Un bain glacé pour l'Epiphanie orthodoxe

epa05111232 An Orthodox believers couple bathe in the cold water during Epiphany celebrations in Kiev, Ukraine, 19 January 2016. During Epiphany, some people believe that the waters have special curative properties and can be used to treat various illnesses, and many of them take icy baths as part of its celebration. EPA/SERGEY DOLZHENKOSERGEY DOLZHENKO / KEYSTONE

19 janvier 2016 à 19:07

Ils ont bravé le froid et l'eau glacée, mardi 19 janvier, dans plusieurs lieux d'Europe de l'Est (Russie, Ukraine, Biélorussie,...) à l'occasion de l'Epiphanie orthodoxe. Pieds nus, en maillot de bain et une serviette sur l'épaule: des milliers de personnes ont afflué vers des rivières et des étangs gelés, sous la neige, pour sauter dans l'eau glacée censée les purifier à l'occasion de l'Épiphanie orthodoxe.

Photos © Keystone

epa05111186 Ukrainian Orthodox priest blesses the water during Epiphany celebrations in Kiev, Ukraine, 19 January 2016. During Epiphany, some people believe that the waters have special curative properties and can be used to treat various illnesses, and many of them take icy baths as part of its celebration. EPA/SERGEY DOLZHENKOSERGEY DOLZHENKO / KEYSTONE
epa05111245 Orthodox believer bathe in cold water during Epiphany celebrations in Kiev, Ukraine, 19 January 2016. During Epiphany, some people believe that the waters have special curative properties and can be used to treat various illnesses, and many of them take icy baths as part of its celebration. EPA/SERGEY DOLZHENKOSERGEY DOLZHENKO / KEYSTONE
epa05111244 Orthodox believer bathe in cold water during Epiphany celebrations in Kiev, Ukraine, 19 January 2016. During Epiphany, some people believe that the waters have special curative properties and can be used to treat various illnesses, and many of them take icy baths as part of its celebration. EPA/SERGEY DOLZHENKOSERGEY DOLZHENKO / KEYSTONE
Orthodox believers plunge into the icy water of the Dnieper River during the celebration of the Epiphany in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016. Thousands of Orthodox believers celebrate the holiday of the Epiphany on Jan. 19, and traditionally plunge into holes cut through thick ice on rivers and ponds to cleanse themselves with water deemed holy for the day. (AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov)SERGEI CHUZAVKOV / KEYSTONE
Orthodox believers plunge into the icy water of the Dnieper River during the celebration of the Epiphany in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016. Thousands of Orthodox believers celebrate the holiday of the Epiphany on Jan. 19, and traditionally plunge into holes cut through thick ice on rivers and ponds to cleanse themselves with water deemed holy for the day. (AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov)SERGEI CHUZAVKOV / KEYSTONE
epa05111231 An Orthodox believer jumps into the cold water during Epiphany celebrations in Kiev, Ukraine, 19 January 2016. During Epiphany, some people believe that the waters have special curative properties and can be used to treat various illnesses, and many of them take icy baths as part of its celebration. EPA/SERGEY DOLZHENKOSERGEY DOLZHENKO / KEYSTONE
An Orthodox believer plunges in icy water of the Dnieper River during the celebration of the Epiphany in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016. Thousands of Orthodox believers celebrate the holiday of the Epiphany on Jan. 19, and traditionally plunge into holes cut through thick ice on rivers and ponds to cleanse themselves with water deemed holy for the day. (AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov)SERGEI CHUZAVKOV / KEYSTONE
Orthodox believers plunge into icy water of the Dnieper River during the celebration of the Epiphany in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016. Thousands of Orthodox believers celebrate the holiday of the Epiphany on Jan. 19, and traditionally plunge into holes cut through thick ice on rivers and ponds to cleanse themselves with water deemed holy for the day. (AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov)SERGEI CHUZAVKOV / KEYSTONE
epa05111201 Ukrainian Orthodox priest blesses the water during Epiphany celebrations in Kiev, Ukraine, 19 January 2016. During Epiphany, some people believe that the waters have special curative properties and can be used to treat various illnesses, and many of them take icy baths as part of its celebration. EPA/SERGEY DOLZHENKOSERGEY DOLZHENKO / KEYSTONE
epa05111177 Orthodox believers bathe in cold water during Epiphany celebrations in Kiev, Ukraine, 19 January 2016. During Epiphany, some people believe that the waters have special curative properties and can be used to treat various illnesses, and many of them take icy baths as part of its celebration. EPA/SERGEY DOLZHENKOSERGEY DOLZHENKO / KEYSTONE
epa05111169 Orthodox believers bathe in cold water during Epiphany celebrations in Kiev, Ukraine, 19 January 2016. During Epiphany, some people believe that the waters have special curative properties and can be used to treat various illnesses, and many of them take icy baths as part of its celebration. EPA/SERGEY DOLZHENKOSERGEY DOLZHENKO / KEYSTONE
