The surviving icons, images of which can be seen in existing religious churches, have a long history old story. One of these is the Icon of the Life-Giving Source. It is known throughout the world as a shrine that has been able to heal a huge number of sick people. That is why, as a sign of gratitude, believers regularly venerate this sacred image not only with prayers, but also with the creation of various spiritual works in honor of it. These include poems, songs and precise lists of the icon of the Mother of God of the Life-Giving Spring.
Story
According to legend, during the time of the Byzantine Empire, which was the main founder of the Orthodox faith, there was a grove near its capital. After the stay of the Holy Virgin Mary in it, the wonderful expanses of wondrous nature became holy. Next to the growing trees, right from the ground of the grove, a spring flowed, which, according to rumors, possessed healing properties. And one day, approximately in 450 AD, a traveler named Leo passed by the described blessed places. Arriving in an extremely deserted place, he involuntarily glanced at a man who could not find a way out in the middle of densely growing vegetation. Coming closer, Leo Marcellus immediately realized that the man he saw was blind. Deciding to help him, the traveler sat the disabled man down and went to fetch water. And during the journey, he suddenly heard the voice of the Mother of God, indicating the place of the holy spring. Having reached it, Leo Markell took water and brought it to the guest he met. And as soon as the blind man drank the water that was delivered to him, he immediately began to see.
As a result, the man who had regained his sight, as a sign of respect, fell to his knees with the words of prayer, thanks to the Virgin Mary, who helped Leo discover a natural source with miraculous properties.
After this incident, Leo Marcellus, who later became emperor, ordered the construction of a temple Holy Virgin, and the source, after thorough purification, should be called Life-Giving.
Subsequently, after this event, in the center of the temple, an icon of the Life-Giving Spring was installed, which was painted by talented master icon painters.
Images of icons
In the icon, according to a special artistic design, you can see the Mother of God sitting in a huge gilded font. In her hands she holds her little son, Jesus Christ. Just below the bowl, the same Life-Giving Spring is clearly illustrated, lined with exquisite tiles around the edges.
Few people know, but on the first icons Mother of God There was no Life-Giving Spring, no reservoir of water and no fountain flowing from a bowl. However, in later compositions, this important element was added.
How does the “Life-Giving Source” icon help?
The Life-Giving Source itself is the embodiment of the beginning of the life source. Personifying the image of the Mother of God, he is able to heal sick human souls.
The meaning of the Icon of the Life-Giving Source is extremely great.
It helps believers overcome many troubles and difficulties that can sometimes happen in everyday life.
This should include first of all:
- ridding people of strong addictions, which include smoking, alcohol and all kinds of highly addictive drugs.
- assistance in eliminating spiritual inner experiences. During prayer, a person’s stressful state is normalized, bringing his nerves and mood to complete control
- provides assistance in maintaining a sinless existence;
- healing from all diseases.
Prayer to the icon “Life-Giving Source”
While pronouncing sacred prayer words, people ask to cleanse their souls of any nasty evil spirits that cause health problems, as well as to replenish their internal reserves of strength.
The text of the prayer is as follows:
O Most Holy Virgin, All-Merciful Lady Theotokos! Your life-giving source, healing gifts for the health of our souls and bodies and for the salvation of the world, has given to us; Also, give thanks to the being, we earnestly pray to Thee, Most Holy Queen, pray to Thy Son and our God to grant us forgiveness of sins and to every grieving and embittered soul mercy and consolation, and freedom from troubles, sorrows and illnesses. Grant, Lady, protection to this temple and to these people (and observance of this holy monastery), preservation of the city, deliverance and protection of our country from misfortunes, so that we may live a peaceful life here, and in the future we will be honored to see You, our Intercessor, in the glory of the Kingdom of the Son Yours and our God, to Him be glory and power with the Father and with the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
In the 5th century in Constantinople, near the so-called “Golden Gate”, there was a grove dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. There was a spring in the grove, glorified for miracles for a long time. Gradually, this place was overgrown with bushes, and the water was covered with mud.
