Epiphany bathing
Russian orthodox tradition of winter swimming on Epiphany.
Традиционные крещенские купания.
Epiphany bathing in New Jerusalem's monastery near Moscow two years later.
Epiphany bathing in New Jerusalem's monastery near Moscow.
Крещенские купания в Новоиерусалимском монастыре 2009 год.
Крещенские купания в Новоиерусалимском монастыре 2007 год.
Are these guys from the same local church ? Why do these not have a priest with them but the others do, in your other pictures? Are they doing this for religion or just for fun ? Maybe for both.
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I think they just follow the tradition to bath on Epiphany and their doing it for fun. Not everybody who celebrates Christmas is a believer.
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It is the same here in America. Not everyone who celebrates Christmas is a believer. Is it possible that they might be believers though? Would they be able to do this as a religious observance without a priest being present? I am ignorant about the Russian Orthodox church.
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Actually, not. The priest must sanctify water - turn the common water to the holy water - so when you swim in it is a kind of repeating of undergoing baptism. It's just a winter swimming without a priest. And only after water hallow ceremony - it's Epiphany bathing.
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