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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 ritualRussian president joins millions in braving freezing temperatures for annual religious ritual
Agence France-Presse Jon Henley, European affairs correspondent
Fri 19 Jan 2018 12.24 GMTFri 19 Jan 2018 12.24 GMT
Last modified on Fri 19 Jan 2018 14.32 GMT Last modified on Fri 19 Jan 2018 15.03 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. Rarely someone to pass up a photo opportunity involving a manly activity and his bare chest, Vladimir Putin has stripped to his swimming trunk and immersed himself in the freezing waters of a lake in northwest Russia to celebrate the feast of 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. Russian TV filmed the president, 65, marching onto the ice of frozen Lake Seliger, about 250 miles (400 km) north of Moscow, dressed in a cream sheepskin coat and knee-felt boots and surrounded by chanting Orthodox priests and glittering religious icons.
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. Putin, who has been photographed bare-chested on several previous occasions including fishing in a mountain lake in August last year and bareback horse-riding in Siberia in 2009, then removed his coat and boots, walked down a set of wooden steps into a hole in the ice, puffed slightly and crossed himself, a crucifix hanging around his neck.
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. Holding his nose, he briefly dipped his head under the water before resurfacing. 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.” The air temperature was -6C, local media reported. Dmitry Peskov, the president’s spokesman, insisted he had taken part in the Orthodox Christian ritual, which marks the baptism of Jesus, “for several years now”, but had not done so publicly. Putin is currently campaigning for re-election in a presidential election due on 18 March.
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. In the Orthodox tradition, water blessed by a priest during Epiphany week is considered holy and pure, and believers attribute healing powers to it. Authorities set up bathing sites for up to two million believers all over Russia, including parts of Siberia where January temperatures dip below -30C.
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.
Vladimir PutinVladimir Putin
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