In Orthodoxy, icons are of great importance. Their creation is a real art that requires great spiritual commitment and a special inner state of fullness. Icon painting has its own rules and canons, but in ancient times, holy images were often born at the behest of the heart. The writing of an icon was often preceded by a legend or story that arose at the dawn of Christianity. Then the corresponding prayers and akathists appeared to the image. This is exactly what happened with the akathist "Life-Giving Spring". It appeared after the image with the same name was fixed in Russia. The icon "Life-Giving Spring" has a very interesting history, which deserved a warm and reverent attitude from all Orthodox. Among the people, she is considered miraculous and even allocated special days to honor this face of the Virgin, which received over timethe status of a church holiday. Not all Orthodox people know the history of this unusual icon and often read the akathist “Life-Giving Spring” automatically, simply knowing about its incredible spiritual power. In the article we will talk about prayers and an akathist and about everything that is inextricably linked with the icon itself.
Legend of the "Life-Giving Spring"
Our story begins in the fifth century in Constantinople. Orthodox priests believe that it was here that the history of the icon of the Mother of God "The Life-Giving Spring" began (the akathist appeared to her much later).
An ancient grove was located not far from the city. In its depths, a small spring spouted from the ground. Extraordinary miracles were attributed to its pure water, therefore, over time, the source itself and the grove in which it was located were dedicated to the Mother of God. From year to year people came here for healing water. But for some reason they forgot about the grove. Gradually, it overgrown, and the source became cloudy and plunged into thickets.
It is not known if anyone would remember this place if it were not for the future Emperor of Constantinople, Leo Markell. According to legend, he was returning from a campaign and noticed a blind man on the road. The elder was weak and weak, he had long gone astray, and no one expressed a desire to help him. The young warrior took pity on the old man. He seated him in the shade of the trees and told him how to find the way to Constantinople. Since the blind man spent several days without food and drink, he was greatly tormented by hunger and thirst. Leo Markell shared food with the elder, but he himself had no water. So he went looking for her. Suddenly the young man heard a voicewho showed him a place where he could take life-giving moisture. The young warrior could not find the source, and he was about to turn back when he again heard a voice with instructions. This time he was ordered to take not only water, but mud. It had to be put on the eyes of the old man so that he could see. The voice said that through the testimony of this man, many believers would be healed, who would come to the built temple, praising the Mother of God. The young man did not disobey the voice and did everything exactly as he was ordered. To Markell's surprise, the blind man received his sight in a few minutes. The elder walked the rest of the way to Constantinople himself, every minute extolling the Mother of God and the miracle that she showed.
When he came to power, Leo Markell ordered to clear the source of pollution. In order to perpetuate the miracle that happened here, he ordered the construction of a church, and the spring itself was enclosed in a stone foundation resembling a well. It was the emperor who called it the “Life-Giving Spring” (an akathist to the icon of the same name, like the icon itself, however, did not exist at that time).
History of the temple and spring
Over time, more and more people came for healing water and visited the temple in honor of the Virgin. Around the middle of the sixth century, the miraculous power of the source touched another emperor - Justinian the Great. For many years he suffered from an incurable disease, the emperor was already completely desperate to find a cure for it, but one day he heard about a source that bestows he alth. He did not know his whereabouts, so the emperor was saddened even moreformer. In the most difficult moment of reflection, the Blessed Virgin appeared to him in a dream, telling about the place where one could find healing water and once again strongly advised the emperor to go to the source. He did not dare to disobey the Intercessor and, having drunk the water, he was cured. This impressed Justinian so much that he ordered a more impressive temple to be built next to the first church. Later, a monastery was founded nearby, sheltering a large number of people.
The temple and the monastery existed until the fifteenth century, when they were completely destroyed by the Muslims who came to these lands. The Turks were so categorical about the Christian shrine that they even posted guards near the ruins. From here they drove away any person who wanted to bow to the Mother of God and the "Life-Giving Spring" (the akathist already existed in those years). After some time, the Muslims relented and allowed the Christians to the sacred grove. And a little later they even gave permission to build a small temple in the same place.
In the first quarter of the nineteenth century, it was also destroyed. So that Christians would not come here again, the source was completely covered up, and trees were planted in its place. However, this did not stop people. They managed to find the source from old records and cleared it of earth, plants and debris. Over time, Christians gained more freedom and rebuilt the church. Sultan Mahmud favored the Orthodox, so he allowed them to visit the sacred place absolutely freely. A hospital and an almshouse were built here. By the middle of the nineteenth century, all the buildings were functioning, and the temple was consecratedpatriarch.
The birth of an icon
Today, the Orthodox often read prayers and an akathist before the icon of the Mother of God "Life-Giving Spring", but few of them guess when the first such image appeared, and how it looked. We will tell readers about this, because the formation of this icon is associated with interesting stories that cannot be separated from the stages of development of the Christian religion.
