Father Sergij from Polyarny preparing for the ritual.
Trude Pettersen / BarentsObserver
Father Daniil from the Monastery of Pechenga led the ceremony.
Trude Pettersen / BarentsObserver
The ceremony of the Blessing of the Water.
Trude Pettersen / BarentsObserver
Normally the whole ceremony is conducted outdoors by the water, but because of bad weather conditions most of the rituals were done indoors this time.
Trude Pettersen / BarentsObserver
Songs, prayers and reading of the Bible are important parts of the ritual.
Trude Pettersen / BarentsObserver
Father Daniil reading from the Bible.
Trude Pettersen / BarentsObserver
Trude Pettersen / BarentsObserver
Trude Pettersen / BarentsObserver
The water is blessed through prayers and putting a cross into the water.
Trude Pettersen / BarentsObserver
Trude Pettersen / BarentsObserver
Trude Pettersen / BarentsObserver
The priest sprinkles holy water upon everybody taking part in the ceremony.
Trude Pettersen / BarentsObserver
The holy water is considered to have protective and healing powers. Believers traditionally stock up on the blessed water for a whole year, since it is known to remain fresh all that time.
Trude Pettersen / BarentsObserver
The tradition symbolizes Jesus Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River. The whole in the ice is therefore called a "Jordan".
Trude Pettersen / BarentsObserver
Trude Pettersen / BarentsObserver
Celebrators plunge into the water - typically three times, in honor of the Holy Trinity.
Trude Pettersen / BarentsObserver
The ritual of submergence, believed to be at least five centuries old, is meant to symbolize a cleansing of sins from the previous year and a rebirth in preparation for the upcoming one.