One day the warrior Leo Marcellus, the future emperor, met in this place a blind man, a helpless traveler who had lost his way. The lion helped him out onto the path and sit down in the shade to rest, while he himself went in search of water to refresh the blind man. Suddenly he heard a voice: “Lion! Don’t look far for water, it’s close here.” Surprised by the mysterious voice, he began to look for water, but did not find it. When he stopped in sadness and thoughtfulness, the same voice was heard a second time: “King Lion! Go under the shade of this grove, draw the water that you find there, and give it to the thirsty person, and put the mud that you find in the source on his eyes. Then you will know who I am, who sanctifies this place. I will help you soon build a temple here in My name, and everyone who comes here with faith and calls on My name will receive the fulfillment of their prayers and complete healing from ailments.” When Leo fulfilled everything commanded, the blind man immediately received his sight and, without a guide, went to Constantinople, glorifying the Mother of God. This miracle happened under Emperor Marcian (391-457).
Emperor Marcian was succeeded by Leo Marcellus (457-473). He remembered the appearance and prediction of the Mother of God, ordered the source to be cleaned and enclosed in a stone circle, over which a temple was built in honor Holy Mother of God. Emperor Leo called this spring the “Life-Giving Spring,” since the miraculous grace of the Mother of God was manifested in it.
Emperor Justinian the Great (527-565) was a man deeply committed to Orthodox faith. He suffered from water sickness for a long time. One day at midnight he heard a voice: “You cannot regain your health unless you drink from My fountain.” The king did not know what source the voice was talking about, and became despondent. Then the Mother of God appeared to him in the afternoon and said: “Get up, king, go to My source, drink water from it and you will be healthy as before.” The patient fulfilled the will of the Lady and soon recovered. The grateful emperor erected a new magnificent temple near the temple built by Leo, at which a populous monastery was subsequently created.
In the 15th century, the famous temple of the “Life-Giving Source” was destroyed by Muslims. A Turkish guard was assigned to the ruins of the temple, who did not allow anyone to approach this place. Gradually, the severity of the ban softened, and Christians placed there small church. But it was also destroyed in 1821, and the source was filled up. The Christians again cleared the ruins, opened the spring and continued to draw water from it. Subsequently, in one window, among the rubble, a sheet half-rotten from time and dampness was found with a record of ten miracles from the Life-Giving Spring that occurred from 1824 to 1829. Under Sultan Mahmud, the Orthodox received some freedom in performing divine services. They used it to build a temple over the Life-Giving Spring for the third time. In 1835, with great triumph, Patriarch Constantine, concelebrating with 20 bishops and large quantities the temple was consecrated by pilgrims; A hospital and almshouse were set up at the temple.
One Thessalian experienced from his youth desire visit the Life-Giving Spring. Finally, he managed to set off, but on the way he became seriously ill. Feeling the approach of death, the Thessalian took word from his companions that they would not bury him, but would take his body to the Life-Giving Spring, there they would pour three vessels of life-giving water on it, and only after that they would bury it. His wish was fulfilled, and life returned to the Thessalian at the Life-Giving Spring. He accepted monasticism and spent his time in piety last days life.
The appearance of the Mother of God to Leo Marcellus took place on April 4, 450. On this day, and also every year on Friday Holy Week The Orthodox Church celebrates the renovation of the Constantinople temple in honor of the Life-Giving Spring. According to the charter, on this day the rite of blessing of water is performed with an Easter religious procession.
The Most Holy Theotokos with the Infant God is depicted in the icon above a huge stone bowl standing in a reservoir. Near a reservoir filled with life-giving water, those suffering from bodily ailments, passions and mental infirmities are depicted. They all drink this life-giving water and receive healing.
Copies from the miraculous icon “Life-Giving Source” are located in the Sarov Desert; Astrakhan, Urzhum, Vyatka diocese; in the chapel near the Solovetsky Monastery; Lipetsk, Tambov diocese. An excellent image is placed in the Moscow Novodevichy Convent.
The taste of water is experienced when one is thirsty. We all know the joy of the first sips - we would drink and drink. But remember, at Pushkin? “We are tormented by spiritual thirst...” What is spiritual thirst and how can we quench it?
"Agiasma" is a Greek word. It is translated as “shrine”. That's what it's called in Orthodox Church Holy water. Eat special kind parishioners, very common. They visit God's temple once a year for Epiphany - to stock up on holy water. With big ones plastic canisters, with bottles of Pepsi they stand up for distribution and strictly observe that they are not allowed to jump in line. Bent under the weight of their burden, which, as we know, does not last, the parishioners, satisfied with the day not lived in vain, return to their homes, pour water into bottles, jars, pans, and economically look at the stock - enough for a year. Until the next Epiphany distribution.
Forgive my ironic tone. I allowed it not because I condemn these people. Thank God they go at least once a year. But the great agiasma - Epiphany water- requires a special, reverent attitude towards oneself.
