An icy plunge for Orthodox Christians

A boy reacts in the ice cold water after plunging into it during Orthodox Epiphany celebrations at a lake in the village of Zadomlya, Belarus, Jan. 19, 2014.

Thousands of Belarusian Orthodox Church followers plunged into icy rivers and ponds across the country to mark Epiphany, cleansing themselves with water deemed holy for the day.

For Christians, the Epiphany celebrates the baptism of Christ by John the Baptist in the river Jordan.

Russia

A man takes a dip in the icy waters of the Istra river during Orthodox Epiphany celebrations in the town of Istra, in the Moscow Region, Jan. 18, 2014.

Orthodox Christians celebrate the religious holiday of Epiphany according to the Gregorian calendar on January 19.

Serbia

Swimmers jump into the cold waters of the Danube during a traditional cross retrieval race in Belgrade, Serbia, Jan. 19, 2014.

Close to 400 swimmers took part in the race to retrieve a wooden cross from the Danube in the Serbian capital, a traditional event that marks the Orthodox Epiphany.

Belarus

A man swims in a lake in Minsk, Jan. 18, 2014. Orthodox believers mark Epiphany, which falls on January 19, by immersing themselves in icy waters regardless of the weather.

Kazakhstan

A man takes a dip during Epiphany celebration at the Bolshaya Almatinka river bank in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Jan. 19, 2014.

Kyrgyzstan

Orthodox believers march in a procession of the cross toward a lake during the celebration of the Epiphany holiday near the village of Sretinka, Kyrgyzstan, Jan. 19, 2014.

Russia

People line up to take a dip in the icy waters of the Istra river during Orthodox Epiphany celebrations in the town of Istra, Jan. 19, 2014.

Russia

Russian Orthodox believers gather to swim in the icy water on Epiphany in the Neva River in St.Petersburg, Russia, Jan. 19, 2014.

The temperature in St.Petersburg is 3.2 degrees F. 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.

Belarus

Belarussians dip themselves into the icy water of a lake near the village of Zadomlia, 40 km east of Minsk, Jan. 19, 2014.

Belarus

Belarussians dip themselves into the icy water of a lake near the village of Zadomlia, 40 km east of Minsk, Jan. 19, 2014.

Serbia

Orthodox Christian believers kneel in prayer before a traditional cross retrieval race, in Belgrade, Serbia, Jan. 19, 2014.

Russia

A Russian Orthodox believer crosses himself while bathing in the icy water on Epiphany inn the Neva River in St.Petersburg, Russia, Jan. 19, 2014.

Russia

A Russian Orthodox Christian takes a dip in an icy pond during Orthodox Epiphany celebrations in the village of Strelna, outside St. Petersburg, Jan. 19, 2014.

Belarus

Servicemen of the Belarussian Interior Ministry's special unit wait in line to dip themselves into the icy water of a lake near the village of Zadomlia, 40 km east of Minsk, Jan. 19, 2014.

Russia

A girl smiles as she is helped to get into the ice-cold water of the Ob River after it was blessed by an Orthodox priest on Epiphany Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014, in Ordynka village near Novosibirsk, Russia.

Belarus

A man crosses himself while bathing in the ice cold water after plunging into it during Orthodox Epiphany celebrations at a lake in the village of Zadomlya, Belarus, Jan. 19, 2014.

Russia

Orthodox priests and believers enter the Black Sea during Epiphany celebrations in Khosta, Sochi district Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014.

Georgia

A Georgian Orthodox priest baptizes a child in a church in Tbilisi during the Epiphany Day, Jan. 19, 2014. About 600 children were baptised by the Georgian Orthodox church during the 32nd mass baptism ceremony at the country's main cathedral Holy Trinity.

Kyrgyzstan

Orthodox believers plung into the icy waters of a lake during the celebration of the Epiphany holiday near the village of Sretinka, 40km from Bishkek, Jan. 19, 2014.

Kyrgyzstan

Orthodox believers plung into the icy waters of a lake during the celebration of the Epiphany holiday near the village of Sretinka, Jan. 19, 2014.

Belarus

Servicemen of the Belarussian Interior Ministry's special unit wait in line to dip themselves into the icy waters of a lake near the village of Zadomlia, Jan. 19, 2014.

Serbia

Zoran Stojanovic celebrates after retrieving the wooden cross from the river Nera, between Serbia and Romania, near the village of Vracev Gaj, Serbia, marking Orthodox Epiphany, Jan. 19, 2014.

Russia

A Russian Orthodox believer exits from the icy water on Epiphany at a pond in Pushkin, outside St. Petersburg, Russia, Jan. 18, 2014.