Epiphany of the Lord

On the night of January 18-19, traditional Epiphany bathing will be organized. Local executive bodies have determined the places of the bathing ceremony in the Altai region, these are:

- the city of Altai-a reservoir in the area of Independence Alley;

- village of Maleevsk-Khamir River near Novo-Kalininsky Bridge.

- the city Serebryansk – the Irtysh river in the Marina area;

- the village of New Bukhtarma – in the area of the Bukhtarma reservoir (Soldatsky Bay recreation center "Mokhnatka".

Hundreds of citizens will rush to the reservoirs to plunge into the icy water. It was believed that bathing in an ice hole relieves the soul of a person from sins, but this is only a popular superstition. Tradition, according to which it is necessary to dive into the water three times with your head, without forgetting to be baptized. Completely non-binding. That is, if we do decide to bathe, then we should do it reasonably (taking into account the state of health) and reverently-with prayer.

Someone for the first time and in a hurry, will dive into the icy water, and someone, with feeling and slowly, will make, as it should be, a triple dive with his head. People will bottle water directly from the river. After all, it is believed that water on this day has healing properties and can be stored for a long time without spoiling, bringing people health.

However, it should not be forgotten that the dive takes place in an ice hole on the ice of the river. And ice is a dangerous surface that can fall under you at any time, and you will find yourself in a real emergency situation, from which you need to get out as soon as possible.

Therefore, so that the holiday does not turn into trouble, the Emergency Management recommends that everyone follow simple rules of behavior on the ice:

- try to perform the ritual of bathing in special equipped ice holes;

- do not gather in large groups on certain areas of ice and at the ice hole;

- do not go out on the ice on motorcycles, cars outside the crossings;

- do not go out on thin, weak ice;

- go ashore or go down to the river should be free of snow, as the ice there is more durable than under snowdrifts.

If you follow the above safety rules on ice, you will be guaranteed against accidents on water bodies in winter.

We congratulate all Orthodox people on the holiday and hope that no accidents will happen during the "Epiphany of the Lord"!