But holy water is not only that which is blessed by priests in a special manner. Many Orthodox saints had the special power to bring holy springs out of the ground through their prayers to the Lord and His Most Pure Mother. History has preserved for us not only the names of these saints, but also the sources themselves, in which grace and healing power have not diminished to this day. Let's remember one such event, ancient, because we are talking about the fifth century.
A wonderful plane tree grove adorned the holy gates of the great Constantinople. There was a spring in the grove, the water of which was unusually tasty, cool and healing. As time passed, the spring was overgrown with bushes, green mud covered the water, and it became almost invisible to the human eye. Once the noble warrior Leo Marcellus passed by, and towards him a blind man - old, exhausted, helplessly feeling the road with his staff, stretching out his hands, asking for a drink. Leo Marcellus was a kind man. He took the blind man by the hand and led him into the coolness under the shade of wide plane tree leaves.
“Sit here,” he said, “and I’ll go and find you some water.” Let's go. Yes, I only took a few steps when I heard a woman’s voice: “Don’t look far for water, it is here, next to you.”
Has stopped. What kind of things are these - there is no one, but a voice... He turns his head around, surprised. And the voice again: “Tsar! There is a spring under the canopy of the grove. Find him, fetch water, give drink to the thirsty. And put the mud that has covered the spring over the eyes of the unfortunate man. And build a temple on this place. He will have great glory...
Leo Markell's surprise gave way to trepidation. He understood that the Queen of Heaven was blessing him for a good deed. But why did She call him, a warrior, king? I did everything as ordered. And he took some water and put mud on the eyes of the blind man. The miracle was not slow: the blind man received his sight, went to Constantinople in jubilation, thanking the Mother of God.
And Marcellus soon became emperor. Now he’s a king! - became a common way to address him. And the king ordered to cleanse the spring, release its pure streams, and build a temple nearby. At the same time, an icon was painted, which has since been called the “Life-Giving Spring.” The icon depicts a tall, large bowl. The Mother of God hovers above the chalice, holding the Eternal Child in her hands. Blessing Right Hand of the Child. A hundred years later, another temple was built on this site - luxurious, elegant, and with it - a monastery. Very soon people came here with prayers for healing. They received it by faith. Healings in the plane tree grove occurred constantly, and the fame of the life-giving spring reached the most remote corners.
Since ancient times, the icon “Life-Giving Spring” has been known in Rus'. Her memory is celebrated on a special day - Friday of Bright Week ( Easter week). And this once again proves how revered she is among the Russian people. At the beginning of the eighteenth century, a copy of the “Life-Giving Spring” icon was brought to the Sarov Hermitage. The Great Elder Seraphim greatly revered the icon and sent many to pray to it. There is an icon of the “Life-Giving Spring” in Moscow, in Tsaritsyno, Dmitry Kantemir, advisor to Peter the Great, built a temple, and his son Kantemir Antioch, a famous Russian poet, rebuilt and updated it. For more than two hundred years, services in the Life-Giving Spring Church did not stop. It was closed just before the war. Yes, if only they had closed it, otherwise they would have looted it. There was a lot going on here: the transformer station was humming, the printing presses were whirring, the shavings were rustling in the carpentry workshop. Today the temple has been returned to Orthodox Christians, and services have resumed there.
Of course, any source produced in a holy place or through the prayers of the saints of God can be called life-giving. “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it separate water from water,” we read in the Bible. And the Gospel of John tells about the pool at the Sheep Gate, where from time to time an Angel went and disturbed the water. Christ Himself entered the sacred waters of the Jordan and received baptism from His Forerunner John. Since then, the Jordanian waters have carried special grace and strength. Now that pilgrimages to the Holy Land have become commonplace, so too have the words: “I swam in the Jordan” become commonplace.
Many family albums now contain photographs of pilgrims in long white shirts entering the waters of the Jordan... So inaccessible and so familiar. Is it good? It’s probably good that, having saved up money and issued a foreign passport, we strive to join the great Christian shrines. Just don’t allow your own heart to become ordinary, just forbid it from beating as usual.
Our Russia is also generous with its life-giving springs. Saints and great ascetics built springs through their prayers, decorating with them, like sparkling gems, the modest and discreet Russian landscape. Sergius of Radonezh alone exhausted two springs during his life.
