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New Year & Christmas

Orthodox believers celebrate Epiphany by taking icy dunks

Traditional Epiphany night dips will take place this night in many regions of the country

The Russian Orthodox Church celebrates the holiday according to the Julian calendar Sergei Bobylev/TASS

The Russian Orthodox Church celebrates the holiday according to the Julian calendar

© Sergei Bobylev/TASS

MOSCOW, January 19. /TASS/. On Thursday, the Russian Orthodox Church is celebrating one of the 12 key Christian holidays - Epiphany.

"On January 19, on the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' will serve, the Divine Liturgy and the rite of the great blessing of water at the Epiphany Cathedral in Moscow, where the patronal feast is celebrated," the press service of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church reported.

Traditional Epiphany night dips will take place this night in many regions of the country.

In Moscow, as the city’s Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said, 46 Epiphany dipping stations were set up in various parts of the city. Each ice-hole is equipped with flooring, locker rooms, heating and food points, and parking lots. About 800 rescuers and firefighters, as well as doctors are on duty on the ground. The security of religious events these days is provided by 12,000 people.

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New Year & Christmas

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