Festal Homily for the Friday of Renewal Week and the Zoodochos Pege (Elder Philotheos Zervakos)

Festal Homily for the Friday of Renewal Week

And an Account of Certain Miracles of our Most Glorious Lady Theotokos, of the Zoodochos Pege (Life-Receiving Spring)

By Archimandrite Philotheos Zervakos

Again a feast, and again a festival. And, to speak better, within the feast there has appeared to us yet another joyful feast, increasing the joy of the faithful and filling their hearts with unspeakable gladness. For while we are still celebrating the radiant and world-saving Resurrection of Christ our God and Savior, behold, there has also shone upon us another festival of His Pure and Immaculate Mother, our Lady and Sovereign, the Zoodochos Pege, which with just cause urges all the faithful to celebrate again today, and all together to rejoice with spiritual joy and exultation, glorifying with hymns and doxologies Christ our God risen from the dead, and His All-Holy Mother, the Mistress of all creation, the benefactress and mediatrix of us Christians, that we may receive from her grace and a spiritual reward.

For just as those who go to a bath and wash return cleansed from bodily defilements, in the same way every faithful person who runs to the holy house of our Lady, and with reverence and faith drinks and is sprinkled from her precious holy water, is wondrously illumined and purified with a marvelous cleansing, being freed from spiritual pollutions and delivered from every sickness of soul and body. Therefore, O my brethren, let us all hasten today with faith and reverence to the grace-filled temple of the Virgin Mother; let us rejoice and celebrate together, young and old, and let us be spiritually glad on this new Friday.

For on the past Friday, I mean Great Friday, our Lord, having been nailed to the Life-giving Cross, and having torn up upon it the handwriting against us, granted us freedom from the slavery of the ruler of this world. But on the present new Friday, the Lover of mankind has counted us worthy to celebrate not only our victories — that is, the victory and the trophies which the Almighty set up on our behalf against Hades when He rose from the dead — but also to celebrate yet another wondrous festival, namely the Dedication of the All-Revered Temple of His Pure and All-Immaculate Mother, the Zoodochos Pege and Fountain of Grace. She, besides the many and great benefactions which she bestowed upon the human race, since through her came the redemption and salvation of mankind, and through her every believer is saved, has granted to us in addition another means of salvation from spiritual passions and bodily pains: that through her blessing waters may be sanctified and become remedies for incurable illnesses and grievous sufferings.

Therefore, celebrating this great and ineffable benefaction toward us of our Lady and Sovereign Theotokos, and rendering thanks to our benefactress, we keep this feast each year. On this day it is fitting and just that the cause and giver of this great, ready, and freely-given gift should be praised, and that the festival be held with encomiums and thanksgivings. For if, according to Wisdom, even the memory of one righteous man is made with praises, and gratitude is given even to servants for their particular benefits, who would appear so ungrateful as not to be moved, according to his ability, to thanksgiving, and not to praise, according to the strength within him, the fountain of all righteousness, the treasury of holiness, and the spring of miracles and benefactions — the Ever-Virgin Mary, the Queen of all creation?

Not in order to glorify her who is truly glorified, but that everyone who hymns her may himself be glorified. No — she has no need of glory from us, she who became the dwelling-place of the glory of the Most High. She it is, I say, of whom glorious things were spoken, according to the Prophet-King: “Glorious things have been spoken of you, O city of God.” And what other would we call the city of God, who holds all creation in the palm of His hand, except her alone? For she truly, beyond nature and beyond being, and inexpressibly, contained Him who is beyond being and beyond description, the Word of God and God Himself; and from that God glorious things were spoken concerning her. What other glory and honor could come to the Theotokos greater than this — that she received the ancient true counsel of God?

