MOSCOW - Russia's faithful indulged on Friday in the annual Orthodox tradition of plunging through ice holes into freezing water, but a key ingredient was missing: it is not cold.
Grandmothers, robed priests and burly businessmen can usually be seen leaping through holes in the ice on frozen rivers and lakes across Russia to celebrate Orthodox Epiphany.
The warmest Moscow winter since records began has melted the ice and snow, leaving the faithful to take the dip in pouring rain and temperatures of 10 degrees Celsius (50 Fahrenheit).
The warmest Moscow winter since records began has melted the ice and snow, leaving the faithful to take the dip in pouring rain and temperatures of 10 degrees Celsius (50 Fahrenheit).