A Russian Orthodox believer crosses himself after bathing in ice water on Epiphany in village of Sulost, outside Rostov, about 250 kilometers (150 miles) northeast from Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016. Water that is blessed by a cleric on Epiphany is considered holy and pure until next year's celebration, and is believed to have special powers of protection and healing. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)PAVEL GOLOVKIN / KEYSTONE
A Russian Orthodox believer bathes in the icy water on Epiphany in the Neva River in St.Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016. The temperature in St.Petersburg is minus 5 Celsius (23 Fahrenheit). Thousands of Russian Orthodox Church followers plunged into icy rivers and ponds across the country to mark Epiphany, cleansing themselves with water deemed holy for the day. Water that is blessed by a cleric on Epiphany is considered holy and pure until next year's celebration, and is believed to have special powers of protection and healing.(AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)DMITRY LOVETSKY / KEYSTONE
epa05111156 A young Ukrainian girl reacts as she bathes in cold water together with her mother during Epiphany celebrations in Kiev, Ukraine, 19 January 2016. During Epiphany, some people believe that the waters have special curative properties and can be used to treat various illnesses, and many of them take icy baths as part of its celebration. EPA/SERGEY DOLZHENKOSERGEY DOLZHENKO / KEYSTONE
epa05111155 Orthodox believers bathe in cold water during Epiphany celebrations in Kiev, Ukraine, 19 January 2016. During Epiphany, some people believe that the waters have special curative properties and can be used to treat various illnesses, and many of them take icy baths as part of its celebration. EPA/SERGEY DOLZHENKOSERGEY DOLZHENKO / KEYSTONE
epa05111145 Russian young lady comes out of an icy spring pool outside town of Soligalich, Kostroma region, Russia, 19 January 2015. Russian Orthodox church believers traditionally mark Epiphany holiday dipping themselves into local river, like Jesus Christ in Jordan river, as people believe that all water sources become holy in Epiphany holiday night. Outside air temperature is minus 14 Celsius. EPA/SERGEI CHIRIKOVSERGEI CHIRIKOV / KEYSTONE
A Russian Orthodox believer bathes in the icy water on Epiphany in the Neva River in St.Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016. The temperature in St.Petersburg is minus 5 Celsius (23 Fahrenheit). Thousands of Russian Orthodox Church followers plunged into icy rivers and ponds across the country to mark Epiphany, cleansing themselves with water deemed holy for the day. Water that is blessed by a cleric on Epiphany is considered holy and pure until next year's celebration, and is believed to have special powers of protection and healing.(AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)DMITRY LOVETSKY / KEYSTONE
epa05111143 A Russian young lady enters an icy spring pool outside town of Soligalich, Kostroma region, Russia, 19 January 2015. Russian Orthodox church believers traditionally mark Epiphany holiday dipping themselves into local river, like Jesus Christ in Jordan river, as people believe that all water sources become holy in Epiphany holiday night. Outside air temperature is minus 14 Celsius. EPA/SERGEI CHIRIKOVSERGEI CHIRIKOV / KEYSTONE
A Russian Orthodox believer bathes in the icy water on Epiphany in the Neva River in St.Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016. The temperature in St.Petersburg is minus 5 Celsius (23 Fahrenheit). Thousands of Russian Orthodox Church followers plunged into icy rivers and ponds across the country to mark Epiphany, cleansing themselves with water deemed holy for the day. Water that is blessed by a cleric on Epiphany is considered holy and pure until next year's celebration, and is believed to have special powers of protection and healing.(AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)DMITRY LOVETSKY / KEYSTONE
A Russian Orthodox believer bathes in the icy water on Epiphany in the Neva River in St.Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016. The temperature in St.Petersburg is minus 5 Celsius (23 Fahrenheit). Thousands of Russian Orthodox Church followers plunged into icy rivers and ponds across the country to mark Epiphany, cleansing themselves with water deemed holy for the day. Water that is blessed by a cleric on Epiphany is considered holy and pure until next year's celebration, and is believed to have special powers of protection and healing.(AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)DMITRY LOVETSKY / KEYSTONE
epa05111131 Russian Orthodox believers take a dip in the ice cold water of Orlinskoe lake, marking Epiphany holiday outside St. Petersburg, Russia, 19 January 2016. Priests bless the water and thousands of people (not necessarily fans of ice swimming) take part in this tradition to test their spirit. EPA/ANATOLY MALTSEVANATOLY MALTSEV / KEYSTONE
