(19 Jan 2004)
1. Man taking a plunge in icy water
2. Close up icon
3. Various of priest reading sermon by a frozen river
4. Priest dips the cross into the water
5. Various of women winter swimmers on their way for a plunge
6. Men swimming in icy water
7. Swimmers getting out of the eater, walk barefoot on snow
8. SOUNDBITE ( Russian) Lyudmila ( first name only):
"It's great, we love it, my congratulations to everyone with Epiphany."
9. Swimmer dries off, standing on snow barefoot
10. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Vitaliy Martynov:
"No, it's not cold at all - it's really warm today, must be something like -3 degrees Celsius while the water is even warmer, around +4."
11. Various of winter swimming
STORYLINE:
Taking traditional plunges in icy cold waters, the Russian Orthodox faithful celebrated Epiphany on Monday.
Most of them are seasoned "walruses" - as fans of winter swimming are known in Russia, some are newcomers acting out of religious duty.
While in western Christianity, Epiphany, meaning "manifestation" in ancient Greek, marks the coming of the three wise men to bring gifts to the infant Jesus, in Eastern Orthodoxy Epiphany marks the baptism of Christ in the River Jordan.
Russian Orthodox church celebrates Epiphany on January 19, 13 days later than in western churches, because most Orthodox churches still calculate the church year according to the Julian calendar.
Orthodox Christians believe that water from any river or pond becomes Christ's baptismal water on this day.
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