Many of Russian Orthodox believers gathered Friday to plunge through ice holes into freezing water, but a key ingredient was missing: it is not cold.

Christian Orthodox Epiphany celebrates the baptism of Christ in the River Jordan when worshippers believe the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in the form of a dove. It is celebrated on January 19.

Grandmothers, robed priests and burly businessmen can usually be seen leaping through holes in the ice on frozen rivers and lakes across Russia to celebrate Orthodox Epiphany.

Arctic temperatures mean special helpers have to skim off the ice that forms in seconds in the ice holes.

But the warmest winter in a generation has melted the ice and snow, leaving Russia’s faithful fretting about their traditional winter swim.

“We have never had such weather —- I have never seen anything like it,” said Vladimir Grebyonkin, 66, who takes a dip every year and is chairman of the winter swimming association.

“You of course do not really have to have snow — there was no snow where Christ was baptised. So we will be taking a swim as usual,” Grebyonkin said, before inviting a Reuters reporter to take a dip.

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