People dive into icy water as they compete to grab a cross in the middle of a lake as part of Epiphany celebrations on Sunday, January 6, in Sofia, Bulgaria. It is believed that the first person to grab the cross, thrown into the water by an Eastern Orthodox priest, will be healthy throughout the following year. The feast day celebrates the revelation of God in human form as Jesus Christ.
Christians celebrate Epiphany —
People dive into icy water as they compete to grab a cross in the middle of a lake as part of Epiphany celebrations on Sunday, January 6, in Sofia, Bulgaria. It is believed that the first person to grab the cross, thrown into the water by an Eastern Orthodox priest, will be healthy throughout the following year. The feast day celebrates the revelation of God in human form as Jesus Christ.
NIKOLAY DOYCHINOV/AFP/Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI named four new bishops, including his personal secretary Georg Gaenswein, during the Epiphany Mass on Sunday at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.
Christians celebrate Epiphany —
Pope Benedict XVI named four new bishops, including his personal secretary Georg Gaenswein, during the Epiphany Mass on Sunday at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.
Vatican Pool/Getty Images
The pope celebrates the Epiphany Mass at St. Peter's Basilica on Sunday.
Christians celebrate Epiphany —
The pope celebrates the Epiphany Mass at St. Peter's Basilica on Sunday.
Vatican Pool/Getty Images
Men perform a traditional dance in the icy waters of the Tundzha River in the town of Kalofer, Bulgaria, as part of the Epiphany celebrations on Sunday. The dancers and the first to retrieve the cross thrown in the water are believed to have good health for the next year.
Christians celebrate Epiphany —
Men perform a traditional dance in the icy waters of the Tundzha River in the town of Kalofer, Bulgaria, as part of the Epiphany celebrations on Sunday. The dancers and the first to retrieve the cross thrown in the water are believed to have good health for the next year.
DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP/Getty Images
A priest throws a wooden cross in the Black Sea during a service in Constanta City, Romania, on Sunday.
Christians celebrate Epiphany —
A priest throws a wooden cross in the Black Sea during a service in Constanta City, Romania, on Sunday.
DANIEL MIHAILESCU/AFP/Getty Images
An Orthodox priest splashes people with holy water in Constanta City on Sunday.
Christians celebrate Epiphany —
An Orthodox priest splashes people with holy water in Constanta City on Sunday.
DANIEL MIHAILESCU/AFP/Getty Images
A priest holds a cross next to an ox-drawn cart transporting water to be consecrated during the Epiphany service in Constanta City on Sunday.
Christians celebrate Epiphany —
A priest holds a cross next to an ox-drawn cart transporting water to be consecrated during the Epiphany service in Constanta City on Sunday.
DANIEL MIHAILESCU/AFP/Getty Images
Romanian officers guard bottles containing holy water to be distributed after the service in Constanta City on Sunday.
Christians celebrate Epiphany —
Romanian officers guard bottles containing holy water to be distributed after the service in Constanta City on Sunday.
DANIEL MIHAILESCU/AFP/Getty Images
Child Epiphany carolers, known as Sternsinger in German, visit German President Joachim Gauck, second from left, and his partner, Daniela Schadt, left, at Bellevue presidential palace on January 6 in Berlin. The children, dressed as the Three Magi, walk from house to house in the days around January 6 singing carols and collecting money for needy children.
Christians celebrate Epiphany —
Child Epiphany carolers, known as Sternsinger in German, visit German President Joachim Gauck, second from left, and his partner, Daniela Schadt, left, at Bellevue presidential palace on January 6 in Berlin. The children, dressed as the Three Magi, walk from house to house in the days around January 6 singing carols and collecting money for needy children.
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A child dressed as one of the Magi waits to greet Gauck at the Bellevue presidential palace on Sunday in Berlin.
Christians celebrate Epiphany —
A child dressed as one of the Magi waits to greet Gauck at the Bellevue presidential palace on Sunday in Berlin.
Adam Berry/Getty Images
Greek Orthodox swimmers hold the wooden cross they retrieved from the Golden Horn on the Bosphorus River in Istanbul on Sunday.
Christians celebrate Epiphany —
Greek Orthodox swimmers hold the wooden cross they retrieved from the Golden Horn on the Bosphorus River in Istanbul on Sunday.
BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images
A Greek Orthodox swimmer kisses the wooden cross he retrieved from the Golden Horn in Istanbul on Sunday.
Christians celebrate Epiphany —
A Greek Orthodox swimmer kisses the wooden cross he retrieved from the Golden Horn in Istanbul on Sunday.
BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images
A priest releases a dove during the blessing of the waters during Epiphany celebrations in the city of Volos, Greece, on Sunday.
Christians celebrate Epiphany —
A priest releases a dove during the blessing of the waters during Epiphany celebrations in the city of Volos, Greece, on Sunday.
LOUISA GOULIAMAKI/AFP/Getty Images
A man holds a camel before a traditional march from Prague Castle to a nativity scene representing Bethlehem's manger on Saturday, January 5, in Prague, Czech Republic. The annual Three Kings Procession in Prague re-enacts the journey of the Three Magi to the infant Jesus.
Christians celebrate Epiphany —
A man holds a camel before a traditional march from Prague Castle to a nativity scene representing Bethlehem's manger on Saturday, January 5, in Prague, Czech Republic. The annual Three Kings Procession in Prague re-enacts the journey of the Three Magi to the infant Jesus.
MICHAL CIZEK/AFP/Getty Images
A young carol singer visits the coal mine Prosper Haniel Schacht 10 on Friday, January 4, in Bottrop, western Germany. The 2013 "Three Kings Action" charity focuses on the plight of children in Tanzania.
Christians celebrate Epiphany —
A young carol singer visits the coal mine Prosper Haniel Schacht 10 on Friday, January 4, in Bottrop, western Germany. The 2013 "Three Kings Action" charity focuses on the plight of children in Tanzania.
PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images
People gather to get a piece of the traditional "Rosca de Reyes," or Mexican epiphany bread, in Mexico City on Thursday, January 3, The world's biggest "Rosca de Reyes," weighing 10 metric tons, was distributed among 200,000 people at Zocalo Square in the Mexican capital.
Christians celebrate Epiphany —
People gather to get a piece of the traditional "Rosca de Reyes," or Mexican epiphany bread, in Mexico City on Thursday, January 3, The world's biggest "Rosca de Reyes," weighing 10 metric tons, was distributed among 200,000 people at Zocalo Square in the Mexican capital.
ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP/Getty Images
People gather to get a piece of the bread on Thursday in Mexico City.
Christians celebrate Epiphany —
People gather to get a piece of the bread on Thursday in Mexico City.
ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP/Getty Images