Changes

== the 'Life Giving Spring' story Story ==The image in the icon includes the Virgin Mary with her child standing within a stone chalice that presumable presumably represents the the living water which is Christ. This "living water" is contained in the cross which all who follow him must bear as he did. In the early-churchChurch, 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 of the cross and come out at the top , and then reenter re-enter from the left of the cross and come out on the right of the cross and ; then the priest, who would be standing in the middle of the cross/baptismal font , would commune them.

During the reighn reign of Emperor Marcian (d. 457), a blind man had lost his way and the famous warrior, Leo Marcellus, passing by , helped him. As he went to search for some water, to refresh the exhausted man, he heard a voice directing him to the spring. In Constantinople, some time in the 5th century, there was a garden that was dedicated to the Virgin Mother of God. In the garden was a spring and it was well known for its miracles. In its history, the fountain had been destroyed and then rebuilt, on many occasions, at the request of the Virgin Mother.

In Constantinople, sometime in the 15th Century5th century, there was a garden that was dedicated to the city Virgin Mother of Constantinople fell into the hands of the MuslimsGod. The Church of In the Life-giving Spring garden was destroyed, a spring and it was well-known for its building materials were used to construct a mosque for Sultan Bayazetmiracles. The church site was covered with earth and crushed stoneIn its history, so that the very foundations of the church disappeared from sight. The beautiful surrounding areas were turned into a Muslim cemetery. A Turkish sentinelfountain had been destroyed and then rebuilt on many occasions, placed at the ruins request of the church, forbade Christians not only to gather at the site, but even to approach thereVirgin Mother.

Little by littleIn the 15th century, the strictness city of Constantinople fell into the hands of the Muslims. The Church of this ban easedthe Life-giving Spring was destroyed, and Christians its building materials were permitted used to build construct a small mosque for Sultan Bayazet. The church there. However, in 1821, it site was destroyed as wellcovered with earth and crushed stone, and so that the spring itself was filled in. Once again Christians cleaned up very foundations of the ruins, reopened the spring, and once again drew water church disappeared from itsight. Even upon these shards of the former magnificent holy structure, the Theotokos, as before, granted hearings through Her graceThe beautiful surrounding areas were turned into a Muslim cemetery. LaterA Turkish sentinel, among placed at the broken pieces in one ruins of the windows was foundchurch, already half-rotted away through time and dampness, a panel on which were recorded 10 miracles which occurred forbade Christians not only to gather at the Life-giving Spring during the period 1824-1829site, but even to approach there.

During Little by little, the reign strictness of Sultan Mahmoudthis ban eased, the Orthodox received a measure of freedom to conduct religious services. They used it and Christians were permitted to erect, for the third time, build a small church above the Life-giving Springthere. In 1835However, with great pompin 1821, the Ecumenical Patriarch Constantineit was destroyed as well, celebrating with 20 bishops and an enormous flood of the faithfulspring itself was filled in. Once again Christians cleaned up the ruins, consecrated reopened the church which stands to this day. Nearby was built a hospital spring, and alms-houseonce again drew water from it. Even the Muslims spoke with great respect upon these shards of the Life-giving Springformer magnificent holy structure, and of the Theotokos, Who as before, granted hearings through it pours out Her her grace-filled power. "Great Later, among women Holy Mary" is how they refer to the Most Holy Virgin. The water from broken pieces in one of the windows was found, already half-rotted away through time and dampness, a panel on which were recorded ten miracles which occurred at the Life-giving Spring they call during the "water of Holy Maryperiod 1824-1829."