In pictures: The feast of Epiphany celebrated across Europe (18pics)

 Pope Francis kisses the statue of baby Jesus as he arrives to lead the Epiphany mass in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican

 Pope Francis kisses the Holy Book as he celebrates a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, to mark Epiphany

 Traditional Christian ceremonies to mark the feast of Epiphany have taken place across Europe. One tradition involves men leaping into freezing water to retrieve a crucifix thrown by a priest. Above a man kisses a wooden cross in Greece's northern port of Thessaloniki.

 Men wait on a boat to jump into the waters of the Bosphorus to race for a wooden cross thrown into the river during the Epiphany Day ceremony in Istanbul, Turkey

 It is believed that the person who retrieves the crucifix will be healthy and freed from evil spirits throughout the year

 Bulgarians dive into the icy waters of a lake to catch a cross in Sofia as part of Epiphany Day celebrations

 A Greek Orthodox man, bearing a tattoo of Jesus Christ on his back prepares to jump into the sea to catch a crucifix in the Cypriot port city of Limassol

 A man kisses a wooden cross after he retrieve it during a ceremony to bless the water in Greece's Flisvos beach, at Paleo Faliro near Athens

 Thousands of young men plunged into icy rivers and lakes across Bulgaria to retrieve crucifixes. These men perform a traditional dance in the icy waters of the Tundzha river in the town of Kalofer.

 Men perform a traditional dance in the icy winter waters of the Tundzha river in the town of Kalofer

 Led by the town's mayor and encouraged by a folk orchestra, they danced and stomped the rocky riverbed

 Many had brought homemade plum brandy and red wine to help them brave the freezing cold.

 Women dressed in costume row on the Grand Canal ahead of the Befana Regatta in Venice, Italy

 Rowers dressed in costume race along the Grand Canal for the Befana Regatta in Venice, Italy

 Children dressed as the Three Kings walk towards the Schloss Bellevue Palace to meet German President Joachim Gauck and his partner Daniela Schadt in Berlin

 Children dressed as the Three Kings prepare to meet German President in Berlin

Dancers perform during the Three Wise Men Parade (Cabalgata de Reyes) in Tenerife, on the Spanish Canary island of Tenerife on the eve of Epiphany

A man dressed as King Melchior, one the three wise men, rides a camel during the Three Wise Men Parade (Cabalgata de Reyes) in Tenerife