One right on Makovets, on the site of the future Trinity-Sergius Lavra, when the brethren grumbled - they say, father, it’s too far for us to go for water. That place is now lost. True, from time to time young, full of enthusiasm, seminarians begin to pace the ground around the seminary - to look for where... But if the ancient Chernets knew about their zealous descendants, they would have left a piece of birch bark with a map of where to look. We didn't think so. But already in the middle of the 17th century, a spring began to flow as a consolation to the brethren during the renovation of the Assumption Cathedral. There was a blind monk in the monastery. His name was Paphnutius. I drank some water and regained my sight. Others began to scoop up handfuls. And others felt a surge of physical and spiritual strength. Now on the site of that spring there is a painted over-chapel.
To this day, that spring quenches the thirst of the suffering. There is a queue for him from morning to evening. Leave the Lavra and not get holy water? No good. Some even claim: this spring of Sergius is the same one that Sergius himself begged for the brethren. No matter how tempting it is to believe, this is another source. Although it is also life-giving, I say this with all responsibility, because often after a trip to the Lavra I bring home this amazing water.
But fifteen kilometers from Sergiev Posad, not far from the village of Malinniki, there is a Sergiev spring. It was he who was tormented by the Wonderworker of Radonezh himself. One day, sensing a murmur among the brethren and not wanting to give it a go, Sergius left the monastery and headed through the forests towards Kirzhach. On the way, he stopped just here and prayed for a long time. Sergius's prayer was heard, and silver sparkled in the deep forest clean water spring. 600 years have passed, but the spring is alive, and not only alive, but has become a twenty-meter waterfall, under the strong stream of which it is not so easy to stay on your feet.
At the very top of the waterfall there is a small log chapel with icons on four sides and lamps above them. Akathists are sung here, candles are constantly burning here. From here, along three wooden gutters, a strong stream of water rushes down to the small river Wondige. A little lower down there is a log bathhouse.
All year round they go and go to the spring for healing. Even in very coldy frail old women stand under its chilling streams with a prayer: “ Reverend Father Sergius, pray to God for us.” They say you have to wash yourself three times. Many sick people run away from such unprecedented insolence. In the cold! Under ice water! Of course, only the most believers allow themselves to come to Malinniki in winter. And those who are stronger in body, more resilient, and more mistrustful, are waiting for the summer. And in the summer!.. It’s with sadness that I come here in the summer. The green field around the source turns into an impregnable bridgehead. A big folk festival. In swimsuits, swimming trunks, family shorts and just underwear, “pilgrims” rush to the grace of the holy spring. Pushing, falling on slippery wooden steps, scratching bare bellies into blood.
The spectacle of summer Malinniki is not beautiful. Having rinsed off, the pilgrims lay out a self-assembled tablecloth with a bottle in the center in the cold, and the music is turned on. Sometimes someone’s intelligible voice will sound: “We found a place... There’s a holy spring here!” But over the music and toasts, will you really hear?
Agiasma is a shrine. The life-giving spring is the place of our spiritual healing. There should be prayer here, there should be silence here. Spiritual thirst is not quenched hastily or in large sips over the edge of a three-liter jar. There is a spiritual culture that is important for each of us, and this culture has its own laws. There were a lot of “Life-Giving Spring” icons in Rus' precisely because the need to quench spiritual thirst lived and lives in our people. People tired of sorrows prayed before her, those who suddenly lost faith, listened to the enemy’s slander, but were afraid, very afraid of life without God, prayed before her. The Virgin Mary, hovering above the chalice, hugging the Child, gazes intently into the eyes of those praying. She knows our doubts, fatigue, fear. But She also knows well what we doubt: life without faith is a dry spring, a ditch covered with mud. There is no future in such a life.
Let's remember the Samaritan woman from the Gospel of John who came to the well to draw water. Christ asks for a drink, and she is perplexed: “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, but the well is deep.” And Christ tells the Samaritan woman about another water, the one who drinks it “will never thirst.” She asks: “Sir, give me this water,” not yet understanding what she means. we're talking about. Christ speaks to the Samaritan woman at the well. There was just a well, but after meeting the Savior it became a life-giving source. She was just a Samaritan woman, a sinful woman, but she became a preacher God's word. In 1966, she was thrown into a well by a torturer. Her name was Fotina (Svetlana). From Gospel times to ours, the need for living water has not disappeared. On the contrary, having lived through godless times, we endure this thirst especially painfully. We don't even always understand what it is.
