SOFIA, Bulgaria — Thousands of Orthodox Christian worshippers in Bulgaria on Monday braved the freezing winter weather to plunge into icy waters as they observed centuries-old Epiphany traditions.

ISTANBUL — Orthodox Christian worshippers plunged into chilly waters across southern and eastern Europe on Friday to retrieve crucifixes in ceremonies commemorating the baptism of Jesus Christ.

STORY: Partakers were seen immersing themselves in the cold dark water, as temperatures in Moscow were as low as -5 degrees Celsius (23 degrees Fahrenheit). Worshippers believe their sins are ...

Russian President Vladimir Putin and an estimated 270,000 other Muscovites followed an Orthodox Church tradition and jumped into icy waters to celebrate Epiphany. Many Orthodox Russians traditionally ...

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Wednesday is Epiphany, a major holiday in much of Orthodox Christianity celebrating the birth and baptism of Jesus. Religious services are held as well as Blessing of Water ...

Tuesday was an important holiday in the Russian Orthodox Church: Epiphany, which celebrates the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan. Russian believers mark the event by re-enacting that baptism in ...

This year, Ukraine broke with Orthodox tradition and decided to celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25, rather than on Jan. 7, the date for Christmas under the Julian calendar. This represents both a ...

Orthodox Christians in the Ukrainian capital braved frigid temperatures for an icy dip in Kyiv's Dnieper River to mark Epiphany. The January 19 event symbolizes the baptism of Christ and the cleansing ...

Russian Orthodox believers swim in frigid water at a pond outside St. Petersburg in the wee hours of Tuesday morning. Warmly dressed emergency medical technicians stand by in case anyone is overcome ...