Russian President Vladimir Putin took a dip in freezing water to mark the feast of the Epiphany

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MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin along with millions of Orthodoxbelievers braved freezing temperatures to take a barechested plunge into icy water in a traditional ritual marking the baptism of Jesus.

Surrounded by Orthodox priests and glittering religious icons, and with the temperature hovering around minus 5 degrees Celsius (23 Fahrenheit), Putin lowered himself into waters of Lake Seliger some 350 kilometres (220 miles) northwest of Moscow.