Restlessness of the soul, restlessness, causeless languor. We look away from the holy life-giving source to quench our thirst. We are looking for who and where. And we don’t find it. And we are angry at life, at its fetters that hold back our impatient gallop. In front of the “Life-Giving Spring” icon, maybe we can come to our senses? Maybe we will be given clarity of mind and a simple thought will visit us: “I am looking in the wrong place, I am quenching my thirst in the wrong place.”
Now it’s somehow calmed down, but just recently we were running like crazy to blue screens with heavy, like weights, cans of water to charge. Another TV swindler was staring at us and our banks. We rolled our eyes at the TV swindler. This staring game was like a disease. Almost an epidemic. In a rare house there was no one who wanted to improve his health for nothing. Then we drank charged water until we were exhausted; when we caught our breath, we drank again. Let's catch our breath - again. Full stomachs, bladders, swelling under the eyes... But we’re not fools, we’re educated, we’ve lived and seen everything. The Lord, in the words of the Epiphany hymn, “grants purification through water to the human race,” but we did not resist the abuse of water. Sin. And the priest, when we come to confession, will ask: “Did you go to psychics? Did you drink the water charged on TV?” He will impose penance. And he will be right. We ourselves have sinned, we ourselves will correct it. And for help and consolation, let’s go to the “Life-Giving Spring” icon. And then we’ll choose time and visit one of the many holy springs - be it Sergiev in Malinniki, or Pafnutev in Optina Pustyn, or Serafimov in Diveevo. And let us wash away in their life-giving waters everything that hinders us and confuses us. The flesh will burn with a healthy heat, the head will clear, the soul will hide in anticipation of the extraordinary. Let the wait not be in vain. May the soul be granted amazing strength from the life-giving source. The Samaritan woman really wanted living water and asked the Lord for it. She didn’t know what kind of water she was, but she asked for it. But we, sinners, know, and do not ask...
Natalia Sukhinina
Appearance of the Icon of the Mother of God “Life-Giving Spring”
In the 5th century in Constantinople, near the so-called “Golden Gate”, there was a grove dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. There was a spring in the grove, glorified for miracles for a long time. Gradually, this place was overgrown with bushes, and the water was covered with mud.
One day the warrior Leo Marcellus, the future emperor, met in this place a blind man, a helpless traveler who had lost his way. The lion helped him out onto the path and sit down in the shade to rest, while he himself went in search of water to refresh the blind man. Suddenly he heard a voice: “Lion! Don’t look far for water, it’s close here.” Surprised by the mysterious voice, he began to look for water, but did not find it. When he stopped in sadness and thoughtfulness, the same voice was heard a second time: “King Lion! Go under the shade of this grove, draw the water that you find there, and give it to the thirsty person, and put the mud that you find in the source on his eyes. Then you will know who I am, who sanctifies this place. I will help you soon build a temple here in My name, and everyone who comes here with faith and calls on My name will receive the fulfillment of their prayers and complete healing from ailments.” When Leo fulfilled everything commanded, the blind man immediately received his sight and, without a guide, went to Constantinople, glorifying the Mother of God. This miracle happened under Emperor Marcian (391-457).
Emperor Marcian was succeeded by Leo Marcellus (457-473). He remembered the appearance and prediction of the Mother of God, ordered the source to be cleaned and enclosed in a stone circle, over which a temple was built in honor of the Most Holy Theotokos. Emperor Leo called this spring the “Life-Giving Spring,” since the miraculous grace of the Mother of God was manifested in it.
Emperor Justinian the Great (527-565) was a man deeply committed to the Orthodox faith. He suffered from water sickness for a long time. One day at midnight he heard a voice: “You cannot regain your health unless you drink from My fountain.” The king did not know what source the voice was talking about, and became despondent. Then the Mother of God appeared to him in the afternoon and said: “Get up, king, go to My source, drink water from it and you will be healthy as before.” The patient fulfilled the will of the Lady and soon recovered. The grateful emperor erected a new magnificent temple near the temple built by Leo, at which a populous monastery was subsequently created.
In the 15th century, the famous temple of the “Life-Giving Spring” was destroyed by Muslims. A Turkish guard was assigned to the ruins of the temple, who did not allow anyone to approach this place. Gradually, the severity of the ban softened, and Christians built a small church there. But it was also destroyed in 1821, and the source was filled up. The Christians again cleared the ruins, opened the spring and continued to draw water from it. Subsequently, in one window, among the rubble, a sheet half-rotten from time and dampness was found with a record of ten miracles from the Life-Giving Spring that occurred from 1824 to 1829. Under Sultan Mahmud, the Orthodox received some freedom in performing divine services. They used it to build a temple over the Life-Giving Spring for the third time. In 1835, with great triumph, Patriarch Constantine, concelebrated by 20 bishops and with a large number of pilgrims, consecrated the temple; A hospital and almshouse were set up at the temple.
