Mass Epiphany bathing takes place in SFD and NCFD
In the regions of southern Russia, rituals of Epiphany bathing in the numerous font basins were held without incidents. On the bank of a number of water reservoirs, field kitchens and heating points were equipped for believers. Their security was controlled by law enforcers, rescue teams of the Ministry for Emergencies (MfE), and doctors.
Epiphany is one of the 12 major Christian holidays. The Orthodox Church celebrates Twelfth-Day, or Epiphany, on January 19 of the Gregorian calendar. Traditionally, at night of Epiphany and on the day of January 19, Orthodox believers do the ritual ablution - they dip themselves into ice-holes (font basins).
In the Stavropol Territory, pensioner Stanislav Vladimirovich has taken part in Epiphany bathing near the Temple of Saint Seraphim of Sarov. He told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that several ambulance cars and staff members of the MfE and the MIA (Ministry of Internal Affairs) were on duty near the font basin.
According to the pensioner, a line of people who wished to dip themselves into the font basin "lasted for several tens of meters."
Igor, a student of the Stavropol Institute of Friendship of Peoples of the Caucasus, has told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that there were a lot of young people among those who dipped themselves into the font basin.
"Bathing at the Epiphany night is a kind of tradition for our family. This year, we have decided that our son Anton, who is 10 years old, will also take part in this tradition. This ritual strengthens faith and increases vitality of the body, and it gives hope for the cleansing of sins," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Vladimir Korotkov, a resident of Cherkessk.
Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.