epa05111128 Russian Orthodox believers take a dip in the ice cold water of Orlinskoe lake, marking Epiphany holiday outside St. Petersburg, Russia, 19 January 2016. Priests bless the water and thousands of people (not necessarily fans of ice swimming) take part in this tradition to test their spirit. EPA/ANATOLY MALTSEVANATOLY MALTSEV / KEYSTONE
epa05111094 Orthodox believers bathe in cold water during Epiphany celebrations in Kiev, Ukraine, 19 January 2016. During Epiphany, some people believe that the waters have special curative properties and can be used to treat various illnesses, and many of them take icy baths as part of its celebration. EPA/SERGEY DOLZHENKOSERGEY DOLZHENKO / KEYSTONE
epa05111089 Orthodox believers bathe in cold water during Epiphany celebrations in Kiev, Ukraine, 19 January 2016. During Epiphany, some people believe that the waters have special curative properties and can be used to treat various illnesses, and many of them take icy baths as part of its celebration. EPA/SERGEY DOLZHENKOSERGEY DOLZHENKO / KEYSTONE
epa05111069 Serbian Orthodox believers get sprayed with cold water of the river Danube, during the celebrations of the Epiphany Orthodox holiday, in Belgrade, Serbia, 19 January 2016. People believe that swimming into blessed waters during the holiday of Epiphany strengthens their spirit and body. EPA/ANDREJ CUKICANDREJ CUKIC / KEYSTONE
epa05111026 A Belarussian Interior Ministry special forces servicewoman submerges herself into ice cold water of a lake during Orthodox Epiphany near the village of Zadomlya, outside Minsk, Belarus, 19 January 2016. Orthodox believers mark Epiphany on 19 January by immersing themselves in icy waters. EPA/TATYANA ZENKOVICHTATYANA ZENKOVICH / KEYSTONE
epa05111024 Belarussian Interior Ministry special forces servicemen stand in line waiting to submerge themselves into ice cold water of a lake during Orthodox Epiphany near the village of Zadomlya, outside Minsk, Belarus, 19 January 2016. Orthodox believers mark Epiphany on 19 January by immersing themselves in icy waters. EPA/TATYANA ZENKOVICHTATYANA ZENKOVICH / KEYSTONE
epa05111020 A Belarussian Interior Ministry special forces serviceman submerges himself into ice cold water of a lake during Orthodox Epiphany near the village of Zadomlya, outside Minsk, Belarus, 19 January 2016. Orthodox believers mark Epiphany on 19 January by immersing themselves in icy waters. EPA/TATYANA ZENKOVICHTATYANA ZENKOVICH / KEYSTONE
epa05111015 A Belarussian man crosses himself as he submerges himslef into ice cold water of a font during Orthodox Epiphany in Minsk, Belarus, 19 January 2016. Orthodox believers mark Epiphany on 19 January by immersing themselves in icy waters. EPA/TATYANA ZENKOVICHTATYANA ZENKOVICH / KEYSTONE
A man with his son plunges into ice-cold water of the Ob River after it was blessed by an Orthodox priest on Epiphany on Tuesday Jan. 19, 2016 in Novosibirsk, about 2800 km (1,750 miles) east of Moscow, Russia. Novosibirsk temperatures on Tuesday dropped to -30 C (-22 Fahrenheit). Thousands of Russian Orthodox Church followers plunged into icy rivers and ponds across the country to mark Epiphany, cleansing themselves with water deemed holy for the day. Water that is blessed by a cleric on Epiphany is considered holy and pure until next year's celebration, and is believed to have special powers of protection and healing. (AP Photo/Ilnar Salakhiev)ILNAR SALAKHIEV / KEYSTONE
Orthodox believers plunge in icy water in the Dnipro River during celebrations of the Epiphany in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016. Orthodox believers celebrate the holiday of the Epiphany on Jan. 19, and traditionally bathe in holes cut through thick ice on rivers and ponds to cleanse themselves with water deemed holy for the day. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)EFREM LUKATSKY / KEYSTONE
Orthodox believers plunge in icy water during the celebration of the Epiphany in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016. Thousands of Orthodox believers celebrate the holiday of the Epiphany on Jan. 19, and traditionally plunge into holes cut through thick ice on rivers and ponds to cleanse themselves with water deemed holy for the day. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)EFREM LUKATSKY / KEYSTONE
epa05110742 An Orthodox girl is assisted taking an icy bath in a lake during celebrations of Epiphany, near the village of Pokrovka, some 15 km from the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, 19 January 2016. Temperatures dropped to around two degrees Celsius below zero, according to weather reports. EPA/IGOR KOVALENKOIGOR KOVALENKO / KEYSTONE
epa05110726 Orthodox believers take an icy dip in a lake in celebration of Epiphany, near the village of Pokrovka, some 15 km from the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, 19 January 2016. Temperatures dropped to around two degrees Celsius below zero, according to weather reports. EPA/IGOR KOVALENKOIGOR KOVALENKO / KEYSTONE