If we talk about the very first faces of the Mother of God, called the "Life-Giving Spring", then they belong to the period before the thirteenth century, to the writing of the Blessed Virgin according to the type of Kyriotissa. On such icons, the Mother of God was depicted in full growth with a strict and slightly tormented face. At chest level, she holds the baby with both hands. Interestingly, despite the name, the source itself was not depicted on the icon. There was not even a hint of it in the form of an inscription.
From the beginning of the thirteenth to the middle of the fourteenth century, the Blessed Virgin in the image of the "Life-Giving Spring" (the akathist was well known to the Greek Orthodox during this period) was depicted quite often. For example, in the Crimea, this face was very common. However, it was written completely differently than before. On icons and temple paintings, the Mother of God was depicted according to the type of Oranta. The Blessed Virgin was painted in full growth with her hands raised in a prayerful and protective gesture. At the level of her chest was the infant Christ with outstretched arms. By the way, this image was the most popular.
By the end of the fourteenth century, the icon "Life-Giving Source" (about the akathist and prayers before thisway we will tell a little later) has undergone major changes. Now the Mother of God was written in the center of the font. The structure seemed to float above the source. The Mother of God was depicted in full growth with a baby at her chest. In such images there were many similarities with the ancient scriptures like Kyriotissa.
In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, this face is becoming more and more in demand. Many associate this with the spread of the cult of the service of the Mother of God in Russia, taken from the Greeks. They also used to consecrate springs within the monasteries. Most of them received consecration to the Blessed Virgin. Therefore, each monastery considered it an honor to have the icon of the "Life-Giving Spring".
The formation of the image in Russia
The power of the akathist and prayers read before the icon of the Mother of God "Life-Giving Spring" our ancestors learned long ago. Therefore, approximately from the seventeenth century, this image becomes very common in Russia. Icon painters significantly changed the face, adding many small details to the image. Of course, there are several options for writing an icon, but they all have much in common and differ only in additions to the main composition.
The Mother of God began to be depicted sitting with a baby in a huge bowl over a pool of healing water. Sometimes it took the form of a fountain, from which water spouted in several directions. In the background and foreground, the masters often depicted weak people who came for healing. Quite often, saints were written next to the Blessed Virgin. On theone icon they could be depicted one at a time or by a group of several people.
The meaning of the icon
Before discussing directly the prayers and akathist to the image of the "Life-Giving Source", you need to understand what meaning it carries in itself. Naturally, the original Orthodox treat the icon as a shrine that has the power of healing. On the one hand, this is associated with the source depicted on the icon, and on the other hand, with the Mother of God herself, who acts as the Intercessor for all Orthodox and is able to heal from any disease. All of the above refers to the meaning of the icon, which literally lies on the surface.
But there is another one. About him and will be discussed further. In order to understand the meaning of the icon, you need to delve a little deeper into Christian dogma. The clergy teach the Orthodox that the Lord is life itself. It symbolizes both life in its original, human understanding, and in the spiritual. After all, God gives people eternal life, which every Christian strives for by being baptized.
If we consider the icon from this angle, then the Blessed Virgin is precisely the source of life. She, like any mother, brought a new life into this world, but in this situation we are talking about the divine principle. Therefore, the Mother of God is a symbol of everything bright, pure and good on earth. She is ready to help anyone who asks her. This is exactly what a real mother does, ready to rush to protect her children, regardless of the trouble that gets in the way.
Based on the above,it becomes clear that the icon "Life-Giving Spring", the akathist and prayers to which we will give in the article, can be considered one of the most important in the Orthodox Church.
What to ask for an icon?
Akathist to the Mother of God "The Life-Giving Source" must be read not just like that, but on a specific occasion. This is usually done on a holiday, when the icon is honored, if necessary, turn to the Mother of God with a special request. So how does the akathist to the "Life-Giving Spring" icon and special prayer texts to the Blessed Virgin help?
At the image you can pray for protection from the fall. If you feel that a threat looms over your soul, and temptations constantly come into your life, then immediately turn to the icon with a prayer. The Mother of God will always defend those who wish to preserve their sinlessness with all possible strength.
The icon also saves from harmful passions, bad habits and moral vices. Since all of the above leads to a spiritual fall, and then the death of a person.
In case of bodily illnesses, prayers and the akathist "Life-Giving Source" should also be read. How else can an image help? He successfully relieves mental ailments. In situations where a person is overwhelmed by negative feelings and emotions, he is very vulnerable to any evil. Therefore, turning to the Mother of God will not only become a protective shield, but will also help to get out of such a state of mind.
The Blessed Virgin will provide support even when the human soul groans under the weight of worries, sorrows and troubles. It deprivesa person of vitality and any desire to move on. Prayer before the image of the "Life-Giving Source" is able to fill the wounded soul with light. It will also give energy to a person.
