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[[Image:Life_Giving_SpringTheotokos the Life-Giving Font.jpg|thumb|right|An icon Icon of the Panagia Theotokos the Life -Giving Spring, from Messinias (Pilos, Greece)Font. 17th c.]][[Image:Procession-Feast of Zoodohos Pigi-Arcadia,Greece-1950s.jpg|thumb|right|Procession on ''This article is about the [[feast day]] of Panagia the Life-giving Font in the village of Kastri, [[w:Arcadia|Arcadia]], Greece, ca.1959, on [[w:Bright Friday|Bright Friday]].]][[Image:Saint Mary Of The Giving Spring.jpg|right|thumb|The For the historic monastery see [[w:Holy well|Holy well]] (Hagiasma) of [[w:Church of St. Mary the Life-Giving Font of the Spring Theotokos (Istanbul)|St. Mary of the Source in Istanbul]].]]''[[Panagia]] the The '''Life-Giving Spring''' or '''Life-Giving [[Font]]''' of the [[Theotokos|Mother of God]] (in Greek: Ζωοδόχος Πηγή; Russian: Живоносный Источник) is both the a [[feast day]] of in the Orthodox Church that is associated with [[w:Church of St. Mary the Life-Giving Font of the Spring Theotokos (Istanbul)|a historic church]] just west of Constantinople in [[w:Balıklı, Istanbul|Valoukli]], and as well as an icon of the [[Theotokos]] (Virgin Mary) which is venerated by the Orthodox Church, commemorated on [[Bright Week|Bright Friday]] of each year.

==Story ==The image in [[feast day]] of the icon includes Life-Giving Spring is commemorated on [[w:Easter Friday|Bright Friday]] of each year (the Friday following [[Virgin MaryPascha]] with her child standing within a stone chalice that presumably represents ), being the living water only feast day which is Christ. This "living water" is contained in the cross which all who follow him must bear as he did. In the early Churchmay be celebrated during [[Bright Week]], while the baptismal font was actually in the form of a cross just like the cross of this icon and the Christians would enter in from the base commemoration of the cross and come out at the top, and then reLife-enter from the left Giving Spring ''[[Icon]]'' of the cross and come out Most Holy [[Theotokos]] is observed on the right of the cross; then the priest, who would be standing in the middle of the cross/baptismal font, would commune them[[April 4]].

During ==Revelation of the reign of Emperor Life-Giving Spring==[[Image:Saint Mary Of The Spring.jpg|right|thumb|The [[Marcianw:Holy well|Holy well]] (dHagiasma) of the Church of the Life Giving Font (Istanbul). 457)]][[Image:Procession-Feast of Zoodohos Pigi-Arcadia, a blind man had lost his way and Greece-1950s.jpg|thumb|right|Procession on the [[feast day]] of the famous warriorLife-giving Spring, Leo Marcellus[[w:Bright Friday|Bright Friday]] 1959, passing by[[w:Arcadia|Arcadia]], helped himGreece.]]There are two accounts extant concerning the revelation of the Life-Giving Font just outside the City of Constantinople. As he went to search for some It is likely that in either case, before the 5th-6th century monastery was erected, a shrine was already in existence with a [[w:Spring (hydrosphere)|spring of water ]], near a grove of trees, and was dedicated to refresh the exhausted man[[Theotokos]] from early times. Over time, he heard a voice directing him to the grove had become overgrown and the springbecame fetid.<ref>Archpriest Feodor S. Kovalchuk. ''Wonder-Working Icons of the Theotokos.'' Youngstown OH: Central Satates Deanery, 1985. pp.67–70.</ref><br>

