Ukrainians celebrated one of the most important religious holidays in the Orthodox calendar, Epiphany, on Jan. 19. Jesus Christ is believed to have received the Holy Spirit after baptism in the Jordan River on this day. The same hope of cleansing souls drives many ordinary people, and sometimes even politicians, to the rivers and lakes across the country. This year, only a couple of lawmakers opted for a public repentance in the freezing waters. Former President Viktor Yushchenko took a dip in Mamayeva Sloboda open-air folk museum, which was built during his term. Kharkiv mayor Mykhailo Dobkin has been following the tradition for the third year now. Wearing his patriotic t-shirt with ‘Ukraine’ logo, he barged into the lake with a smile. Some politicians slacked off the full immersion and just had their faces sprinkled with holy water. Among them were Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and Head of Presidential Administration Serhiy Lyovochkin. Flamboyant Kyiv Mayor Leonid Chernovetsky skipped the ritual this year to the disappointment of many who enjoyed his half-naked photo shoots in the years before. (Story by Nataliya Horban, photos AP, courtesy)
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