This Pure Virgin Mother, therefore, neither human tongue, earthly and made of clay, nor even angelic and super-cosmic mind is able to thank worthily, since through her it is granted to us to behold clearly the glory of the Lord. What then — shall we be silent? By no means. But what? Shall we stretch out the foot, as the proverb says, beyond the ladder, forgetting our limits, and dare shamelessly to touch the untouchable? No; for that too is not fitting. Rather it is fitting to join fear with longing, and from these two to weave a crown as a very small first-offering, and to offer it with reverence, trembling hand, and longing of soul to the Queen and Mother of the King of all things, God.

Above all, to her who has been crowned by the Holy, Consubstantial, and Most Glorious Trinity, we could offer no more honorable and acceptable crown, nor render any more gracious thanksgiving, than to recount and proclaim to all her great and ineffable benefactions toward us, and by this to urge every person to partake of her great gift. For the all-merciful Mother of the all-merciful God counts as a crown of glory and a royal purple robe higher than every honor — our salvation. This is her adornment. This the Queen of all creation considers her royal mantle. Therefore the one who recounts her miracles renders to her the greatest honor and thanksgiving, because by this he shows to all that she is an inexhaustible treasury of benefactions, a ready helper and defender, and an unashamed mediatrix before God; and he draws all to the enjoyment of her great gifts, and makes them know the salvation and visitation of all our race.

Wherefore I also, her lowly servant, wishing to offer her a small thanksgiving for all the benefits I continually receive, have desired to relate to your hearing, with trembling heart and longing soul, a portion of her benefactions toward us, of those which she grants us each day through the waters sanctified by her. And I, though weak of voice, desire to become a herald of her great compassion toward us, and to make known, so far as lies in me, how this joyful feast first appeared to Christians, and how each of the faithful who had some affliction, and fled to her mercy, found wondrous healing through her revered holy water.

Therefore I beg you, grant me time and a little attention, for the love of the Pure Virgin Mother who truly desires the salvation of all, that I may briefly recount for our benefit, and for the honor and crown of glory of the truly glorified Lady Theotokos, some of her miracles; and you shall receive from her, the rich Rewarder, rich recompense for your attention, being benefited both in soul and body.

And so I begin.

The great Emperor Leo, also surnamed Makellis, was indeed of noble lineage; but because he was left an orphan while still young, and had no one to care for him in some more honorable trade, he became a butcher. Yet being a most Christian man, adorned with many other virtues, naturally most compassionate and merciful toward the poor, exceedingly devout and lover of the divine services, he never failed to attend the sacred services daily, nor did he neglect to hear the explanations of the divine Scriptures. Though he was unlettered because of the orphanhood already mentioned, he did not fall behind the learned. He loved the company of wise and virtuous men, and had a great thirst to hear the explanations of the holy Scriptures; and hearing them, he strove greatly to fulfill in deed the holy commandments of Christ contained in them.

Therefore he humbled himself more than all, and whatever he acquired he gave abundantly into the hands of the poor. He cared for prisoners, visited the sick, clothed the naked, fed the hungry, guided the blind by the hand with deepest humility, and eagerly fulfilled every other God-given commandment. For this reason, once as he was passing through the place where today stands the Zoodochos Pege in Constantinople, he found a blind man wandering here and there. Taking him by the hand, he led him toward the road.

But because that wretched blind man, from the struggle of wandering, had become thirsty and began to faint — for in those days the place was deserted, wooded, and without water — Leo, moved with compassion, left the blind man there by the road and entered the grove, searching carefully if perhaps he might find water to refresh the one suffering from thirst. Having gone all around that forest and finding nothing anywhere, he returned sorrowful, considering what means he might use to relieve the blind man’s thirst.

While suffering thus and struggling, and being in great distress out of compassion, Leo heard a voice saying to him: “Do not grieve, Leo, for the water is near you. Search, and you shall find it.” Therefore he turned back with joy; and after going around that place two and three times and still not finding the desired water, he again fell into greater sorrow, thinking the voice he had heard came from the evil one. So he hurried back toward the blind man, hoping perhaps to help him in some other way.

