Orthodox pastor Father Mitro blesses winter swimming hole in Helsinki
Bathers brave freezing temperatures for blessed dip
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Pastor Mitro Repo, or Father Mitro of the Orthodox congregation of Helsinki, dips his large cross into the water at a hole in the ice kept open for swimmers at Uunisaari in Helsinki.
In the ceremony on Saturday, the cleric blesses the swimming hole, adding prayers for the President, the government, the system of justice, and the whole Finnish people.
After the brief ceremony, a few hearty souls take a dip, braving air temperatures of -20 degrees Celsius, and a chilly brisk wind.
According to Father Mitro, Orthodox tradition maintains that dipping into water that has been blessed will cure ailments. The blessing of winter swimming holes each January is an established tradition, especially in Karelia.
Kaija Santaholma and Ilkka Koivisto test the effectiveness of the tradition right after the ceremony.
"It’s a bit warmer than yesterday", Koivisto says, assessing the effect of the blessing after climbing out of the water.
"Come out of there, or you’ll catch your death", someone shouts, as the drops covering Koivisto’s body start to freeze.
He admits that there may have been a small element of machismo in the Saturday swim. "Usually I do this for the good feeling."
On Saturday, Finland was still in the grips of unusually cold winter weather that had blown into the country from the east.
Temperatures plummeted to below -40 degrees in the coldest places. The chill caused delays on railways, and consumption of electricity hit new records. Temperatures have eased somewhat today, Monday.
Waiting for slightly milder winter temperatures at Uunisaari on Saturday was one winter swimmer, Reetta Neuvonen, who kept her winter coat on this time. She normally swims twice a week, but if the temperature falls below -10 Celsius, she waits for a better day.
"It gives you a crazy endorphin high", she says, explaining her strange winter hobby.
Father Mitro is also a winter swimmer, although he does not try the water that he has blessed on Saturday. However, he says that he did immerse himself on the same morning at his summer place in Siikajärvi.
"I have no cold limits. The limit is in Heaven", the pastor explains.
Father Mitro says that he has been swimming in holes in the ice ever since he was five, after his father had been urged by his doctor to take up the hobby for blood pressure and heart ailments. The boy joined his father on morning swims at Helsinki’s rowing stadium.
The winter swimmers gathering at the Uunisaari restaurant after the ceremony have the appearance of a religious cult. Their bright faces and rosy cheeks are in stark contrast to the image often projected of pale Finns drudging their way through the wintertime darkness.
Professor Pirkko Vihko says that there have been scientific studies on the effects of swimming in cold water, but that the focus of most of the research has been on fish.
However, on the basis of anecdotal evidence, the scientist is convinced of the health benefits of swimming in freezing water. Tension and aches go away, and there is an overall improvement in well-being. Regular freezing dips could also protect against abdominal obesity, and type 2 diabetes.
Furthermore, swimming in cold water also influences male and female hormones.
"I will not claim, however, that it would be a substitute for Viagra", the professor cautions.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 23.1.2006 - TODAY |
 Orthodox pastor Father Mitro blesses winter swimming hole in Helsinki
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