Russian President takes dip in ice-cold water, video goes viral

In the video Putin like many Orthodox Christians around the world bathed in the waters of a local lake in a ceremony. The ceremony is held in Russia prior to 16th century, reported Efe news.

Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly took a dip into the ice cold waters on the eve of Epiphany or Little Christmas, or Three Kings' Day or Christian feast day that celebrates the revelation of God incarnate as Jesus Christ, the video of which has gone viral on social networking sites.

In the video Putin like many Orthodox Christians around the world bathed in the waters of a local lake in a ceremony. The ceremony is held in Russia prior to 16th century, reported Efe news.

The video shows 65-year-old Putin approaching a hole cut in the ice on the lake in northwestern Russia and then dunking himself in and crossing himself.

According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, Putin attended a liturgy in the Nilov Monastery, located on an island in the western Seliger Lake, before entering the lake, adding that temperature was around seven degrees below to zero.

Peskov added that the President had dipped in icy waters on the Epiphany before, but Friday marked the first time he publicly did so.

The orthodox Christians believe that water is holy and has healing powers on the eve of Epiphany.

Around 1.8 million Russians across the country took part in the ceremony, as per official data.