117 Russians Hospitalized After Drinking Holy Water

Epiphany celebration leads to acute intestinal pain for many
By Nx Doyle,  Newser User
Posted Jan 25, 2010 8:21 AM CST Posted Jan 25, 2010 8:21 AM CST
Promoted on Newser Jan 25, 2010 8:21 AM CST
117 Russians Hospitalized After Drinking Holy Water
A woman plunges into an icy pond to mark the upcoming Epiphany in Kuzminki park in southeastern Moscow, Monday, Jan. 18, 2010.   (AP Photo)

More than 100 Russian Orthodox believers were hospitalized after drinking holy water during last week's Epiphany celebrations in the eastern city of Irkutsk. A Siberian official today said that 117 people, including 48 children, were in the hospital complaining of severe intestinal pain after drinking water from wells around a local church whose source is a stagnant lake. Many Russians believe that any water obtained on Epiphany is holy, despite most Russian tap water being undrinkable, reports the AP. (More Russia stories.)

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