan. 18, 2010. The Greek Orthodox Christian community in Israel and the Palestinian Territories held their Epiphany baptism ceremonies Monday at the Qasr el Yahud, traditionally believed by many to be the place where Jesus was baptized.

Source:
www.daylife.com