In Orthodoxy, icons are of great importance. Their creation is a real art, requiring great spiritual bestowal and a special inner state of fullness. Iconography has its own rules and canons, but in ancient times holy images were often born at the behest of the heart. The icon was often preceded by a legend or a story that arose at the dawn of Christianity. Then appropriate prayers and akathists appeared to the image. With the Akathist, the "Life-Giving Spring" happened just like that. It appeared already after the image with the same name was fixed in Russia. The icon "Life-giving Spring" has a very interesting history, which has earned a warm and reverent attitude from all Orthodox. The people consider her miraculous and even singled out special days for the celebration of this face of the Virgin, which over time received the status of a church holiday. Not all Orthodox know the history of this unusual icon and often read the akathist "Life-giving Source" automatically, simply knowing its incredible spiritual power. In the article we will talk about prayers and akathist and about everything that is inextricably linked with the icon itself.
Legend of the "Life-Giving Source"
Our story originates in the fifth century in Constantinople. Orthodox priests believe that it was here that the history of the icon of the Virgin "Life-giving Source" began (akathist appeared to her much later).
Not far from the city was an ancient grove. In its depths, a small spring was beating from under the ground. Unusual miracles were attributed to his pure water, so 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 became overgrown, and the source became cloudy and plunged into the thicket.
It is not known if anyone would have recalled this place, if not for the future emperor of Constantinople, Leo Markell. According to legend, he returned from a campaign and noticed a blind man on the road. The old man was weak and weak, he had gone astray a long time ago, and no one had expressed a desire to help him. The young warrior felt sorry for the old man. He sat him in the shade of trees and told how to find a way to Constantinople. Since the blind man spent several days without food or drink, he was greatly tormented by hunger and thirst. Leo Markell shared the food with the old man, but he himself did not have water. Therefore, I went in search of her. Suddenly, the young man heard a voice that showed him a place where it was possible to take life-giving moisture. The young warrior could not find the source, and he was already turned back, when he again heard a voice with instructions. This time he was ordered to take not only water, but also mud. She had to be put on the eyes of the old man so that he could see. The voice said that through the testimonies of this person, many believers will be healed, who will come to the built temple, offering praise to 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 saw his sight in a few minutes. The elder went all the rest of the way to Constantinople himself, every minute extolling the Mother of God and the miracle that she showed.
Having come to power, Lev Markell ordered to clear the source of pollution. In order to perpetuate the miracle that happened here, he ordered the church to be built, and the spring itself to be enclosed in a stone foundation resembling a well. It was the emperor who called it the "Life-Giving Spring" (akathist to the icon of the same name, as well as her own, however, at that time did not exist).
History of the temple and source
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 completely desperate to find a cure for it, but once he heard about a source that gives health. His whereabouts were unknown to him, so the emperor was saddened even more than before. In the most difficult moment of reflection, the Blessed Virgin appeared in a dream, telling about the place where healing water could be found and once again strongly advised the emperor to go to the source. He did not dare to disobey the Intercessor and, having drank water, he recovered. This struck Justinian so much that he ordered a more impressive temple to be built next to the first church. Later, a monastery was founded nearby, which sheltered a large number of people.
The temple and monastery existed until the fifteenth century, when they were completely destroyed by Muslims who came to these lands. The Turks were so categorical about the Christian shrine that they even put up protection near the ruins. Any person who wished to bow to the Virgin Mary and the "Life-Giving Source" was driven away from here (an akathist already existed in these years). After some time, the Muslims relented and allowed 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 do not come here again, the source was completely covered, and trees were planted in its place. However, this did not stop people. They managed to find the source according to old records and cleared it from the earth, plants and garbage. Over time, Christians gained more freedom and restored 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 mid-nineteenth century, all the buildings were functioning, and the temple was consecrated by the patriarch.
