Diving into icy waters and sanctifying them: how the celebration of Epiphany unfolds in the Dnipro River (VIDEO)

On Monday, January 6, Orthodox Christians in Ukraine celebrate Epiphany. Despite the fact that rescuers urged residents of Dnipro to refrain from diving into the water, some locals still immerse themselves in water bodies. This was reported by "Vidiomo" referencing city Telegram channels.

On January 6, believers honor the Baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River, symbolizing spiritual purification, rebirth, and the beginning of a new life. This is the third, largest, and concluding holiday of the Christmas and New Year cycle. The history of Epiphany has ancient roots. Even during Kievan Rus, this holiday held great significance and was accompanied by various rituals and customs. The Baptism was not only a religious occasion but also a folk festival, blending Christian and pagan beliefs.

Diving into icy water and the blessing of water are the most popular Epiphany traditions. People believe that in this way they wash away sins, strengthen their spirit, and enhance physical endurance. At the same time, church priests state that such a tradition has never existed in church manuals.

"In recent years, during the celebration of the Lord's Epiphany, there has been a rise in the trend of mass diving into the ice-hole. Motivations vary: some wash away sins, some test their physical limits, while others justify it as adherence to an 'ancient Ukrainian tradition.' The latter assertion is completely erroneous! Our people did not have such a tradition associated with the Feast of Theophany. Neither ethnographers nor historians documented any so-called 'traditional' mass dives of Ukrainians into icy water for the celebration of the Lord's Baptism up until the mid-20th century. There are no descriptions of such actions in ancient sources, nor in studies about the traditions of Cossack Ukraine, or in the recollections of older individuals. Some historians associate this custom with our northern neighbors, the Russians, who traditionally dove into cold water after a bath, as well as with the spread of ideas about hardening the body as part of a healthy lifestyle", – explained the VCU.

This year, there were no official swimming events at city beaches, but residents of Dnipro still took the plunge into the cold water, which, according to folk beliefs, is holy today.

In particular, at Red Stone and the Frunzensky beach, residents of Dnipro dove among the ice chunks that covered the water near the shore.

Traditionally, services were held in the city's churches, and believers came to the churches to bless the water.

This is the situation now at the church on Naberezhna Pobedy. Previously, Epiphany swimming events were held here, but today only the blessing of water will take place.

Earlier, we reported that beaches in Dnipro are not being prepared for Epiphany, but "walruses" have already been spotted.