Thousands of Orthodox Christians in Bulgaria braved frigid temperatures on Monday to participate in centuries-old Epiphany traditions. Participants plunged into icy rivers and lakes, searching for crucifixes tossed by priests.
The ritual, symbolizing the baptism of Jesus Christ, involves men retrieving the crosses. Tradition holds that those successful will be protected from evil spirits and enjoy good health throughout the year. After retrieval, priests sprinkle the participants with water infused with basil.
In Elin Pelin, a small town east of Sofia, dozens of men leaped into the Lesnovska River to claim the blessed crosses. The celebration culminated in a traditional "mazhko horo" dance, where men in embroidered shirts waded in the water, singing folk songs and waving flags.
Epiphany, also known as the Apparition of Christ in Bulgaria, began in Sofia with a water blessing ceremony. Senior clergymen offered prayers for the nation's prosperity and blessed military units, a tradition revived after the fall of communism.
The festivities mark the conclusion of the 12 days of Christmas. However, differing calendar systems mean that while Bulgaria, Greece, and Romania observe Epiphany on January 6th, other Orthodox churches in Russia, Ukraine, and Serbia celebrate it on January 19th.