As he walked, he again heard as it were the voice of a woman saying to him: “O my beloved Leo, because for the love of my Son and God, the Maker and Creator of all creation, you left your road and, fulfilling the holy commandment, guide the blind man and with great labor strive to heal his thirst, therefore He now grants you, according to your desire, the water you seek. Go to that tree where the dove is sitting, and you shall find at its root the water. Take from it, give the blind man drink, and wash his eyes, and he shall receive sight. And let this be a sign to you that you shall reign, by the power of my Son, and that I shall be with you all the days of your life.”

Hearing these things, the wondrous Leo was astonished; and making the sign of the Cross, he turned and looked to see who was speaking with him and whether there was a dove in any tree. No person did he see, but he saw a dove sitting in one tree. Running there, he found a little water flowing. Taking of it with faith, he returned rejoicing to the blind man; and after giving him drink, according to the voice he had heard, and anointing his eyes, immediately the blind man received sight.

Seeing this extraordinary wonder, he was beside himself with amazement; and believing the promise of the Virgin Theotokos, he thanked her together with the man who had received sight, saying: “Lady of Heaven and earth, and Mother of my Lord and God Jesus Christ the Almighty, I thank you that you did not overlook my sorrow, but fulfilled my desire also, and worked a marvelous sign through my defiled hands. Therefore I do not doubt your promise, but believing, I vow that when your holy prophecy comes to pass, I shall render to you all the thanksgiving I can, and I shall raise a temple in your holy name in this place, where the water sanctified by you and shown to be healing was found, for an eternal memorial of your ineffable wonders and for your glory and honor. For you are glorified unto the ages of ages. Amen.”

Then taking the man who had received sight, they entered Constantinople and recounted the miracle of the Lady Theotokos, moving all who heard it to glory and praise of the All-Immaculate Mother of God.

Living thus, the good Leo was enrolled in military rank — there being at that time a gathering of soldiers. Yet after becoming a soldier, he did not use military freedom for disorder, as most are accustomed to do, nor for oppression and robbery. Though he was a courageous man and exceedingly handsome in appearance, he used neither strength for satisfying irrational anger, nor beauty for shameful desires. Rather, by his strength he helped the weaker and raised memorable trophies against enemies; and guarding his beauty undefiled as a God-given gift, he strove to adorn it still more with virtues.

For this reason he was loved by all and became known both to the generals and to the emperor himself. The emperor, advancing him to honors because of his virtue, and at the request of the army, made him commander of the whole Roman army. Yet having come to such great dignity, he did not misuse authority, nor abandon his former way of life.

Instead, in divine things he increased in devotion, adorning and beautifying churches, dedicating to them sacred vessels and precious vestments, and daily attending the sacred services, giving fitting thanksgiving to God, the giver of every good thing. He had mercy on the poor, visited the sick, went about the prisons caring for prisoners, and eagerly did many other God-pleasing works. Above all, being humble to the highest degree, as has been said, he despised no one, but showed wonderful kindness to all — looking on all with sympathy, caring for all, and speaking sweetly to all. Therefore all regarded him as a father.

And when the emperor before him died, because of the love of all the people for him, they crowned him King and Emperor of the Romans.

Now when the promise of the Theotokos had come to fulfillment, the good emperor did not delay to offer to her the fitting thanksgiving, carrying out his vow. As soon as he ascended the throne, the first good work he did was to build the Church of the Zoodochos Chrysopēgē. He cleared the place where he had found that healing water when he was leading the blind man, and built a most beautiful church around the water.

He enclosed the spring in the middle of the church, making there a font beneath the dome; and opposite it — that is, above the pool in the dome — he had painted the Lady Theotokos, the Platytera of the Heavens, in whom there appeared a marvelous work worthy of narration. For whoever looked into the pool saw as though the Theotokos were depicted within it; but whoever looked upward saw her above, radiant through the reflection of the waters.

