RUSSIAN president Vladimir Putin has plunged into ice-cold waters to celebrate Epiphany, a major holiday in Orthodox Christianity marking the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan.
Russian television stations showed the 65-year-old Putin approaching a hole cut in the ice on Lake Seliger in north-western Russia before dunking himself in and crossing himself.
Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters that the president had dipped in icy waters on the Epiphany before, but this year marks the first time he has done so publicly.
The Russian president participated in the yearly ritual after completing a trip to St Petersburg and the Leningrad region.
He then visited the St Nilus Stolobensky Monastery in the region of Tver.
In Orthodox tradition, water blessed by a priest during Epiphany week is considered holy and pure, and believers attribute healing powers to it.
Nearly two million people took part in the annual ceremony last year, which is usually held on January 18 and 19.
Authorities set up bathing sites for participants all over Russia, including some areas in Siberia where air temperatures dropped below -30C.
Putin, who frequently attends Russian Orthodox ceremonies, is lobbying for re-election in the March 2018 presidential vote.
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