Page 36 - Сахалину с любовью : литературный сборник

Epiphanyplunge :Kresjenyie

It’s cold today, but according to the Russians, it’s not
cold enough. January 2006: we watched how the citizens of
Yuzhno celebrated the Russian Orthodox Epiphany with
dunking
rituals at the frozen rivers in the Gagarin Park. It
commemorates the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in
the River Jordan. Probably slightly warmer than the rivers in
Yuzhno-Sakahlinsk. My girl friend Zhenya from the
Sakhalin diving club kept asking me to join her on the
evening of the 19th for a dive in ice cold water in the river at
the Gagarin Park. The Orthodox priests traditionally bless
the water by casting crosses into lakes and rivers.
Worshippers then plunge in to receive the blessing and
cleanse their souls of sin..... brrrrr
Well, watching does not hurt we thought, so we
parked the car next to the Gagarin Hotel just before 8 pm
and followed Zhenya’s instructions. We ventured into the
forest where it became darker and darker. We tried not to
trip or slide on the dark icy forest floor. Just as we asked
ourselves if this really was a good idea after all, we heard
voices and cries in the distance. We followed the sound and
finally we arrived at the frozen lake. May people were
gathered on the bridge to have a good view of the brave
bathers down below in the pond that was chain-sawed out of
the frozen river. Dressed only in a pair of swimming trunks
or bikini they jumped in the hole. Steam poured from their
skins into the darkness as they emerged and their eyes rolled
with a mix of shock and ecstasy. Some gasped for air, made
funny sounds before climbing out. The edge of the hole was
very slippery but young, old, fat and thin jumped in, no
problem.

Сахалину – с любовью 34