One Thessalian from his youth had a strong desire to visit the Life-Giving Spring. Finally, he managed to set off, but on the way he became seriously ill. Feeling the approach of death, the Thessalian took word from his companions that they would not bury him, but would take his body to the Life-Giving Spring, there they would pour three vessels of life-giving water on it, and only after that they would bury it. His wish was fulfilled, and life returned to the Thessalian at the Life-Giving Spring. He accepted monasticism and spent the last days of his life in piety.
The appearance of the Mother of God to Leo Marcellus took place on April 4, 450. On this day, as well as every year on Friday of Bright Week, the Orthodox Church celebrates the renovation of the Constantinople temple in honor of the Life-Giving Spring. According to the charter, on this day the rite of blessing of water is performed with an Easter religious procession.
The Most Holy Theotokos with the Infant God is depicted in the icon above a large stone bowl standing in a reservoir. Near a reservoir filled with life-giving water, those suffering from bodily ailments, passions and mental infirmities are depicted. They all drink this life-giving water and receive various healings.
Troparion to the Icon of the Mother of God “Life-Giving Spring”
Let us, people, draw healing for our souls and bodies through prayer, the River that precedes everything - the Most Pure Queen Theotokos, pouring out wonderful water for us and washing away black hearts, cleansing sinful scabs, and sanctifying the souls of the faithful with Divine grace.
The first wooden church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Life-Giving Spring” was built on his estate at the end of the 17th century by Prince V.V. Golitsyn. Half a century later the estate passed to Prince D.K. Kantemir, who ordered to replace old church to a new one, made of stone, in the style of Peter the Great's Baroque. Another half century later, his son, Prince M.D. Kantemir again renovated the temple building, adding a northern aisle to it and dedicating it in memory of his father to the Great Martyr Dmitry of Thessalonica. A little later, a southern chapel appeared in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. The prince’s interest in this temple is connected with the veneration of the “Life-Giving Spring” icon of the Mother of God, which is known for helping in finding a child. The childless Prince M.D. hoped for the appearance of offspring. Cantemir. In addition, the temple became the tomb of the family. In 1775, after Catherine II acquired the Kantemirov estate, this place was named the village of Tsaritsyno. In the 1930s, the Tsaritsyn church, like many Moscow churches, was closed and in subsequent years was used for economic purposes. As a result, the church building and its wall paintings were severely damaged. In 1990, the temple was returned to believers, and after its restoration, with the blessing His Holiness Patriarch Alexy of Moscow and All Rus', who personally consecrated the revived temple in 1998, services were resumed there. Currently, the temple houses particles of the relics of many saints.Address: Moscow, st. Dolskaya, 2. Tel.: 8 (495) 325-34-56.
Moscow region. Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Life-Giving Spring” (Kosmodamianskaya) in Metkino
|
With the icon of the Mother of God “Life-Giving Spring”, which enjoyed great veneration among believers, events were held every year. religious processions to the surrounding villages. IN Soviet time the temple was closed. Some icons were saved thanks to parishioners who hid them in their homes under threat of death. But miraculous image The “Life-Giving Spring” of the Mother of God disappeared without a trace. The church building suffered many destructions. Only in the 1990s, in complete desolation, was it returned to believers, and intensive work began on restoring the temple. Moreover, people participating in the restoration said that they heard angelic singing in the dilapidated walls of the temple. It was as if the Mother of God herself was patronizing his revival. The temple was consecrated in 2003, and the main altar was dedicated, as in the old days, to Saints Cosmas and Damian, and its two chapels were dedicated to the icons of the Mother of God “Life-Giving Spring” and the Holy Archangel Michael. The double name of the church is connected with this.
Address: Moscow region, Domodedovo district, Domodedovo, White Stolby microdistrict, st. Metkino, 12.
Tver. Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Life-Giving Spring” (Sorrow Church)
 |
| Church of God Maeri Life-Giving Spring. Tver. XVIII century |
Address: Tver, st. Volodarskogo, 4.
