RUSSIA: 100'S OF ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS FLOCK TO MOSCOW SUBURB OF TROITSE- LYKOVO TO TAKE PART IN EPIPHANY CELEBRATION ON BANKS OF ICY MOSKVA RIVER

Record ID: 647450

  • Title: RUSSIA: 100'S OF ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS FLOCK TO MOSCOW SUBURB OF TROITSE- LYKOVO TO TAKE PART IN EPIPHANY CELEBRATION ON BANKS OF ICY MOSKVA RIVER
  • Date: 18th January 2004
  • Summary: (W)TROITSE-LYKOVO, MOSCOW, RUSSIA (JANUARY18, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. GV: PEOPLE ICE-FISHING AND SKIING ON BANK OF MOSKVA RIVER 0.06 2. COUPOLE OF CHURCH, BELLS RINGING 0.10 3. MV: RELIGIOUS PROCESSION WALKING TOWARDS RIVER MOSKVA 0.18 4. CU: CROSS CUT IN ICE, PAN UP TO VIEW OF PRAYING 0.27 5. PRIESTS CONDUCTING CEREMONY 0.37 6. BOY HOLDING ICON LAMP 0.43 7. WOMAN CONDUCTING CHOIR 0.49 8. CU: CROSS IN SILVER BOWL 0.54 9. PRIESTS LEADING PRAYER 0.59 10. WOMEN HOLDING ICONS, CROSSING THEMSELVES 1.07 11. PRIEST BLESSING THE WATER BY PUTTING CROSS INTO IT 1.20 12. POLICEMAN STANDING IN FRONT OF CROWD OF BELIEVERS 1.27 13. CU: PRIEST HOLDING SILVER CROSS 1.34 14. CLOSE UP OF CHURCH BOY 1.39 15. PRIEST BLESSING PEOPLE 1.50 16. SCU: WOMAN HOLDING ICON, CROSSING HERSELF 1.55 17. PRIEST HOLDING SILVER CROSS 2.00 18. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) FATHER STEFAN, PRIEST OF TROITSE-LYKOVO CHURCH, SAYING: "Who is not born by the water and spirit will not enter the God's kingdom. This was said about the baptising, which a religious man accepts from God through water, by dipping himself three times in the name of the Lord, Son and Holy spirit. The man receives blessing which today God grants to everyone." 2.20 19. MAN DIPPING HIMSELF IN WATER, CROSSING HIMSELF 2.32 20. WOMEN WASHING FACES WITH BLESSED WATER 2.39 21. MAN DIPPING HIMSELF IN WATER, CROSSING HIMSELF 2.52 22. MAN TAKING BOTTLES OF BLESSED WATER 2.57 23. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) IGOR SAYING: "The most important thing is to believe in God. I've never bathed in a such cold water, but here I did. The thing is that even if you are sick, you'll get stronger after this. It's a blessed water, it strengthens one's health." 3.08 24. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) VALENTINA ANDRIANOVNA, BELIEVER, SAYING: "Today is a great holiday of soul purification. It's happiness." 3.17 25. PEOPLE WASHING THEIR FACES WITH BLESSED WATER 3.25 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 2nd February 2004 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: TROITSE-LYKOVO, MOSCOW
  • Country: Russia
  • Reuters ID: LVA55FIL81RQ45VU76O5584I4A21
  • Story Text: Believers have plunged into icy cold water of the
    Moskva River for the Orthodox Christian Epiphany, in
    celebration of Christ's baptism.


    On Sunday (January 18), hundreds of Othodox
    Christians flocked to the usually quite Moscow suburb of
    Troitse-Lykovo to take part in an Epiphany celebration on
    the banks of the icy Moskva river.

    A religious procession from the church to the bank
    of Moskva river was followed by a mass. Then some peole
    plunged into the icy waters of the river.

    According to the Orthodox calendar January 19 is
    the holy day of Epiphany, the day when Jesus Christ was
    baptised. Father Stefan, the priest of the Troitse-Lykovo
    church had conducted a water-blessing ceremony on the banks
    of the river Moskva a day earlier.

    It's believed that water becomes holy on Epiphany
    and everyone who bathes in it will wash away their sins as
    well as remain healthy for the rest of the year.

    "Who is not born by the water and the spirit will
    not enter the God's kingdom. This was said about the
    baptising, which a religious man accepts from God through
    water, by dipping himself three times in the name of the
    Lord, Son and Holy spirit. The man gets blessing which
    today God grants to everyone" Father Stefan said.

    "The most important thing is to believe in God. I've
    never bathed in a such cold water, but here I did. The
    thing is that even if you are sick, you'll get stronger
    after this. It's a blessed water, it strengthens one's
    health"- said Igor after dipping himself in the water.

    "Today is a great holiday of soul purification. It's
    happiness" - said 70-year-old Valentina.




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