Church сelebrates the feast of Life-Giving Spring Icon
The Life-Giving Spring Icon. Photo: Monastic Herald
On Bright Friday – which in 2025 falls on April 25 – the Church celebrates the feast of the icon of the Mother of God known as the 'Life-Giving Spring.'
The origin of the feast dates back to the 5th century. According to tradition, the future Byzantine Emperor Leo Marcellus encountered a blind man who asked him for water. The Theotokos (Mother of God) directed Leo to a nearby spring, the water from which the blind man used to wash his eyes – and he miraculously regained his sight. A church was later built on that site in honor of the Mother of God.
Today, solemn services with the blessing of water are held in Orthodox churches around the world. After the Divine Liturgy, clergy perform the water blessing, and the faithful may take the holy water home.
Special celebrations take place in monasteries and churches dedicated to the Life-Giving Spring Icon. Pilgrims participate in ritual washings at the holy springs, which, according to tradition, possess healing powers.
The Life-Giving Spring Icon depicts the Mother of God with the Christ Child in a chalice set within a pool of water. Streams of water flow from the chalice, symbolizing the healings and miracles granted through prayers to the Most Holy Theotokos.
Read also
Pashinyan says Catholicos’ activities threaten Armenia’s security
At a briefing in Yerevan, Armenia’s head of government said the Catholicos poses a threat to the state.
Dumenko: Russian shelling only underscores the “canonical” status of the OCU
Serhiy Dumenko assured that the OCU “opposes discord by seeking accord, peace, and unity.”
Venezuela’s opposition leader hands Trump her Nobel Peace Prize medal
During talks at the White House, Venezuela’s opposition leader presented the U.S. president with the Nobel Peace Prize medal she received for her struggle against the regime in Caracas.
New UOC church of St. Basil the Great consecrated in Krasnoilsk, Bukovyna
The rite of consecration and the festive service were led by Metropolitan Meletiy of Chernivtsi and Bukovyna.
New men’s monastery founded in UOC's Oleksandriia Eparchy
The Holy Transfiguration monastery will become a center of prayer and spiritual care in the region.
European Parliament honors memory of Archbishop Anastasios of Albania
For the first time, the European Parliament hosted an event dedicated to the life and works of the late Primate of the Albanian Church.