Arzamas. Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Life-Giving Spring”
 |
| Church of the Mother of God Life-Giving Spring. Arzamas. XVIII century |
Address: Nizhny Novgorod region, Arzamas, pl. Sobornaya.
Zadonsk. Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Life-Giving Spring” in the Zadonsk Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery
 |
Address: Lipetsk region, Zadonsk, st. Communes, no. 14.
Sortavala. Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Life-Giving Spring” and the Life-Giving Trinity in the Valaam Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery
Valaam Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, located on high hill Valaam Island, on Lake Ladoga, was founded in the 10th century by the Monks Sergius and Herman of Valaam. At the turn of the XV-XVI centuries. the monastery was called " great laurel", he was famous for his high spiritual life. Many famous Christian ascetics labored within the walls of this monastery in different centuries: St. Arseny Konevsky, Reverend Alexander Svirsky, Rev. Savvaty Solovetsky, Venerable Euphrosynus of Sinozersky and others. The Valaam monastery was repeatedly attacked by the Swedes. After complete destruction in 1611, the monastery remained in oblivion for more than a hundred years, and the Finns settled on its territory. Only the holy relics remained untouched St. Sergius and Herman, hidden by monks deep underground. In the 18th century, at the direction of Peter I, the revival of the Valaam monastery began. In 1782, the famous elder and ascetic Nazarius from the Sarov Hermitage was appointed rector of the monastery, and with his arrival a new creative stage began in the history of the monastery. He introduced the cenobitic charter of the Sarov Hermitage in the Valaam Monastery. Under him, the five-domed stone Transfiguration Cathedral with a high bell tower and cell buildings with the Assumption and St. Nicholas churches were erected.
 |
Address: Republic of Karelia, Sortavala district, o. Valaam, Sortavala.
The Icon of the Mother of God of the Life-Giving Spring is a miraculous image revered by all Christians. Many lists (editions) have been created from it. A prayer for help in front of the image of the Queen of Heaven has granted many believers healing from physical illnesses and mental suffering that fill the soul with pain.
The Orthodox tradition calls the Mother of God many “speaking” names that accurately characterize her essence, calling, and the qualities that She reveals with her mercy. The Life-Giving Spring is one of these. After all, it was the Virgin Mary who became the Source of Life for the Son of God, with her began great story paths of salvation for all Orthodox Christians. Therefore, Christians tirelessly pray to her bright faces, seeking support, help and protection.
A special day for venerating the icon of the Mother of God “Life-Giving Source” is Friday of Bright Week (Easter Week). In all churches of the Russian Orthodox Church, the consecration of water is performed, and hymns are also heard to the icon of the Mother of God.
Miraculous healing with water from a spring
With the appearance of the image of the Virgin Mary and happy holiday The miraculous event that occurred on April 4, 450 A.D. is inextricably linked with the then future emperor of Byzantium, Leo Marcellus.
Not far from the Golden Gate of Constantinople, an amazing spring flowed in a green grove. People told many stories about his miracles. While walking nearby, the warrior Leo accidentally met a tired, blind old man who had lost his way. The young man helped the traveler find the right road and sat him down under a tree to rest. He himself went in search of water to give the blind man something to drink.
The warrior Leo Marcellus did everything exactly as the wondrous voice said. A miracle happened - the blind man received his sight. Extending praises to the Mother of God, the healed old man went to Constantinople. Seven years later, when Leo I ascended the imperial throne, replacing Marcian, he continued to fulfill the words of the Mother of God. First, the source was cleaned, surrounded by a stone circle, and then a temple was built over it. As a sign that the spring has become another embodiment of grace Immaculate Virgin, it was called the Life-Giving Source of the Virgin Mary.
Under subsequent rulers Justinian the Great, Basil the Macedonian, and Leo the Wise, the monastery was rebuilt and decorated several times. After the fall of Constantinople (May 29, 1453), the temple was destroyed by Muslims. New Orthodox church above the Life-Giving Source appeared only thanks to Patriarch Constantius I (in 1834-1835). A convent was built around it.
Image of the Life-Giving Source: stages of formation
When painting the first icon of the Mother of God “Life-Giving Spring”, they took as a basis the ancient Greek image of the Blessed Virgin, based on the canons of drawing in Blachernae Temple. The Mother of God was depicted as a marble statue from whose hands agiasma (holy water) flows. The first lists of icons do not contain an image of the source itself. Later, the composition of the picture is complemented by a bowl, then a pond or fountain. On Russian monuments there are images of a well, symbolizing a source.
