Ice Crosses

Crosses made of ice created for the Feast of Epiphany. Russian Orthodox Christians celebrate the Feast of Epiphany, commemorating the baptism of Jesus Christ on the 19th of January. In the earlier ages of Christianity, the church baptized people only on Epiphany, thus the feast was celebrated for several days. Today, the ceremony of baptism is performed all year long. On Epiphany’s eve, the Orthodox Church performs a ceremony of sanctifying water and ice holes, in the form of a cross, are made on rivers and lakes. This ice hole is called Iordan – from the name of the River Jordan. On Epiphany, many Orthodox Christians take the plunge into the icy water, with the number growing every year.