Russian President Vladimir Putin has taken a dip in icy lake waters to celebrate Epiphany, a major holiday in Orthodox Christianity marking the baptism of Jesus.

State television stations showed the 65-year-old leader approaching a hole cut in the ice on Lake Seliger in western Russia and then stepping in, before crossing himself.

Mr Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said the President had performed similar ablutions on the Epiphany previously but that Friday marked the first time he had done so publicly.

In Orthodox tradition, water blessed by a priest during Epiphany week is considered holy and pure, and believers attribute healing powers to it.

Authorities set up bathing sites for believers all over Russia, including some areas in Siberia where temperatures fell below -30C (-22F).

Mr Putin grew up under communist rule, when open shows of religion were frowned upon. As president, he has become a frequent attender of Russian Orthodox ceremonies, and has given the Church a major voice in society.

He is seeking re-election in Russia’s presidential election in March. Stunts like Friday’s show the leader in full election campaign mode – not that he is in any great danger of losing.

Vladimir Putin takes icy dip in lake to mark Orthodox Epiphany Show all 5 1 /5 Vladimir Putin takes icy dip in lake to mark Orthodox Epiphany Vladimir Putin takes icy dip in lake to mark Orthodox Epiphany Russian President Vladimir Putin bathes in an ice-cold water on Epiphany near St. Nilus Stolobensky Monastery on Lake Seliger in Svetlitsa village, Russia. Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP Vladimir Putin takes icy dip in lake to mark Orthodox Epiphany Russian President Vladimir Putin walks to take a dip in the water Sputnik/Alexei Druzhinin/Kremlin via Reuters Vladimir Putin takes icy dip in lake to mark Orthodox Epiphany Thousands of Russian Orthodox Church followers will plunge into icy rivers and ponds across the country to mark Epiphany, cleansing themselves with water deemed holy for the day. AP Vladimir Putin takes icy dip in lake to mark Orthodox Epiphany Russian President Vladimir Putin takes a dip in the ice cold water. EPA Vladimir Putin takes icy dip in lake to mark Orthodox Epiphany Vladimir Putin walks out of a hole in the ice of the freezing waters of Lake Seliger. Sputnik/Alexei Druzhinin/Kremlin via Reuters

The latest official voting intention figures give Mr Putin, who is running as an independent, around 70 per cent. Even if such polls are skewed in his favour, he is confident of a comfortable victory in March.

It is also not the first time the President has arranged for a photo opportunity to show off his physique, and over the years he has appeared riding horses, fishing, swimming in lakes and practising judo.