"Asked to Restrain"... Putin Takes a Cold Water Plunge at Minus 20 Degrees

"Despite Orthodox Church's Recommendation to Refrain from Bathing Amid COVID-19 Situation, Proceeded Anyway"

Russian President Vladimir Putin is taking a bath on the 19th (local time) in accordance with the Orthodox Epiphany tradition. Photo by the Kremlin Palace, captured from a public video.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] Vladimir Putin, the 68-year-old President of Russia, plunged into icy water amid a severe cold wave of minus 20 degrees Celsius.

According to RIA Novosti, a Russian state news agency, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, stated on the 19th (local time), "President Putin participated in the Epiphany bathing event again this year. He regularly observes the Epiphany bathing tradition."

It was reported that Putin took part in the bathing event in Moscow Oblast, on the outskirts of Moscow, in the morning, but the Kremlin did not disclose the exact location.

According to the video released by the Kremlin, President Putin took off his coat and entered a cross-shaped bath wearing only swim trunks.

President Putin made the sign of the cross and submerged his entire body, including his head, in the water three times. The morning temperature in Moscow that day was minus 20 degrees Celsius.

President Putin observes the Orthodox Epiphany tradition of immersing in cold water almost every year. In 2018, he made headlines by breaking the ice on Lake Seliger in the village of Svetlitsa to participate in the bathing event.

Notably, this year, despite the Orthodox Church advising against the bathing event due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), he went ahead with it.

The Orthodox Church previously stated, "In the current situation where the virus is rampant and many people are ill and weakened, we do not want to encourage believers to enter the water," adding, "Now is not the time to test one's body in such a way."

Meanwhile, Epiphany is a feast day commemorating the day Jesus appeared before the people as the Son of God and was baptized in the Jordan River.

In Russia, Orthodox believers have a tradition of going to churches on the eve of Epiphany to dip their hands in holy water or to bathe in icy water by breaking the ice on lakes, rivers, or reservoirs. Believers believe that through this, they can strengthen their immune system, regain health, and cleanse their sins.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.