- Title: Russia's Putin takes dip in icy lake to mark Orthodox Epiphany
- Date: 19th January 2018
- Summary: TVER REGION, RUSSIA (JANUARY 18, 2018) (RUSSIAN POOL) VARIOUS OF ORTHODOX PRIEST DIPPING GOLD CROSS INTO HOLE IN ICE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN COMING UP TO THE HOLE IN ICE TO TAKE A DIP VARIOUS OF PUTIN PLUNGING INTO ICY WATER PEOPLE COMING UP TO WATER TO TAKE A DIP PUTIN LEAVING PEOPLE DIPPING THEMSELVES IN WATER
- Embargoed: 2nd February 2018 09:33
- Keywords: Orthodox holidays Seliger lake bathing religion plunge icy water Epiphany Vladimir Putin Russia
- Location: TVER REGION, RUSSIA
- City: TVER REGION, RUSSIA
- Country: Russia
- Topics: Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA0017YS0ZLZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Russian President Vladimir Putin stripped off to his bathing trunks and immersed himself in the freezing waters of a lake late on Thursday (January 18), observing an Orthodox Christian ritual to mark the feast of Epiphany.
Russian state television showed Putin marching onto the ice of frozen Lake Seliger, about 400 km. (250 miles) north of Moscow, dressed in a sheepskin coat and felt boots.
With his coat and boots removed, he then walked down a set of wooden steps into a hole in the ice, crossed himself, and dipped his head under the water before surfacing.
Air temperatures at the time were around six degrees Celsius below zero (21 degrees Fahrenheit).
Each year on Epiphany, Orthodox believers immerse themselves in rivers and lakes to commemorate the baptism of Jesus Christ in the River Jordan.
Putin, who is campaigning for re-election in a March 18 presidential election, grew up under Communist rule where open shows of religion were frowned upon. As president, he has become a frequent attender of Russian Orthodox ceremonies, and has given the church a major voice in society. - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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