Not only do the babas jump into the ice hole at Epiphany, so do the dedes! Wanna join ‘em?
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Lyubov Sliska, the Vice Speaker of the RF Gosduma (from the faction United Russia), told Interfax that every baptism is noted by a dip into blessed water. “This year, I’ll receive a blessing and expiate some of my sins by dipping in one of the holy springs in Kaluga Oblast”, she said. Ms Sliska noted, “This dipping brings us health and gives us the strength to defeat our enemies and overcome our weaknesses”. Vladimir Zhirinovsky, the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (and also a Vice Speaker of the RF Gosduma), shall also hold to tradition and he shall dive into a hole cut into the ice of Lake Bezdonnoe. According to Konstantin Kosachyov, the head of the International Committee of the RF Gosduma, “For seven years, I’ve observed the custom of dipping into the icy water on Epiphany”. Mr Kosachyov expressed regret that some people turn this act of piety into a publicity stunt. He feels that it must be done “for the good of the soul only”. He thinks that performing this rite publicly in the capital would strip the act of any meaning. “Then, I’m only one of many, under the eye of the television cameras in Moscow, and this deeply personal act of piety is reduced to a negative experience”, noted Mr Kosachyov. This year, as in past years, he’ll celebrate the holiday of Epiphany in his native constituency of Chuvashiya.
18 January 2008
Interfax-Religion
