19 January was the day that millions of Eastern Orthodox believers jumped into an icy pond, river, lake or pool. Depending on time zone, most have already done so as it is done at night. It is the Epiphany, the commemoration of Christ’s baptism by the Apostle and Saint, John the Baptist. First a priest blesses a section of frozen water and then believers, old and young, male and female, plunge three times while making the sign of the cross. From Asia to Eastern Europe this is a more common event. It just doesn’t happen often in America, yet, but there is nothing wrong in hoping that someday it will.
To those who observe, С Крещением Господним!
