City Officials in Ukraine Ban Epiphany Ice Bathing

Swimming in Lviv for Epiphany in 2022. Photo: Your City

LVIV — As Christians were preparing to celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord on Tuesday, January 6, the Lviv Mayor’s Office reiterated a directive that Epiphany ice bathing is "not a Ukrainian tradition" and remains prohibited in all reservoirs within the Lviv community. City officials instead emphasized a focus on the spiritual meaning of the feast rather than what they describe as a myth of “cleansing” through immersion in icy water.

“Bathing on Epiphany is not a Ukrainian tradition, and it is prohibited in the reservoirs of the Lviv community,” said Yevhen Boyko, head of the city’s executive committee, inviting residents to take part in scheduled prayer services instead. It is also notable that this restriction was put in place for those on the New Calendar, which affected the typically state-backed Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU). The faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) will be celebrating the feast on the Old Calendar date of January 19.

For several consecutive years, Lviv has not officially organized Epiphany bathing, citing health and safety concerns. Instead, the city has announced two public services for the blessing of water. At 10 a.m., a traditional water blessing took place on Rynok Square, led by military chaplains. A second service was held at 11 a.m. at the lake in Walnut Grove Park on Volodymyr the Great Street, where water was consecrated without any swimming allowed.

City emergency and civil protection officials warned that cold-water swimming can be beneficial only for individuals who are regularly trained and hardened, noting that a single, unprepared plunge may cause serious health problems. They also stressed that there are no officially designated or equipped locations for Epiphany bathing in the city.

Medical professionals additionally cautioned against cold-water immersion for anyone with even mild cold symptoms, as well as for individuals suffering from kidney disease, diabetes, blood pressure issues, or other chronic conditions, warning that sudden temperature changes can severely harm the immune system.

Traditionally, discernment has been left to the individuals participating to understand their own health and decide whether or not they want to make the plunge. Several Orthodox communities around the world invite their young, healthy members to participate while others watch on. In the U.S., the Greek Orthodox community of Tarpon Springs is perhaps the most notable example of this.

In the Orthodox understanding of the Incarnation, Christ's presence in the world and all that He touched is considered transfigured and salvific, including His own blessing of the waters of the Jordan through His baptism by St. John the Forerunner. This is why the official service of the Blessing of the Waters takes place in Orthodox communities around the world — not simply as a "transformation" of the water into Holy Water, but as a restoration of creation in Christ. It is a pious custom to dive into the water after it has been blessed as an affirmation of the belief in Christ's words in Revelation, “Behold, I make all things new.”

Previously, UOJ reported that, despite government measures, Ukrainians maintained high attendance for Nativity services.

Read also