Putin jumps into icy water at the Orthodox Epiphany

Russian President Vladimir Putin dived this Friday in pool with ice water on the occasion of the celebration of the Baptism of Christ, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

“Yes, traditionally he does it on the occasion of the Holy Three Kings,” he said at the daily press conference.

It is a ceremony that Putin does not miss, with the only exception in 2022, when the Russian president did not immerse himself in ice water “epidemiological reasons”.

But in 2021, while the coronavirus pandemic was still raging, the Kremlin released a video of a ceremony during which Putin dived three times into a pool in the shape of a cross, crossing himself before each dive, according to tradition.orthodox.

The ceremonies were performed with normality throughout the countrywith the exception of the southern city of Belgorod, which borders Ukrainewhich became a constant target of attacks by the Ukrainian army.

Early in the morning, Orthodox priests blessed thousands of pools, ponds, rivers and even sea clearings with silver crucifixes so that the Russians could fulfill their holy custom of Epiphany.

Believers must descend the wooden ladder to avoid slipping and dip into the water three times, crossing themselves, They ask God to atone for their sins and pray for their own souls and the souls of their loved ones.

In addition to Orthodox believers, risk-lovers and morzhí (walruses), a group of outdoor swimming enthusiasts in winter, who firmly believe that this extreme activity relieves and prevents colds, coronary diseases, heart attacks and strokes, participate in the abyss. .

On the other hand, millions of Russians go to churches today to collect in bottles and barrels the water blessed by the priests, on the day that commemorates the baptism of Jesus Christ by Saint John the Baptist in the Jordan River.

Putin only needs 300,000 signatures to declare his candidacy, the process is not over yet, and his team assures that signatures are still coming in from different Russian regions.

Putin is an independent candidate, but the Kremlin’s United Russia party is actively involved in collecting signatures, as well as volunteer organizations across the country.