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Sochi readies ten icy Epiphany dip sites for January ritual

Brave the freezing waters of Sochi's beaches this Epiphany. From 'Mayak' to Rosa Khutor, ten sites await with lifeguards, prayers, and tradition.

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The image shows a winter landscape with a church in the background, surrounded by trees, plants,...
The image shows a winter landscape with a church in the background, surrounded by trees, plants, and people skating on a frozen river. The sky is filled with clouds and the ground is covered in a blanket of snow.

Sochi readies ten icy Epiphany dip sites for January ritual

Epiphany Celebrations in Sochi: Divine Services, Blessing of the Water, and Traditional Ice Swims

On January 18–19, the feast of Epiphany (Theophany), all churches in Sochi will hold daytime services, prayer rites, and the sacrament of water blessing.

Following long-standing tradition, believers will take part in the ritual of bathing in icy waters. For the Epiphany dips, Sochi authorities have prepared ten official sites, equipped with lighting towers and heating stations. Safety will be ensured by lifeguards, medical teams, law enforcement officers, and Cossack patrols.

Daytime and nighttime swims will be available at the following locations:

Adler District

  • "Chaika 1" Beach (from 11:00 PM on January 18 to 2:00 AM on January 19)
  • Rosa Khutor Resort, Rosa Beach (January 18, 2:00 PM–8:00 PM; January 19, 8:00 AM–8:00 PM)

Khosta District

  • "Volna" Beach (January 19, 11:00 AM–1:00 PM)
  • "Vertoletchnik" Recreation Center, 53/5a Dzhaparidze St. (January 19, 2:00 PM–4:00 PM)

Central District

  • "Mayak" Beach (January 19, 12:00 AM–2:00 AM)

Lazarevsky District

  • Mamedova Shchel Village, 7 Ruchnaya St., Kuapse River (from 9:00 PM on January 18 to 1:00 AM on January 19)
  • "Bagration" Beach (from 11:30 PM on January 18 to 2:00 AM on January 19)
  • "Golovinka – Right Side" Beach (January 19, 12:00 PM–3:00 PM)
  • Solokhaul Settlement, 10 Koshman St., Holy Spring of St. Panteleimon (January 19, 6:00 AM–9:00 AM)
  • Katkova Shchel Microdistrict, Chukhukt River (from 10:00 PM on January 18 to 1:00 AM on January 19)

However, if weather conditions prove unfavorable, access to the water will be restricted at all beach sites, with "Swimming Prohibited" warnings posted.

For the schedule of Epiphany services, visit the Sochi city administration's website.

Photo: Sochi City Administration

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