Often the text of the akathist "Life-Giving Source" is read by elderly people who came to the temple. They, like no one else, need support from the Mother of God, and therefore they pray at the icon in the hope of receiving it from the Intercessor.
Honoring the icon
Orthodox people know that in honor of Our Lady of the "Life-Giving Spring" (akathist we will give in one of the following sections of the article), the church arranges a real holiday that falls on Easter week.
The prehistory of the holiday goes back to the times when the Christian temple on the site of the source was destroyed. After a certain period of forced oblivion, the old church was restored, and people again reached out to the shrine. It was this day that the Orthodox Church decided to perpetuate. According to calendar calculations, it fell on Friday of Bright Week. Therefore, now every year on the announced date, the entire Orthodox world honors the icon of the "Life-Giving Spring" and the place that gave it its name.
Traditions of the holiday include a procession and the blessing of water. It is believed that it becomes as healing as the one that beats from the ancient source.
Prayers to the shrine
Prayers and akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos "Life-Giving Spring" the clergy recommend reading in the temple in front of the icon. They explain this recommendation by the fact that in the church prayer sounds a littleotherwise. The energy of everyone who has ever come to the temple joins the prayers of one person. In addition, churches have always been built in special places, which were originally considered places of power. Therefore, it is here that any appeal to God sounds different and is imbued with faith. But without it it is impossible to get something, even if you really want it. At this point, the clergy always focus the attention of the parishioners.
They note that appeals to the Mother of God carry a powerful message. The Blessed Virgin is ready to help everyone who asks, but an indispensable condition for this help is unconditional faith in those saints to whom the prayer is addressed. For people who have only recently come to Orthodoxy, it is better to take as a basis special prayers intended for individual appeal to saints. To pray to the Blessed Virgin at the icon "Life-Giving Spring", two texts will do. We will present them in this section in full.
The first is suitable for absolutely any appeal to the Virgin. It must be learned by heart and pronounced from the icon. You can also put a candle near the image in parallel.
We also give the second text in its full version and with the stress (the akathist "Life-Giving Source" is also given in a similar version in some books), affixed to certain words in order to pronounce them correctly. This prayer is recommended to be read if you are overcome by spiritual and bodily infirmities. The Mother of God will help the one who asks to cope with illness and bestow he alth.
Akathist "Life-Giving Source"
You will pronounce the text with or without accents at the icon, its meaning and power will not change from this. Akathist in Orthodoxy is a special appeal to God, the Blessed Virgin or saints. Speaking briefly and in the most understandable language, we can characterize it as a chant containing laudatory texts. Its distinguishing feature is performance - a person should only pronounce an akathist while standing.
In Russia, akathists began to sing, adopting the Greek tradition. There, this culture was formed around the sixth century. Until now, the Greek structure of the akathist is used in temples, which we will briefly tell readers about. The laudatory text consists of twenty-five songs that alternate with each other. They, in turn, are divided into two groups.
Kondaks belong to the first one. There are thirteen of them in the akathist, and they consist entirely of laudatory songs. The last kontakion should be repeated three times, in the akathist "Life-Giving Spring" it is addressed directly to the Blessed Virgin.
Ikos belong to the second group. They are called "long songs" and according to tradition, there are twelve of them in the text. It is interesting that they are not performed by themselves, kontakion should always be read before them. Each akathist ends with a prayer.
Orthodox need to remember that you can read akathists on holidays and weekdays, in church and at home. Great Lent is the period when such songs are forbidden to be performed. The only exception is the akathist to the Theotokos. That's why"Life-Giving Source" you can read as needed at any time of the day or night.
Many Orthodox consider the akathist a true song of the heart. It’s difficult to read it just like that, but as a thank you for the help provided, it will be the best glorification of the deeds of the Virgin. The text of the akathist "Life-Giving Spring" is quite long, so in the article we present only the first kontakion and ikos from it. If necessary, it will not be difficult for anyone to find it in its full version.
Where you can pray to the icon "Source"
The image of the "Life-Giving Source" has several common names, but keep in mind that in any case we are talking about the same icon. A lot of copies have been made from it, so a large number of similar images are located in churches throughout Russia. Some of them have miraculous powers, and it is to them that people tend to come to ask for themselves and their loved ones.
A similar face is in the Cosmodamian church. It was built in the small village of Metkino. Once there was a church with an abundance of ancient icons. At the beginning of the eighteenth century it was burned, but most of the images survived. The temple was not restored for a long time, but by the beginning of the nineteenth century, the image of the Virgin began to appear in its place. Soon, the locals built a new church and transferred all the icons to it, except for one - the "Life-Giving Spring". It seemed that she was lost forever, but absolutely by chance the image was donated by a merchantlocal resident. She gave it to the new temple. Numerous testimonies are known about the miracles performed by this icon. Today, people from all over the country come here for help.
The miraculous image of the "Life-Giving Spring" can be found in the Church of Our Lady in Arzamas and in Tsaritsino.
