Per the article in Newsweek Magazine the plunge was taken in Lake Seliger in the Nilo-Stolobenskaya Monastery in Russia. It is a yearly custom of Orthodox Christians who celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany which occurs usually 12 days after Christmas. It commemorates/celebrates the 3 Kings/3 Wisemen. Any of you ever go from a nice hot Sauna into snow? Some folks do that too. I'm not sure what the benefit is. Maybe surviving it? Anyway if doing that can cleanse the soul truly and really wouldn't that be superiorly grand?