body and soul, a Moscovite briefly submerges himself
into the icy water at Moscow's Serebryanny Bor
(Silver Forest). On the eve of Russian Orthodox
Epiphany, January 19th (as the Russian Orthodox
Church follows the Julian Calendar) thousands of
Russians gathered on frozen rivers and lakes to take a
dip in the icy priest-blessed waters. This is believed
to cleanse the soul of sins and protect the faithful
from evil. According to Orthodox Christian tradition,
this January feast day celebrates the baptism of Jesus
in the River Jordan.