Truly making the church as splendid as he was able, he adorned it with holy icons, sacred vessels, and precious vestments. He also dedicated permanent revenues for the support of those serving in the church — priests and clergy. He sought out devout men adorned with virtue and placed there priests, hierodeacons, readers, chanters, and caretakers, who living according to the commandments of Christ, teaching the people, and having as their work the salvation of mankind, labored and strove for the increase of all good things.

Therefore the good emperor rejoiced at seeing this, and did not cease daily to dedicate whatever was useful for the advancement of the gospel, especially sacred books, which those men of Christ used to increase and bear fruit in the Christians through the word of God.

Then because of the emperor’s faith, his good care, and the noble struggle of the sacred men in that holy church, the grace of the All-Holy Spirit overshadowed both the church and the spring through the Theotokos, and wondrous miracles began to occur. There one could see strange things indeed: the sick becoming well, the blind receiving sight, the lame walking, demons cast out, and every other incurable affliction easily healed by the grace of the Theotokos dwelling in the waters.

There ran there daily people of royal houses, noble rulers, bishops, priests, and every faithful person; and no one returned sorrowful because of his faith. Daily there was joy and festival there because of the multitude of people who came. Many even of the unbelievers, seeing the countless miracles, hastened to the faith of Christ; and being baptized, were added to the ranks of the faithful, increasing the Church of Christ.

Those who went there — some for healing, others for thanksgiving, and others for doxology — gave thanks and glorified the All-Pure Theotokos, not as people do today with dances and games, songs and drunkenness, but with all-night vigils, unceasing hymns and praises, spiritual compunction, and, in short, with all that pleases God. Therefore, as we said, all obtained their requests.

Many great miracles happened not only in the time of Emperor Leo, founder of the church of this Life-bearing Spring, but after these times even more were accomplished. Of these, for the desire of good hearers and for the profit of the pious, we shall recount only a few, as time and manner allow: first because the hour has passed, and second lest we appear verbose and burdensome to the faithful.

For now we shall say only this much: just as if someone took a cup of water from the whole sea and by it tried to show the sea, giving proof of its taste, so weak is human tongue to recount the miracles of the Lady Theotokos and the benefactions she has done and does daily for us the ungrateful, just as human strength is unable to draw out and empty the whole ocean.

Therefore I also, trusting in the power of this Ever-Virgin Mother of my Lord and of our Lady Theotokos, dare with fitting reverence and modesty to recount to your love a few things — only enough to give each one a taste, so that you may understand the boundless power of the Queen of All, the Mother of God. And I do this for the strengthening of the faithful, for the conviction of the doubting, and for the shame of the unbelieving blasphemers of God and wicked-minded men.

The great Justinian, the most pious Emperor of the Romans, once fell into the grievous and incurable affliction of urinary retention. Having been given up by the physicians and despairing of every other human help, he fled for refuge to the Zoodochos Pege and the All-Immaculate One. Falling down before her sacred and revered icon, he prayed fervently concerning his illness.

Then he went to the spring of the holy water, and taking with faith water from the sanctified source, he drank; and immediately (O your wonders, O Lady!) he was completely healed, and became so healthy, recovering such strength, as though he had never had any sickness at all.

Therefore he also, wishing to render thanksgiving to the Benefactress Theotokos, enlarged her church. But after he had done this, the Theotokos appeared to him in a dream and said to him: “Emperor, it is neither just nor fitting for you to destroy another man’s memorial. But if you wish to offer fitting thanks to my Son, the Creator of all creation, raise a church in the name of the Wisdom of God, and make it as great as you can, so that many people may gather there. Dedicate it to the Patriarchate, that the assembled multitude may hear the divine words from the Patriarch and profit thereby. And let it also be your own unceasing memorial. As for the church which you enlarged, not only shall you receive but little reward, because it is another’s memorial, but before long it shall be cast down by earthquake because of the sins of the people and of the corrupt profiteers and shameful men who minister there.”