In the 15th centuryThe traditional account is recorded by [[Nikephoros Kallistos|Nikephoros Kallistos Xanthopoulos]], the city last of Constantinople fell into the hands of Greek ecclesiastical historians, who flourished around 1320. This tradition begins with a miracle that occurred involving a soldier named Leo Marcellus, who would later become the Muslims. The Byzantine Emperor [[w:Church of St. Mary of the Spring Leo I (Istanbulemperor)|Church of Leo I the LifeThracian]] (457-giving Spring474). While Leo was on his way to Constantinople he encountered a blind man near the [[w:Walls_of_Constantinople#Golden_Gate_and_the_Yedikule_Fortress|Golden Gate]] who was destroyedthirsty. Though he agreed to search for water, and its building materials were used he was unable to construct a mosque for Sultan Bayazetfind any. The church site A female voice was then heard who told the future Emperor that there was covered with earth water nearby. Looking about, he could see no one, and crushed stoneneither could he see any water. Then he heard the voice again::"Emperor Leo, so that go into the deepest part of the woods, and you will find water there. Take some of the cloudy water in your hands and give it to the blind man to drink. Then take the very foundations clay and put it on his eyes. Then you shall know who I am."<ref name="OCA">OCA - Feasts and Saints. ''[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsLife.asp?FSID=32 Bright Friday. The Life Giving Spring of the church disappeared from sightMother of God]. ''</ref>The beautiful surrounding areas were turned into a Muslim cemeterysame voice added that she had chosen that very place to be worshiped and prophesied that he would one day receive the crown to the empire. A Turkish sentinel, placed Leo followed her order and at once the ruins of blind man recovered his eyesight. After his accession to the throne, the Emperor erected a magnificent churchon this place, forbade Christians not only and the water continued to gather at the sitework miraculous cures. Therefore, but even to approach thereit was called "The Life-Giving Spring. "

During A second account is given by the reign prominent Byzantine scholar [[w:Procopius|Procopius of Caesarea]] (flourishing ca.500-565).<ref group="note">The 11th century Byzantine historian [[w:George Kedrenos|George Cedrenus]] also mentions this version.</ref> In this version, the Emperor [[Justinian]] was out hunting when he came upon a small [[chapel]] in a beautiful wooded area, surrounded by a large crowd of people and a priest in front of Sultan Mahmouda spring. Inquiring about this site, he was told that this was the Orthodox received “source of miracles”. He at once ordered that a measure magnificent church be built there, utilizing materials that had remained after the erection of freedom to conduct religious servicesthe [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]].<ref name="JANIN">Raymond Janin (in French). ''La Géographie ecclésiastique de l'Empire byzantin. 1. Part: Le Siège de Constantinople et le Patriarcat Oecuménique. 3rd Vol.: Les Églises et les Monastères.'' Paris: Institut Français d'Etudes Byzantines. 1953. p.232-37.</ref> The church was erected in the last years of his reign, ca.559-560, near the holy spring. They used it to erect<ref group="note">In this context, "Holy Spring/Holy Font/Holy Source" becomes synonymous with the Greek: ἁγίασμα, for ''hagiasma''; Lit.: 'sanctuary'.</ref> After the third timeerection of the sanctuary, the Gate that was situated outside the [[w:Church Walls_of_Constantinople#Theodosian_Walls|walls of St. Mary Theodosius II]] was named by the Byzantines ''Gate of the Spring '' (Greek: Πύλη τῆς Πηγῆς).<ref>Wolfgang Müller-Wiener (in German). ''Bildlexikon zur Topographie Istanbuls: Byzantion, Konstantinupolis, Istanbul)bis zum Beginn d. 17 Jh..'' Tübingen: Wasmuth, 1977. pp.416.</ref> ==The Icon==[[Image:Panagia Argokiliotissa.JPG|thumb|right|a church above Greek icon of the Theotokos the Life-giving Spring("Panagia Argokiliotissa", Naxos).]]The icon representing the Virgin of the Spring shows the Virgin blessing and embracing the Child. In 1835She is surrounded by two angels, with great pompand is sitting on the more elevated of two basins, presumably representing the "living water" which is [[Christ]].<ref group="note">This living water is contained in the Ecumenical Patriarch [[Constantius II of Constantinople|ConstantineCross]]which must be born by all those who follow Him, celebrating with 20 bishops and an enormous flood of just as He did.</ref> The living water from the faithfulmore elevated basin flows into a larger marble basin below, which is in the shape of a [[Consecration cross]].<ref group="note">In the early Church, the baptismal font was actually in the form of a church|consecrated cross, just like the church]] which stands to cross depicted in this dayicon. Nearby was built a hospital Christians would enter from the base of the cross and come out at the top, and almsthen re-house. Even enter from the Muslims spoke with great respect left of the Life-giving Spring, cross and come out on the right of the [[Theotokos]]cross; then the priest, who through it pours out her grace-filled powerwould be standing in the middle of the cross/baptismal font, would commune them. </ref>  In one version of the icon that was found on Naxos island, Greece,<ref group="Great among women Holy Marynote">Icon of "Panagia Argokiliotissa" is how they refer , from Naxos island, Greece (Greek: Παναγία η Αργοκοιλιώτισσα - Νάξος).</ref> some differences are shown with respect to the Most Holy Virginancient type. The water from Around the Lifecross-giving Spring they call shaped basin stands the Emperor with his guard, while on the right is the Patriarch with his bishops. In the background, is represented Leo I with the blind man, and the walls of the City. Under the basin a paralytic and a madman are healed with the "spring’s water of Holy Mary."