Birth icons
Today, Orthodox Christians often read prayers and an akathist in front of the Icon of the Mother of God "Life-giving Source", but few of them guess when the first such image appeared and what it looked like. 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 Source", then they relate to the period earlier than the thirteenth century, to the writing of the Blessed Virgin according to the Kyriotissa type. On such icons the Mother of God was depicted in full growth with a strict and slightly exhausted face. At breast level with both hands she holds the baby. Interestingly, despite the name, the source itself was not depicted on the icon. There was not even a hint of him 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 Greek Orthodox during this period) was portrayed quite often. For example, in the Crimea, this face was very common. However, it was written in a completely different way than before. On the icons and temple paintings, the Mother of God was depicted as Oranta. The Most Holy Virgin was written in full growth with hands raised in a prayer and protective gesture. At the level of her chest was the infant Christ with arms extended to the sides. By the way, this image was the most popular.
Towards the end of the fourteenth century, the icon "Life-Giving Spring" (about akathist and prayers before this image 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 soar above the source. The virgin was portrayed in full growth with a baby at the chest. In such images there was much similar to the ancient scripture of the Kyriotissa type.
In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, this face becomes more and more popular. Many attribute this to the spread of the worship of the Mother of God in Russia, taken from the Greeks. It was also their nature to consecrate springs within monasteries. Most of them received the dedication of the Blessed Virgin. Therefore, each monastery considered it an honor to have the icon "Life-giving Source".
Formation of the image in Russia
The power of the Akathist and prayer read before the Icon of the Mother of God, and our ancestors, have long been recognized by our ancestors. Therefore, since about the seventeenth century, this image has become very common in Russia. Icon painters substantially changed the face, giving the image a lot of small details. Of course, there are several options for writing the icon, but they all have much in common and differ only in additions to the main composition.
The Virgin began to be depicted sitting with a baby in a huge bowl above a pool of healing water. Sometimes it took the form of a fountain, from where water hit in several directions. In the background and foregrounds, masters often portrayed weak people who came for healing. Quite often, saints were written next to the Blessed Virgin. On one icon they could be depicted one at a time or at once by a group of several people.
Value icon
Before discussing directly prayers and an akathist to the image of the "Life-giving Source", you need to understand what meaning it carries in itself. Naturally, the Orthodox initially refer to the icon as a shrine that has the power of healing. On the one hand, this is associated with the source depicted in the icon, and on the other, with the Mother of God herself, who acts as the Intercessor for all Orthodox Christians and is able to heal from any diseases. All of the above refers to the meaning of the icon, which literally lies on the surface.
But there is one more. It will be discussed further. In order to understand the meaning of the icon, it takes a little deeper plunge into Christian dogma. Priests teach the Orthodox that the Lord is life itself. It symbolizes by itself both life in its original, human understanding, and in the spiritual. After all, God gives people eternal life, which every Christian aspires to when he is baptized.
If you look at the icon from this angle, then the Blessed Virgin is precisely the source of life. She, like any mother, brought a new life to this world, but in this situation we are talking about the divine beginning. Therefore, the Virgin is a symbol of all that is bright, pure and good on earth. She is ready to help anyone who asks her for a request. This is exactly what a real mother does, ready to rush to protect her children, regardless of the trouble that got in the way.
Based on the foregoing, it becomes clear that the icon "Life-giving Source", akathist and prayers to which we will bring in the article, can be considered one of the most important in the Orthodox Church.
What to ask for an icon?
Akathist of the Mother of God "Life-giving Source" must be read not just like that, but on a specific occasion. This is usually done on a holiday when they honor the icon, if necessary, turn to the Virgin with a special request. So what helps the akathist to the icon "Life-giving Source" and special prayer texts for the Blessed Virgin?
You can pray for protection from the fall by the image. If you feel that a threat has come over your soul, and temptations constantly come to life, then immediately turn to the icon with prayer. The Mother of God will always defend one who wants to preserve her sinlessness by all possible means.
The icon also saves from harmful passions, bad habits and moral vices. Since all of the above leads to a spiritual decline, and then the death of a person.