Therefore the most faithful Emperor, becoming obedient to the command of the Theotokos, built that immense, renowned, and most beautiful Church of the Wisdom of God, whose beauty and greatness are proclaimed throughout the whole world, inasmuch as it greatly surpasses that wondrous sanctuary in Jerusalem built by Solomon. For this reason Emperor Justinian, when he saw it completed and established in such beauty and splendor, cried out in rejoicing: “Solomon, I have surpassed you!”

That church of the Zoodochos Pege, which as we have said Justinian enlarged, after the passage of time fell down when an earthquake occurred. For men had ceased to celebrate there with hymns and doxologies, and began instead (as they do today) to celebrate with dances and games, with songs and drunkenness, with shameful acts and debaucheries. Likewise those dwelling in that holy church ceased teaching the people the commandments of Christ and restraining them from these vanities, but gave themselves wholly to the pursuit of money, sharing in the sins of others. Therefore the Theotokos, being angered, not only withdrew her grace from there for a time, but also utterly shook down and demolished the church.

After a sufficient time had passed, the ever-memorable Basil the Macedonian came to the throne. Hearing of the miracles worked by the Zoodochos Pege, and learning the cause of the destruction, he devised a good and God-pleasing plan, to restore that shrine of the pious to its former spiritual condition. Therefore he rebuilt the church to its original size and beauty, adorning it with various offerings just as its first founder had done. Choosing wise and learned men, devout in divine things and workers of virtue — priests, hierodeacons, readers, chanters, and caretakers — he placed them there.

These men, being servants of God, devoted themselves entirely to the work of the Lord, not only teaching the people the sacred words of the Gospel by speech, but also showing them in practice, becoming an example and good pattern to all. Therefore the Theotokos again looked with favor upon her holy church and her sacred spring, and countless wonders again began to be performed.

The people then held daily festivals and celebrations with hymns, doxologies, all-night supplications and vigils, with joy of soul and gladness of spirit, being moved both by the spoken and lived teachings of those holy men who remained in the revered church. Thus Emperor Basil, being devout toward divine things, rejoiced greatly in the good condition of his memorial.

Seeing the countless and supernatural miracles of the Queen of All, the Theotokos, he sought through the mediation of those holy men that the All-Merciful One would grant him a male child. This was given to him because of his faith, and when a son was born he named him Leo, after the first founder of the Zoodochos Pege.

That is, he begot Leo the Wise, the composer of the Eothina hymns, who after the death of his father received the empire and showed great devotion toward the Zoodochos Pege. Therefore miracles abounded in his time. Demons were cast out, diseases were driven away, the blind received sight, the lame walked, the poor had glad tidings preached to them, and countless other things happened daily. Each of the pious received grace according to his faith.

And the first wife of this wise Leo — Saint Theophano, I mean — having fallen into a fierce fever, as soon as she drank with her good faith from that healing holy water of the Zoodochos Pege, was freed from the grievous sickness and became completely well.

But Leo himself also fell into the unbearable disease of stones, that is, strangury, from which he came into great danger. He was despaired of by the physicians and judged near death during Bright Week. Then the most God-fearing Empress, hearing the physicians’ verdict and seeing her good husband and emperor breathing his last, believed that what is impossible with men is possible with the Mother of Almighty God.

She fell before the immaculate icon of the Theotokos, and with tears and groanings of heart called upon the Queen of all creation to grant life to the earthly king. Thus prayed the good wife and empress.

And the compassionate Mother of the Philanthropic God, being moved by the immeasurable tears and fervent supplication of the Empress, sent healing beyond hope. While Theophano was praying there, she heard a voice saying: “Do not grieve, Theophano, over the sickness of your husband the emperor; today his healing herb is coming.”

