Russian President Vladimir Putin takes subzero dip in icy lake to mark Orthodox Epiphany

Vladimir Putin dip lake Orthodox Epiphany
Vladimir Putin took part in the freezing ritual to mark the Orthodox Christian ritual of the feast of the Epiphany Credit: AFP

Russian President Vladimir Putin immersed himself in the freezing waters of an icy lake late on Thursday, while observing an Orthodox Christian ritual to mark the feast of the Epiphany.

Russian state television showed Mr Putin marching onto the ice of frozen Lake Seliger, about 250 miles north of Moscow, dressed in a sheepskin coat and felt boots.

With his coat and boots removed, he then walked down a set of wooden steps into a hole in the ice, crossed himself, and dipped his head under the water before surfacing.

Air temperatures at the time were around -6C.

Each year on the Epiphany, Orthodox believers submerge themselves in rivers and lakes to commemorate the baptism of Jesus Christ in the River Jordan.

Vladimir Putin dip lake Orthodox Epiphany
Mr Putin making his way onto the ice in a shepskin coat and felt boots Credit: Reuters

Mr Putin, who is campaigning for re-election in a March 18 presidential election, grew up under Communist rule where open shows of religion were frowned upon.

As president, he has become a frequent attender of Russian Orthodox ceremonies, and has given the church an influential voice in society.

The ceremony marked the culmination of a busy day of public engagements for Mr Putin, who earlier had laid flowers at Piskaryovskoye Memorial Cemetery to commemorate the Russian fallen for the 75th anniversary of the Nazi breakthrough at the Siege of Leningrad.

The Russian leader, 65, has a track record of bearing his bare torso in public and indulging in photo opportunities that project a 'man of action' image.

In August last year he was photographed with his shirt off catching fish in a mountain lake in Siberia and in August 2009, a bare-chested Mr Putin was pictured riding a horse during a Siberian holiday.

Other active pastimes the former KGB agent has been seen enjoying include hang gliding, showing off his Judo skills and playing in a competitive game of ice hockey ahead of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. 

Official Russian photographers have also been fortunately on hand during some of the Russian President's outdoors excursions to capture him discovering ancient Greek pottery beneath the Black Sea and rescuing an endangered Siberian tiger while visiting a nature reserve in the far East.

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