epa05110723 Orthodox believers take an icy dip in a lake in celebration of Epiphany, near the village of Pokrovka, some 15 km from the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, 19 January 2016. Temperatures dropped to around two degrees Celsius below zero, according to weather reports. EPA/IGOR KOVALENKOIGOR KOVALENKO / KEYSTONE
Orthodox believers plunge into icy water during the celebration of the Epiphany in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016. Thousands of Orthodox believers celebrate the holiday of the Epiphany on Jan. 19, and traditionally plunge into holes cut through thick ice on rivers and ponds to cleanse themselves with water deemed holy for the day. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)EFREM LUKATSKY / KEYSTONE
An Orthodox believer looks up at the ice cross after plunging into icy water during the celebration of the Epiphany in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016. Thousands of Orthodox believers celebrate the holiday of the Epiphany on Jan. 19, and traditionally plunge into holes cut through thick ice on rivers and ponds to cleanse themselves with water deemed holy for the day. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)EFREM LUKATSKY / KEYSTONE
A man plunges into icy water on Epiphany in Moscow, Russia, on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016. Thousands of Russian Orthodox believers plunged into icy rivers and ponds across the country to mark Epiphany, cleansing themselves with water deemed holy for the day. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)IVAN SEKRETAREV / KEYSTONE
epa05110491 A Russian Orthodox believer takes an icy dip in the Moskva river as part of the celebration of Epiphany in Moscow, Russia, 19 January 2016. People believe that bathing in blessed waters during the holiday of Epiphany strengthens their spirit and body. Temperatures dropped to around minus 15 degrees Celcius, according to weather reports. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKYSERGEI ILNITSKY / KEYSTONE
epa05110486 An Orthodox believer takes an icy dip in the Moskva river as part of the celebration of Epiphany in Moscow, Russia, 19 January 2016. People believe that bathing in blessed waters during the holiday of Epiphany strengthens their spirit and body. Temperatures dropped to around minus 15 degrees Celcius, according to weather reports. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKYSERGEI ILNITSKY / KEYSTONE
Orthodox believers plunge in icy water in the Dnipro River during celebrations of the Epiphany in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016. Orthodox believers celebrate the holiday of the Epiphany on Jan. 19, and traditionally bathe in holes cut through thick ice on rivers and ponds to cleanse themselves with water deemed holy for the day. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)EFREM LUKATSKY / KEYSTONE
Orthodox believers plunge in icy water in the Dnipro River during the celebration of the Epiphany in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016. Orthodox believers celebrate the holiday of the Epiphany on Jan. 19, and traditionally bathe in holes cut through thick ice on rivers and ponds to cleanse themselves with water deemed holy for the day. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)EFREM LUKATSKY / KEYSTONE
An Orthodox believer plunges in icy water during celebrations of the Epiphany in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016. Orthodox believers celebrate the holiday of the Epiphany on Jan. 19, and traditionally bathe in holes cut through thick ice on rivers and ponds to cleanse themselves with water deemed holy for the day. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)EFREM LUKATSKY / KEYSTONE
An Orthodox believer plunges in icy water in the Dnipro River during celebrations of the Epiphany in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016. Orthodox believers celebrate the holiday of the Epiphany on Jan. 19, and traditionally bathe in holes cut through thick ice on rivers and ponds to cleanse themselves with water deemed holy for the day. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)EFREM LUKATSKY / KEYSTONE
Russian Orthodox believers bathe in ice water in a pond to mark Epiphany outside Simferopol, Crimea, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016. Water that is blessed by a cleric on Epiphany is considered holy and pure until next year's celebration, and is believed to have special powers of protection and healing. The Russian Orthodox Church follows the old Julian calendar, according to which Epiphany falls on Jan. 19. (AP Photo/Denis Tyrin)ALEXANDER POLEGENKO / KEYSTONE
epa05109601 A Russian woman takes a dip in a tub with ice water during the celebrations of the Orthodox Epiphany holiday in the center of Moscow, Russia, 18 January 2016. Orthodox believers traditionally jump into cold water to purify their souls. Temperatures in Moscow dropped to below minus 12 degrees Celsius. EPA/YURI KOCHETKOVYURI KOCHETKOV / KEYSTONE