Putin takes icy plunge into waters of Lake Seliger

Navalny is arrested by Russian police during an unauthorised anti-corruption rally in Moscow last year

Navalny is arrested by Russian police during an unauthorised anti-corruption rally in Moscow last year

On this day, believers commemorate the baptism of Christ in the Jordan River.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stripped off to his bathing trunks and immersed himself in the freezing waters of a lake late on Thursday, observing an Orthodox Christian ritual to mark the feast of Epiphany .

"On occasion of the Epiphany holiday Putin attended a liturgy and also took part in the Epiphany bathing in Lake Seliger", Peskov said.

It is believed the water of the Epiphany is full of healing properties and can purify a believer of their sins.

Putin visited the Nilo-Stolobensky monastery in the Tver region after wrapping up his working visit to St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region.

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According to Peskov, this winter season, central Russian Federation has not been hit by traditional cold weather and this night the temperature was not below minus 6-7 degrees of Celsius.

Putin, like many Orthodox Christians across the globe, bathed in the waters of a local lake in a ceremony that in Russian Federation dates back to the 16th century, Efe news reported.

Russian television stations have shown the 65-year-old Putin approaching a hole cut in the ice on Lake Seliger in northwestern Russia and then dunking himself in and crossing himself.

Epiphany is an important Christian holiday, which is celebrated on January 6 by Catholics and on January 19 by Orthodox denominations.

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