A girl emerges from cold water after plunging into an icy pond to mark the upcoming Epiphany in northwestern Moscow, Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011. Thousands of Russian Orthodox Church followers plunged Tuesday 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 Tuesday morning dropped to -13 C ( 9 F).
A Russian man emerges from cold water on Epiphany under a tent near the Church of the Intercession of the Mother of the God in Zestylyovo, Russia, some 88 kilometers (55 miles) north from Moscow, early Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011, with the moon in the sky. Thousands of Russian Orthodox Church followers plunged into icy rivers and ponds across the country to mark 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
A Russian woman crosses herself as she emerges from an ice hole made in the shape of a cross in a traditional Epiphany celebration in Moscow, Russia, early Wednesday, Jan 19, 2011.
Russian men brave the cold as they queue to plunge in an ice hole made in the shape of a cross in a traditional Epiphany celebration in Moscow, Russia, early Wednesday, Jan 19, 2011.
Russians swim in an ice hole made in the shape of a cross in a traditional Epiphany celebration in Moscow, Russia, early Wednesday, Jan 19, 2011
A Russian woman emerges from an ice hole made in the shape of a cross in a traditional Epiphany celebration in Moscow, Russia, early Wednesday, Jan 19, 2011
A Russian girl crosses herself as she emerges from an ice hole made in the shape of a cross in a traditional Epiphany celebration in Moscow, Russia, early Wednesday, Jan 19, 2011.
