Orthodox Epiphany tradition marked by conflict near Ukraine front lines
Priests bless the water as servicemen bathe in the icy Siverskyi Donets river – Copyright AFP Anatolii Stepanov
Susannah WALDEN
Oleksandr used to come every year with his loved ones to the Holy Dormition Lavra monastery in Svyatogirsk in Ukraine’s Donetsk region to submerge himself in the freezing river to mark Orthodox Epiphany on January 19.
But this year, the monastery and the tradition have been marked by the almost year-long war with Russia.
“I used to do this with my family,” the 34-year-old state investigation service member told AFP as he pulled his clothes on after plunging into the river. “Now, I can’t anymore, I am alone today.”
The river was a dividing line that saw heavy fighting, with Russia temporarily seizing Oleksandr’s hometown of Svyatogirsk on the other bank, and the vast monastery complex bears the scars.
The walls are pockmarked by shrapnel, its domes flayed of their golden covering.
The social fabric of the community bears signs of str