- One of the most ancient (late 13th – early 14th centuries) images of the Mother of God was discovered in Crimea. The image of the Intercessor with her hands raised in prayer (like Oranta) is on a clay dish.
- The icon, painted around the middle of the 14th century, is described by Nicephorus Callistus, a church historian. It tells about the image of the Mother of God located in the middle of the font, which is installed above the source. On the chest (or womb) of the Mother of God is the Baby Jesus. This type of icon is called Kyriotissa.
- Already in the first half of the 15th century, the master Andronikos the Byzantine created on the wall Athos monastery St. Paul's fresco on this theme. The Virgin Mary and the Child Christ are written above the chalice. The image has captions Greek"Life-Giving Source".
- XVI century. The tradition of consecrating springs located on the territory of monasteries in the name of the Mother of God comes from Greece to Russia. Numerous images of the Virgin Mary were painted for the baths and chapels erected above them.
- In the 17th century this type icons became very popular and became widespread. The images that were created on the territory of Russia became more complex compositionally. It should be noted that these changes in iconography negatively affected the strength of the symbolic meaning. Images increasingly began to be supplemented with wells with water gushing out of them. The Mother of God is surrounded by saints: John Chrysostom, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, etc. The foreground of the composition can be supplemented by people seeking healing.
Lists of the icon of the Mother of God “Life-Giving Spring” in Russia
The most famous copy of the “Life-Giving Source” icon is the miraculous image located in the Sarov Desert.
In the 18th century, it was brought to the monastery by the founder of the church, Hieromonk John. The shrine is deeply revered by monks and parishioners. She was highly valued by Seraphim of Sarov. In the middle of the 19th century, the Sarov monastery was replenished with another list of the “Life-Giving Source” (it was brought by Hieroschemamonk Ioannikis from Constantinople). The icon shows the Appearance of the Mother of God at the Life-Giving Spring.
- Today there are about a hundred churches and chapels named after the Mother of God, in which there are copies of the icon. Among them: Temple of the Image of the Mother of God (Cosmodamian) in Metkino, Moscow region. In the 17th century, the wooden church of Damian and Cosmas was burned (1701), but many icons were saved. They were taken to a small chapel. A new one was built on the site of the old one in 1848 God's temple
- , dedicated to the miraculous image of the Mother of God. In 1840, the widow of a soldier (Avdotya Evdokimova) transferred a miraculous image to the village of Metkino. Since that time, people from surrounding towns and villages have been coming and coming to venerate the face of the Mother of God. In Moscow Tsaritsino there is also a temple, built in the 18th century, dedicated to icon
- Mother of God "Life-Giving Source".
- Cathedral with the miraculous image of the Blessed Virgin (Church of Sorrows), located in Tver.
- Zadonsky Nativity of the Virgin Mary (male) monastery (built in 1610). There is a chapel-bath dedicated to the icon of the Mother of God “Life-Giving Source”.
You can also see the miraculous image in the Church of Our Lady in Arzamas.
Miraculous healings through prayers to the icon Written evidence of the healings by the Mother of God of those who turned to the icon of the “Life-Giving Source” and drank healing water was left by Nikephoros Callistus Xanthopoulos, a monk of the St. Sophia Monastery (Constantinople), who lived in the 14th century. In his Synaxar, he described cases of miracles from water from the source. Thus, a dead man from Thessaly was resurrected, who bequeathed to bring him to a holy place and wash him.. Leo the Wise was healed of urolithiasis. After visiting a helping source, Patriarch John of Jerusalem’s hearing problems disappeared.
How to refer to the image of the Mother of God “Life-Giving Source”
Miraculous healings from the copies of the image of the Most Holy Intercessor “Life-Giving Spring” and holy water continue to this day. They are described in the church books of churches and monasteries, strengthening the faith of the Orthodox in the power and help of the Mother of God. Turning to these records, we can identify the main themes in which prayer to this image of the Mother of God helps.
The shrine should be prayed to by people who are suffering from serious bodily ailments. Many women were able to carry and give birth healthy child, praying to the miraculous image. Those who are tormented by mental pangs of conscience, unrequited feelings, and depressing thoughts should bow their heads before the icon. The image will help you cope with bad addictions. You can turn to the sufferer’s family and friends for help. But it is best for a person to want to solve his problems himself, to truly believe in the omnipotence of the Mother of God. After all, as we pray, we receive such help through our prayers.