Therefore, becoming full of joy and believing, she ran to the sick man and found the physicians consulting together to cut him open, since they saw that no remedy remained except that dangerous treatment. Hearing this, the Empress stopped them, saying: “Have a little patience, and behold, my Lady the Theotokos sends another wondrous medicine, and she will heal him.”

And after a little while, where they were expecting the emperor’s death, there arrived the caretaker of the Zoodochos Pege, named Agatha, carrying a clay vessel full of the holy water of the Zoodochos Pege, and she said to the Empress:

“Today, while I was sweeping the church of the Theotokos, I heard an invisible voice saying to me: ‘Agatha, take in a vessel water from my spring, and run quickly to Emperor Leo, who is in danger of death, and give him to drink, and he shall be healed; for my beloved Theophano cries out to me with many tears.’”

Hearing this, the Empress believed, received the holy water with joy, and gave the emperor drink. Immediately (O your supernatural wonders, Queen of All!) he was healed, rose from his bed wholly well, bearing not even the slightest trace of that incurable illness.

This astonished everyone and moved all to hymnody and thanksgiving to the common Benefactress. Then by order of the Emperor, a joyful feast was celebrated on the Friday of Renewal Week, on which also the dedication of this church had taken place. And from that time onward it became established that this feast should be celebrated on Bright Friday, perhaps only equal with the Resurrectional service.

Later, as it appears, by synodal decree, there was added also the service of the Zoodochos Pege, composed by Nikephoros Kallistos Xanthopoulos.

After the death of Saint Theophano, who died childless, the Emperor took another lawful wife, named Zoe. Since he had no children with her either, it seemed good to both of them to fall down before the help of the swift protection of the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary. So they went to the church of the Zoodochos Pege, attended the Divine Liturgy, partook of the Immaculate Mysteries, made a great offering and gift to the church of the Theotokos and to the poor and sick who were there, drank also from the revered holy water, and thus returned to the palace. There they spent forty days fasting and praying, beseeching the Theotokos to grant them a child and an heir to the Empire.

And God, who does the will of those who fear Him, seeing their faith and humility, and being moved by the intercession of His all-pure holy Mother, fulfilled their good request. Zoe conceived and gave birth to Constantine VII Porphyrogenitos, who was also the composer of the Resurrectional Exaposteilaria. When he reigned after the death of his father Leo, being pious and devout, he took care of all the holy churches, and especially this one of the Zoodochos Pege, as a memorial of his ancestors.

In the days of this Constantine Porphyrogenitos, the miracles of the all-pure Zoodochos Pege greatly increased, and incurable diseases were healed daily through the grace of the holy water: cancers, fistulas, dropsy, consumption, hemorrhages, gangrene, and other such illnesses, and even worse than these. One could then see a daily festival being held there, and people of every rank being healed: imperial children, nobles, noblewomen, bishops, priests, monks, and in general every other sick person who came to the church of the Theotokos and drank with faith from the holy water of the Zoodochos Pege did not return sorrowful. Rather, having as the reward of devotion and faith the healing of his sickness, he went back rejoicing and exulting.

There was also a wealthy man from Thessaloniki, very devout and God-fearing, who fell ill with an incurable disease and was given up by the physicians. Hearing of the countless miracles of the divine life-flowing spring, he desired to go there, believing that he too would receive healing. So he boarded a ship and sailed toward Constantinople.

But on the journey (perhaps by God’s providence, for the conviction of unbelievers) his condition worsened greatly and he drew near to death. Seeing that he was about to die and would not be counted worthy to venerate the all-holy church of the Theotokos, nor to drink from the holy water of the Zoodochos Pege, the faithful and good Christian called together his relatives and the shipmaster, and bound them by oath before God and the Theotokos: if he died, they were not to cast him into the sea, but to preserve him and carry him dead to the life-bearing spring.

He said to them: “Since I am not worthy because of my many sins to drink alive from that healing holy water, nor to venerate my Lady the Theotokos in her grace-filled church, at least let me go there dead. And after you bury me there near the holy church, take three buckets from that life-flowing holy water and pour it over my dead body, and thus bury me.”

