“Epiphany” in Zelenodolsk area is under special control.

     Today the orthodox celebrate one of the major church holidays – Kreshchenie Gospodne, or Sacred Epiphany. This day the consecrated water washes off sins and illnesses, therefore many orthodox, despite the strong frost, direct to iordani to dip in holy water.

     For today’s night six places of mass bathing of people are defined in the Zelenodolsk municipal district. The island Svijazhsk, settlements Vasiljevo, Osinovo, village Ilinsky, Gari and Raifa microdistrict – in all places of traditional bathing of people for the Epiphany, firemen and rescuers are on duty to ensure the safe stay on reservoirs. Traditionally the places of the celebrations are under special control. This year safety during the religious feast of Epiphany in settlements of the Zelenodolsk municipal district is provided by more than fifty employees of Zelenodolsk garrison of fire protection.

     The particular attention and the greatest quantity of employees are drawn in control the Raifsky Bogoroditsky man’s monastery. Here crowd of people is annually observed, wishing to make the sacred ceremony. Now the thickness of ice, according to experts, is 40-50 centimetres. However, there are water layers in ice thickness that make solidity of the ice covering weaker. In this connection believers are allowed to iordani in groups of no more than 50 persons.

     There are a lot of people, wishing to dip into the ice-hole. However, in order to avoid accidents, it is necessary to keep certain rules. It is necessary to undress gradually before dipping: at first take outer clothing and footwear off, then strip to the waist and only in some minutes dip into water. Directly in ice-cold water one can be no more than 1-2 minutes. Sharp dipping in cold water is a stress for an organism, and in a short space of time it throws out a lot of biologically active substances, a complex of hormones (“happiness’ hormones”), in blood, therefore after the bathing a person feels fresh and has good mood. Coming out of the ice-hole it is necessary to rub oneself briskly by a towel, put on quickly, and drink hot tea or herbal potion in a warm room.

       Employees of the Ministry of Civil Defense and Emergency situations of the Republic of Tatarstan urgently recommend to the sacred ceremony’s lovers to dip only in places specially intended for such bathings which should be protected. After all only one’s own responsibility and prudence can help to avoid accidents.

 Rezeda Jusupova, the press-service of 8 group of FFS of RT.