The BBC (here) reports today that many Russians are now becoming concerned for the welfare of children who undergo "ice baptisms". This Russian tradition, in which children, and some adults, are baptised in rivers and lakes on the Feast of the Epiphany can lead to hypothermia and death, and is now being called "abusive" by some commentators. The issue was brought to a head after a video of a child being baptised in an ice hole was posted on YouTube last January.The Orthodox Church commemorates the Baptism of the Lord during the Epiphany (Theophany) - which, when translated into the Gregorian calendar, falls on 19 January. Needless to say, being baptised by full immersion in mid-January would be uncomfortable, even indoors. Many Russians, though, opt for outdoor baptism in freezing cold rivers and lakes on the Feast of Theophany. This tradition happens to be most common in Siberia - where the temperature that time of year plummets to -30C.
The boy in the YouTube video appears to be no more than five or six years old, and is hysterical throughout the ordeal. The priest and other adults wear furs, thick vestments or heavy blankets as protection against the cold, whilst the child has a flimsy blanket. After the onlookers have removed the boy's protective covering, two old men hold onto his arms and drop him into the ice hole as the priest submerges his head under the water three times. Definitely not the way I remember my baptism all those years ago!
According to the BBC's news item, "The ceremony is reported to have taken place not far from a Siberian city of Irkutsk on 19 January, the Russian Orthodox festival of Epiphany, commemorating the baptism of Jesus Christ." Those urbane Russians, who have been shocked to see how some of their compatriots celebrate the Epiphany, are now demanding that the priest be charged with child abuse, calling the event "sadistic".
Some Orthodox priests have also condemned this "ice baptism" tradition - which, according to some, can be traced back to pre-Christian pagan Russia. One clergyman, Fr Yakov Krotov, told the BBC that, "Christening, while being beneficial for the soul, does not have to be harmful for the body". It also appears that the practice is only sacramental in a small number of instances, as most of those who plunge into the icy waters do so as some kind of endurance test or rite of passage, without the sanction of the Church.
Since the fall of Communism, the Orthodox Church has experienced an enormous revival amongst the Russians. According to the BBC, "There is now no shortage of people of all ages, eager to fast during Lent, mark the resurrection at Easter with traditional bread, get married in church and christened in holy water." It also appears that the tradition of baptism by ice has also made a bit of a comeback - especially as many Russians, even those already baptised, think that sins are wiped away by this sometimes penitential ritual.
Some Russians also believe that being immersed in dangerously cold water at an early age will help children become immune to the effects of freezing weather. One the other hand, members of the medical profession warn that the opposite is true - as children could easily die from shock or hypothermia whilst being baptised in ice holes.
Some Orthodox priests, like Fr Krotov, point out that this "ice baptism" tradition wasn't popular at all before the Communist Revolution in 1917. In fact, it seems that the ritual only became fashionable after the fall of Communism, as a means of trying to identify with the past. Fr Krotov is also keen to point out that baptisms should be performed safely, preferably inside a church, and not under conditions that endanger life. He also stressed that priests "cannot ever be abusive".
The BBC reports that "a massive outcry in the Russian media and blogosphere" erupted after "an amateur video of a screaming, naked boy being plunged by a priest into an ice hole in Siberia appeared on the web". Having seen the disturbing video on YouTube (here), I can understand why so many would have concerns for the welfare of the child involved. Having viewed other images of the practice being performed elsewhere (here) and (here), I can also see why some adults use "ice baptism" as a personal penance.
The boy in the YouTube video appears to be no more than five or six years old, and is hysterical throughout the ordeal. The priest and other adults wear furs, thick vestments or heavy blankets as protection against the cold, whilst the child has a flimsy blanket. After the onlookers have removed the boy's protective covering, two old men hold onto his arms and drop him into the ice hole as the priest submerges his head under the water three times. Definitely not the way I remember my baptism all those years ago!Some Orthodox priests have also condemned this "ice baptism" tradition - which, according to some, can be traced back to pre-Christian pagan Russia. One clergyman, Fr Yakov Krotov, told the BBC that, "Christening, while being beneficial for the soul, does not have to be harmful for the body". It also appears that the practice is only sacramental in a small number of instances, as most of those who plunge into the icy waters do so as some kind of endurance test or rite of passage, without the sanction of the Church.
Since the fall of Communism, the Orthodox Church has experienced an enormous revival amongst the Russians. According to the BBC, "There is now no shortage of people of all ages, eager to fast during Lent, mark the resurrection at Easter with traditional bread, get married in church and christened in holy water." It also appears that the tradition of baptism by ice has also made a bit of a comeback - especially as many Russians, even those already baptised, think that sins are wiped away by this sometimes penitential ritual.
Some Russians also believe that being immersed in dangerously cold water at an early age will help children become immune to the effects of freezing weather. One the other hand, members of the medical profession warn that the opposite is true - as children could easily die from shock or hypothermia whilst being baptised in ice holes.
Some Orthodox priests, like Fr Krotov, point out that this "ice baptism" tradition wasn't popular at all before the Communist Revolution in 1917. In fact, it seems that the ritual only became fashionable after the fall of Communism, as a means of trying to identify with the past. Fr Krotov is also keen to point out that baptisms should be performed safely, preferably inside a church, and not under conditions that endanger life. He also stressed that priests "cannot ever be abusive".Seeing that so many Russian adults now seem to like "baptising" themselves on the Feast of the Epiphany, it looks like this tradition is here to stay. It also appears that quite a few priests are more than happy to carry on immersing children in ice holes. In that respects, I'm glad that I belong to the Latin Church - even if I sometimes admire that penitential spirit of the Russians.
[Images: Top: Orthodox clergy bless a cross-shaped ice hole; source: WolfieWolfgan. Middle and Bottom: Stills from the YouTube video showing a small boy being baptised in an ice hole; source: YouTube]
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