They promised to do so. After he died, they brought him there, and as they were about to bury him, they took according to his command three buckets of the holy water and poured it over him — and he arose (O wondrous miracle!) like one waking from sleep, though already dead four days.

At this divine miracle all marveled. The sailors, who had seen him dead four days, were astonished and turned to glorification and thanksgiving. The man who had been raised from the dead, giving thanks to the Mother of God, distributed all his possessions to the poor, received the monastic tonsure, and remained there serving in the church of the Theotokos until the end of his life. Having lived twenty years after his restoration to life, he reposed in the Lord, having lived in a God-pleasing manner and adorned himself with every virtue.

Also Stephen I of Constantinople, Patriarch of Constantinople, son of Basil I and brother of Leo VI the Wise, having fallen into consumption and being unable to find a cure because of the incurable nature of the disease, fled to the Benefactress of all, the Lady Theotokos. Going to her holy church, praying with faith and warm tears, and drinking from the holy water, he was healed.

Likewise the Patriarch of Jerusalem, called John, having lost his hearing because of some illness, as soon as he drank with faith and sprinkled his ears with that healing holy water, was immediately cured.

Similarly the Patrician Tarasios and his mother, the Magistrissa, being exceedingly greedy and merciless, and therefore by God’s permission falling into a severe and terrible fever, fled to the Zoodochos Pege. Renouncing through a vow their demonic greed and tyrannical hard-heartedness, becoming merciful and compassionate, and drinking from the wonderworking holy water, they were healed.

And the son of a certain nobleman, named Stylianos, having fallen into the hard-to-cure affliction of urinary retention, and despairing of human help and medical treatment, also fled to the ready and freely-giving Helper. Drinking reverently and with faith from the holy water, he was healed.

There was also a certain woman named Schizaina who suffered from dysentery. Finding no cure from any human source, she fled to the Theotokos, and drinking from the holy water with fervent faith, immediately received her health.

And Emperor Romanos, having become grievously obstructed and no longer knowing what to do, ran to the Mistress of all creation, the true physician. Drinking from that holy water, which was truly medicinal, he was at once freed from the affliction when the passages were opened. And again on another occasion, when he suffered the same condition, he drank from the same holy water and was healed.

Likewise the mother of this Emperor Romanos was healed by the grace of the holy water from the affliction of dysentery.

There was also a noblewoman who practiced slander, searched out the faults of others, while overlooking her own sins. By the providence of the Theotokos, who thirsts for the salvation of sinners, she fell into a grievous illness. Neither by physicians nor by any other means could she find relief from her severe suffering, but rather she grew worse. Once, while in pain and praying to the Lady Theotokos, she was informed that if she abandoned accusation and slander, and went to the church of the Theotokos and drank from the holy water, she would be healed. Therefore, after confessing and promising to cease that satanic vice, she went to the immaculate church of the Mother of God, and drinking from the holy water with faith, she was healed both of the sickness of soul and of body.

But as we have said, if anyone should attempt to enumerate all the wondrous miracles of the Life-bearing Spring, its great marvels and its other benefactions, his whole life would not suffice; and even if he were to become longer-lived than Methuselah, still he would not accomplish it, because they surpass all number.

Therefore, for understanding the ineffable compassion toward us of the much-merciful Virgin Mother, even the things already spoken would appear sufficient for the faithful and obedient. Yet for the very curious and eager hearers, let us speak still a few more of the ineffable miracles of the grace-gushing Golden Spring, unto the praise and glory of the Theotokos.

