Bulgarians celebrate the feast of Epiphany with a ritual plunge into icy rivers

Orthodox Christian worshippers in Bulgaria participated in Epiphany traditions by plunging into icy waters to retrieve crucifixes, believed to bring health and protection from evil spirits. The celebration included water blessing ceremonies, men’s dances, and prayers for prosperity, with the tradition of blessing army colors reinstated in 1992. While some Orthodox Churches celebrate Epiphany on Jan. 6, others, like Russia and Serbia, observe it on Jan. 19 due to the Julian calendar.

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