In case of bodily diseases, one also needs to read the prayers and the akathist "Life-giving Source". How does the image help yet? He successfully relieves of mental illness. In situations where a person is overwhelmed with negative feelings and emotions, he is very vulnerable to all evil. Therefore, the appeal to the Virgin will not only become a protective shield, but 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. This deprives a person of vitality and any desire to move on. Prayer before the "Life-giving Source" image is able to fill the wounded soul with light. It will also give energy to a person.
Often the akathist’s text “Life-giving Source” is read by elderly people who have come to the temple. They, like no one else, need support from the Mother of God, therefore they pray at the icon in the hope of receiving it from the Intercessor.
Honoring Icons
The Orthodox know that in honor of the Mother of God, 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 backstory of the holiday is rooted in the days when the Christian church at the source was destroyed. After a period of oblivion, the old church was restored, and people again reached for the shrine. It was this day that the Orthodox Church decided to perpetuate. According to calendar estimates, he fell on Friday of the Bright Week. Therefore, now every year on the announced date, the whole Orthodox world honors the icon "Life-giving Source" and the place that gave it its name.
The traditions of the holiday include a procession and blessing of water. It is believed that it becomes as healing as the one that hits from an ancient source.
Prayer Shrine
Prayers and akathist to the Blessed Virgin Mary "Life-giving Spring" clergy recommend reading in the church in front of the icon. They explain this recommendation with the fact that prayer in the church sounds a little different. 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 that were originally considered places of power. Therefore, it is here that any appeal to God sounds different and is saturated with faith. But without it it is impossible to get something, even very much wanting. At this point, clergy always focus the attention of 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 prayer is addressed. For people who have only recently come to Orthodoxy, it is better to take as their basis special prayers designed for individual appeal to saints. To pray to the Blessed Virgin at the icon "Life-giving Source", two texts will do. We will give 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 by the icon. You can also put a candle at the image in parallel.
The second text is also given in its full version and with emphasis (the akathist "Life-giving Source" is also given in a similar version in some books), put down in certain words in order to pronounce them correctly. This prayer is recommended to be read if you have been overcome by spiritual and bodily infirmities. The Virgin Mary will help the asking person to cope with the ailment and grant health.
Akathist "Life-Giving Spring"
You will pronounce the text with or without accents at the icon, its meaning and strength will not change. Akathist in Orthodoxy is a special appeal to God, the Blessed Virgin or saints. In short and maximally understandable language, we can characterize it as a chant containing laudatory texts. Its distinguishing feature is execution - a person should pronounce an akathist only while standing.
In Russia, akathists began to sing, adopting the Greek tradition. There, this culture formed around the sixth century. Until now, the Greek structure of the Akathist is used in the temples, which we will briefly tell readers about. The laudatory text consists of twenty-five songs that alternate among themselves. They, in turn, are divided into two groups.
The first include kondaki. There are thirteen of them in the Akathist, and they are entirely composed of laudatory songs. The last kondak should be repeated three times, in the akathist "Life-giving Source" he is addressed directly to the Blessed Virgin.
The second group includes ikos. They are called “lengthy songs” and according to tradition, there are twelve in the text. It is interesting that by themselves they are not executed, before them the condo should always be read. Each akathist ends with a prayer.
Orthodox need to remember that akathists can be read on holidays and weekdays, in church and at home. Lent is the period when such songs are forbidden to be performed. The only exception is the Akathist to the Virgin. Therefore, the "Life-giving Source" you can read as necessary at any time of the day or night.
Many Orthodox consider the Akathist to be a true heart song. 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 acts of the Virgin. The text of the akathist "Life-giving Source" is quite long, so in the article we give only the first kondak and ikos from it. If necessary, finding it in its entirety will not be difficult for anyone.
Where can I pray the Istochnaya icon
The image of the "Life-Giving Source" has a few names in common people, but keep in mind that in any case we are talking about the same icon. There are a lot of lists made of it, so throughout Russia in the temples there are a large number of such images. Some of them have miraculous power, and it is to them that people strive 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 have 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, local residents 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 it was absolutely by accident that the image was presented by a merchant to a local resident. She handed him to the new temple. Numerous testimonies of the miracles performed by this icon are known. 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.