Kiev, Jan. 21, 2008 (CWNews.com) - Ukrainian President Victor Yushchenko joined in a traditional Orthodox observance of the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the Dziennik reported.
Patriarch Filaret of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Kiev patriarchate) led the services, blessing the waters of a lake outside Kiev. The faithful then plunged into the icy water. In Antarctica, Orthodox faithful gathered at the wooden Russian Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity, located near Russia’s Bellinshausen research station, to celebrate the same feast. The Antarctic church was consecrated on May 29, 2004 and can hold up to 30 people.