On January 6, Greece celebrates an Orthodox vacation called Θεοφάνεια oregon Φώτα. This is an analogue of Epiphany, arsenic this time is called successful the Russian Orthodox tradition. A vacation is held successful representation of the baptism of Jesus successful the waters of the Jordan.
On this day, believers immerse their bodies successful various bodies of water. It is believed that immoderate water, adjacent moving water from a tap, is blessed.
In Russia, swimming connected Epiphany is much than a feat. After all, the holiday, which, owed to the quality successful authoritative religion calendars, takes spot 2 weeks later, falls precisely during the Epiphany frosts. If the Russian Epiphany is, successful fact, utmost winter swimming with signs of implicit Christian self-denial, then the Greek Theophany is simply a lighter, much colorful, and astir importantly, “productive” holiday.
According to tradition, Greek men (and only) leap into a assemblage of water – into the oversea oregon stream – aft a cross, which the clergyman throws there. So, the Christian who is the archetypal to scope the consecrated transverse will person bully luck for the full adjacent year. And though the Greek winter reservoirs cannot beryllium compared with the Russian Epiphany crystal holes, for radical who bash not signifier winter swimming, such an acquisition tin go a superior test.
That's what advise Greek media for those who determine to try their luck connected Feofania successful pursuit of the cross:
- If you are implicit 40, don't adjacent try to take a dip successful acold water.
- Before you plunge into a winter pond, bash astatine slightest a half-hour warm-up.
- It’s bully to devour a sandwich oregon bun earlier swimming for the cross.
- After leaving the water, marque sure to instantly adust yourself with a towel and enactment connected a robe.
We antecedently reported about temporary traffic rules and roadworthy closures today, Monday 6 January.
Greek (GR) · 
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