A young Romanian has made it a custom to swim through the cold waters of the Buzau river in Romania in early January for the past six years to bring back the wooden cross thrown in the water by the priest - an Epiphany Day custom in the country.  Aurel Burlacu, 26, has attended - and managed to be the first to reach the cross in the cold waters - for the last six years.

By doing so, the man is said to be purified of all sins."Every time (I caught the cross) I was lucky and healthy. Last year for example, both my wife and I found better jobs, and were both healthy. I hope this year will be even better for myself and my family," said Burlacu, who lives in Maracineni.  but this year is the last time he intends to participate in this tradition, according to local media.

Over a thousand people attended the religious ceremony organized on January 6 at the Cathedral in Buzau, Romania, on the Epiphany Day (Boboteaza in Romanian). It is customary in Romania for the priest to throw a wooden cross into the cold water on this day, and for young men to swim for the cross. The one who finds the cross and brings it back is said to get purified of all sins.

On the Epiphany Day, priests across all Orthodox Churches in Romania bless the waters. In Buzau, those who attended the ceremony took home around 4,000 liters of holy water (Aghiasma in Romanian), which is believed to have miraculous powers.

Read more about the Epiphany Day and the customs in Romania here.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com