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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/19/vladimir-putin-takes-icy-plunge-to-mark-orthodox-epiphany
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Vladimir Putin takes icy plunge to mark Orthodox Epiphany | Vladimir Putin takes icy plunge to mark Orthodox Epiphany |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Russian president joins millions in braving freezing temperatures for annual religious ritual | Russian president joins millions in braving freezing temperatures for annual religious ritual |
| Agence France-Presse | Agence France-Presse |
| Fri 19 Jan 2018 12.24 GMT | Fri 19 Jan 2018 12.24 GMT |
| Last modified on Fri 19 Jan 2018 13.44 GMT | |
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| Vladimir Putin has joined millions of Orthodox believers to plunge bare-chested into icy water in a Russian tradition marking the Epiphany. | Vladimir Putin has joined millions of Orthodox believers to plunge bare-chested into icy water in a Russian tradition marking the Epiphany. |
| Surrounded by Orthodox priests and glittering religious icons, and with the temperature hovering around -5C, the president lowered himself into the waters of Lake Seliger, 220 miles (350km) north-west of Moscow. | Surrounded by Orthodox priests and glittering religious icons, and with the temperature hovering around -5C, the president lowered himself into the waters of Lake Seliger, 220 miles (350km) north-west of Moscow. |
| He was one of many Russians who submerged themselves in lakes and rivers in the annual ritual, which normally takes place on 18 and 19 January and last year saw 2 million people take the plunge. | He was one of many Russians who submerged themselves in lakes and rivers in the annual ritual, which normally takes place on 18 and 19 January and last year saw 2 million people take the plunge. |
| State TV footage showed the president marching over the ice-covered lake in knee-high felt boots wearing a cream sheepskin coat as priests chanted and waved an incense lamp. | State TV footage showed the president marching over the ice-covered lake in knee-high felt boots wearing a cream sheepskin coat as priests chanted and waved an incense lamp. |
| Asked by a journalist if it was cold, Putin replied: “No, it’s great.” | Asked by a journalist if it was cold, Putin replied: “No, it’s great.” |
| Stripping down to swimming trunks, the president then lowered himself into a hole cut in the ice, puffing slightly and crossing himself, a crucifix hanging around his neck. Holding his nose Putin then dipped under the water. | Stripping down to swimming trunks, the president then lowered himself into a hole cut in the ice, puffing slightly and crossing himself, a crucifix hanging around his neck. Holding his nose Putin then dipped under the water. |
| It was the first time the 65-year-old, who has often posed bare-chested on wilderness expeditions, publicly took part in the ritual. | It was the first time the 65-year-old, who has often posed bare-chested on wilderness expeditions, publicly took part in the ritual. |
| However, his spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin had been “plunging into an ice hole for a number of years now”, the Tass state news agency reported. | However, his spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin had been “plunging into an ice hole for a number of years now”, the Tass state news agency reported. |
| Vladimir Putin | Vladimir Putin |
| Russia | Russia |
| Christianity | Christianity |
| Europe | Europe |
| Religion | Religion |
| news | news |
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