Faith conquers the cold: across Siberia, Russians mark Orthodox Epiphany

In Yakutia, Magadan and Norilsk the cold was touching -50C, and in some areas the Russian Emergencies Ministry urged people not to take the plunge for their own safety. 

As these pictures show, many braved the frost and submerged themselves in ice holes cut in the shape of a cross in lakes and rivers across the country.

In many cases this was late at night - the coldest time of the day. 

People diving in sub-zero temperatures in Novoibirsk, Khabarovsk and Yakutsk. Pictures: NGS.ru, DVhav, Yakutsk RF 

Epiphany marks the day Jesus Christ was baptised in the River Jordan, and Orthodox Christians immerse themselves reconnecting with a tradition going back to before the Bolshevik revolution which led to a ban on religion.

The water is believed to have healing powers and cleanse the faithful from sin.

Despite this, medics were standing by near popular ice holes ready to assist those overcome by the cold, and bathers were advised not to drink alcohol before taking the plunge. 

The ice holes are known as 'iordans', named after the River Jordan.

WATCH THEM TAKING AN ICY DIP

Further west in European Russia at Lake Seliger, Tver region, President Vladimir Putin led the way in temperatures of around -7C, as the footage shows. 

His spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “Marking the Epiphany holiday, Putin attended a morning church service and also took part in diving in Seliger Lake”.

He has done so several times in recent years, he said. 

Epiphany celebrations in Krasnoyarsk, Khabarovsk and Omsk. Pictures: NewsLab, DVhab

Meanwhile, we caught up with Russians across some of eight times zones in Siberia and the Russian Far East. 

The Pacific island of Sakhalin had rather mild temperatures compared with many places  - -3C turning at night to -7C.

In Khabarovsk the devout had to contend with a bracing -24C at night. 

Kransnoyarsk was colder at -34C in many areas yet it did not deter believers from diving in. 

In Norilsk in the far north of this vast region, officials took the decision to ban the ritual, however. 

Here temperatures of -52C were recorded as Epiphany approached, and there were swirling winds. 

In western Siberia, the regions of Novosibirsk and Omsk recorded temperatures of -14 and -17C as people doused themselves in the cold water. 

Pictures below show people diving in Kosh-Agach in the Altai Mountains, on the island of Sakhalin and in Komsomolsk-on-Amur