==ChurchesHymn==*In Orthodox hymnography, the ''Theotokos'' is frequently compared with a ''Holy Fountain''. The hymns and prayers of the feast are combined with the Paschal hymns, and there is often a Lesser [[Holy water|Blessing of Waters]] performed after the [http[Divine Liturgy]] on [[w://wwwEaster Friday|Bright Friday]].zoodohospigi.gr/ In old [[Church of Russia|Russia]], continuing Greek traditions, there was a custom to sanctify springs that were located near churches, dedicate them to the [[Theotokos|Holy Mother]], and paint icons of her under [[Theotokonymia|the title]] ''The Life-Giving Spring] Acadimias, Athens*''.<ref>Kristina Kondratieva (Global Art Communications project). ''[http://www.theotokos-lifegiving-springiconkuznetsov.orgcom/ Theotokos of the index.php?sid=341&did=264&lang=eng Panagia The Life-Giving Spring Russian Orthodox Mission] .'' Yuriy Kuznetsov: Icons of the XXI Century. Accessed: 2011- Bryan, Texas05-19.</ref>

==Hymnography==In Orthodox hymnography, the ''Theotokos'' is frequently compared with a ''Holy Fountain''.==Hymn==[[KontakionTroparion|Apolytikion]] (Tone 3)<ref name="OMHKSEA">[[ToneOrthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia]] 8) . ''[http://ocafswww.ocaomhksea.org/FeastSaintsLife2011/05/bright-friday/ Bright Friday].'' Accessed: 2011-09-28.asp?FSID=32]</ref> :As a life-giving fount, thou didst conceive the Dew that is transcendent in essence, :O Virgin Maid, and thou hast welled forth for our sakes the nectar of joy eternal, :which doth pour forth from thy fount with the water that springeth up :unto everlasting life in unending and mighty streams; :wherein, taking delight, we all cry out: :Rejoice, O thou Spring of life for all men. 

[[Kontakion]] (Plagal of Tone 4)<ref name="OMHKSEA"/>:O most favored Lady graced by God, :You confer on you reward me by letting gush forth, beyond reason, :the healing ever-flowing waters of your grace from your inexhaustible perpetual Spring. :ThereforeI entreat you, since you gave birth incomprehensibly to who bore the WordLogos, in a manner beyond comprehension, :I implore you to refresh me with the dew of in your grace that I might may cry to you: out, :Hail, O Water of salvation“Hail redemptive waters.”

==Notes==<references group="note" /> ==References== <div><references/></div> ==External linklinks==

 [[Categoryro:MonasteriesIzvorul Tămăduirii]]