Life-giving Spring

Life-giving Spring or Zoodochos Pigi (Greek: Ζωοδόχος Πηγή) is a title given to the Theotokos, the Mother of God, in the Eastern Orthodox Church and Eastern Catholic Churches. It refers to a miraculous icon as well as a sacred spring associated with the Virgin Mary. The feast commemorating the Life-giving Spring is celebrated on the Friday of the Bright Week, the week following Easter.

History

The origin of the Life-giving Spring is tied to a miracle that occurred in the outskirts of Byzantine Constantinople. According to tradition, a miraculous spring was discovered by a soldier named Leo Marcellus, who later became Emperor Leo I of Byzantium. The Theotokos appeared to him in a dream, instructing him to uncover a spring that would bring healing to those who drank from it. Upon becoming emperor, Leo built a magnificent church over the spring, dedicating it to the Theotokos of the Life-giving Spring.

Over the centuries, the shrine became a place of pilgrimage, renowned for the healing properties of its water. The original church was destroyed during the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453 but was later rebuilt. Today, the site remains a significant place of worship and pilgrimage in the Orthodox Christian world.

The Icon

The icon of the Life-giving Spring depicts the Virgin Mary with her hands raised in prayer, standing over a spring of water. This imagery symbolizes her role as a source of healing and life through her intercession to her Son, Jesus Christ. The icon is venerated in many Orthodox churches, especially those dedicated to the Life-giving Spring.

Feast Day

The feast of the Life-giving Spring is celebrated with great joy and festivity in the Orthodox Church. It occurs on the Friday of Bright Week, the week after Easter, emphasizing the renewal of life through the Resurrection of Christ and the intercessory role of the Theotokos. Liturgical services include the blessing of water, commemorating the miraculous spring associated with the Virgin Mary.

Significance

The veneration of the Life-giving Spring highlights the Theotokos's role in the Orthodox Christian faith as a mediator between humanity and Christ. It underscores the belief in her intercessory power and her capacity to offer spiritual and physical healing. The feast and its associated traditions also reflect the deep Marian devotion present within the Orthodox tradition.

See Also

• Theotokos
• Eastern Orthodox Church
• Eastern Catholic Churches
• Icon
• Miracle