Christian communities across Europe take part in traditional Epiphany celebrations

Orthodox Christians participated in blessing of the waters ceremonies, while Catholics in the Vatican attended Mass in St. Peter's basilica.

Transcript

00:00The Christmas season came to a close on Monday with celebrations of Epiphany by Christian

00:08communities all over Europe.

00:11The Orthodox Christian tradition is marked by blessing of the water ceremonies, where

00:16swimmers rush to retrieve a cross thrown by a priest into the water.

00:20The tradition commemorating the baptism of Jesus Christ was observed in countries including

00:25Greece and Bulgaria.

00:27The religious holiday of Epiphany is also celebrated in some Western Christian churches

00:32as Three Kings Day, which marks the visit of the three wise men to the baby Jesus.

00:38Swimmers in Prague took to the icy waters to participate in the annual Three Kings swim.

00:44In the Vatican, the Pope presided over mass in St. Peter's Basilica and spoke from the

00:49window of the Apostolic Palace to thousands of faithful gathered below.

00:54Other traditions included a Three Kings procession in the streets of Warsaw and Romania's annual

00:59horse race.

01:02In France, President Emmanuel Macron sliced a giant Epiphany cake, a tradition held at

01:07Elysee Palace since 1975.