Orthodox Christians celebrate Epiphany

Jericho, West Bank: A Greek Orthodox priest holds a dove before a ceremony at the baptismal site known as Qasr el-Yahud on the banks of the Jordan river Photograph: Baz Ratner/Reuters

Moscow, Russia: A man crosses himself before he dips into icy waters Photograph: Denis Sinyakov/Reuters

Moscow, Russia: An Orthodox priest leads an Epiphany day celebration Photograph: Denis Sinyakov/Reuters

Moscow, Russia: A man jumps out of the icy water in -15 degree celsius temperatures Photograph: Sasha Mordovets/Getty Images

Minsk, Belarus: A man enters the waters of Komsomolskoe lake through a cutout cross made in the ice Photograph: Viktor Drachev/AFP/Getty Images

Moscow, Russia: Russian Orthodox Christians lower a young girl into the cold water of the Moskva river Photograph: Sergei Chirikov/EPA

Sosnovka, Kyrgyzstan: A man bathes in the waters of the Kara-Balta river Photograph: Vladimir Pirogov/Reuters

Moscow, Russia: A Russian man prays as he dives into the icy water of the Moskva river Photograph: Sergei Ilnitsky/EPA

Mladenovac, Serbia: Believers hold a religious service, before swimming in Markovacko lake to retrieve a cross Photograph: Marko Djurica/Reuters

Jericho, West Bank: Christian pilgrims take part in a ceremony on the banks of the Jordan river Photograph: Nir Elias/Reuters

Jericho, West Bank: A pilgrim dunks herself in water from the Jordan river Photograph: Nir Elias/Reuters

Qasr el Yahud, West Bank: Christian Orthodox pilgrims attend a traditional Epiphany ceremony Photograph: Oded Balilty/AP

Chisinau, Moldova: Worshipers line up to fill vessels with water at the city's main cathedral Photograph: John Mcconnico/AP

Kiev, Ukraine: Volodymyr, head of the Ukrainian Orthodox church with the Moscow Patriarchate, dips a cross in the Dnipro river blessing its water Photograph: Efrem Lukatsky/AP

Ohrid, Macedonia: Hundreds of Orthodox Christians swim for a crucifix, casted by Macedonian Orthodox bishop Timotej in Lake Ohrid Photograph: Georgi Licovski/EPA

Belgrade, Serbia: Nikola Kovacevic lifts up a wooden cross as he reaches the shoreline, after being the first to reach the cross and retrieving it from the river Danube Photograph: Marko Drobnjakovic/AP

Lviv, Ukraine: Doves released over Ukrainian Othodox Christians Photograph: Petro Zadorozhnyy/AP

Kolpino, Russia: A man plunges into icy waters Photograph: Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty Images

New Jerusalem, Russia: A woman makes a sign of the cross while standing in the icy waters of the Istra river Photograph: Reuters

Sukhobuzimo, Russia: People stand around an ice hole on the Buzim lake during Orthodox Epiphany celebrations Photograph: Ilya Naymushin/Reuters

Krasnoyarsk, Russia: A man looks on after emerging from icy waters in the Mana river Photograph: Ilya Naymushin/Reuters