It is said, and written by many historians, that at the time when this church of the Zoodochos Pege was about to fall from the earthquake, as we have said, it happened to be filled with people. Then the all-merciful and most loving Lady, the Theotokos Mary, appeared there holding with both her hands the roof of the church until all the people had come out. Only then did she let go of the church, and it fell. By this she showed that although she hated the evils and terrible outrages that were being done there, as we said before, and did not wish her church to be a workshop of wickedness, nevertheless she is loving toward mankind and thirsts for the repentance of sinners, as Mother of the Philanthropic God, who does not desire the death of the sinner, but awaits the conversion of all. Therefore she allowed the church to fall, but those people within it she delivered by a wondrous miracle, giving them cause and time for repentance.

There was also a certain monk named Pepyris, together with his disciple. Being gluttonous and devoted to rich foods, and not living as monks should, they fell — by the permission of God, who orders all things for our benefit — into a severe illness. Coming to their senses, they fell before the Queen of All, the Theotokos, and heard that if they would confess, discipline their insatiable belly, abandon rich foods, and live as monks with only bread and water, not only would they be delivered from that grievous affliction, but they would also inherit the heavenly Kingdom. “And if,” the voice said, “you promise these things and desire healing both of soul and body, go to my church and drink from the holy water of my spring, and you shall be healed.” Hearing this, they went, drank from the healing holy water, and being wondrously healed, spent the remainder of their lives in a God-pleasing manner, according to the monastic rule, feeding themselves only with bread and water.

There were also two other monks, Matthew and Meletios, brothers according to the flesh. Having once neglected their appointed services, they fell into the trial of sickness. Recognizing their own fault, they fled to the mercy of the Theotokos. Promising that they would no longer neglect their services, and drinking from the revered holy water, they were freed from their illness. Thus, being corrected, they learned never again to abandon their rule. Thereafter, fearing the chastisement of God, they lived in a God-pleasing manner, giving thanks to the Lady Theotokos who had healed them, and beseeching her to preserve them from every temptation. They departed this life with good hope.

There was also a certain subdeacon named Stephanos who suffered a pain beneath his waist, in the bone called the hip, grievous and incurable. Being in torment, he fled to the ready help, and drinking from the holy water of the Life-Receiving Spring with unshaken faith, and sprinkling the painful place, he was immediately healed.

There was also a certain soldier from the order of the Varangians, named John, who had dropsy and had already come near to death. He ran to the mercy of the all-compassionate Mother of God, and after praying with tears and drinking with faith from the holy water, he was wondrously healed, and returned healthy to his own home, proclaiming the mercy of the Theotokos shown toward him.

But another had cancer, another gangrene, others incurable sores over the whole body, another was mutilated, and countless others having various illnesses were healed in different times by the grace of our Lady Theotokos through the holy water. And not only then, but even until today we see very many signs taking place for the faithful through the divine power of the revered holy water: demons driven out daily from people, burning fevers cured, and every other sickness of soul and body utterly removed through faith and repentance.

I know well, beloved brethren, that I appear tedious to many because of my many words, who perhaps blame me because I promised to say little, and now seem to have exceeded the limits. Therefore I beg forgiveness, for I have neither gone beyond my promise nor spoken beyond measure, but rather have spoken very deficiently both in comparison with the whole account of all the miracles, and in fulfilling the desire I bear toward my Lady and Mistress the Theotokos. Therefore to this little and wholly incomplete narration I add one of the miracles that happened recently.

The Bishop of Nafpaktos and Arta, Lord Neophytos, who was from the island of Paros, had the disease called fistula. Because of it he suffered many grievous and painful things from physicians, being cut and enduring harsh medicines. At last they despaired of him and declared him near death.

Being in such a condition, he knew to run to the mercy of the Theotokos. Falling before her, he wept, prayed, entreated, sought the invincible help with affliction and pain of soul. With great effort, being led by the hand and supported, he went to the all-honored and most revered church of the Theotokos. Falling before her immaculate icon, with the same sorrow he prayed to the Ever-Virgin Mother of God, the protection of all the afflicted, with measureless tears.

Then taking with faith from the holy water, drinking and sprinkling the afflicted part, immediately — O your ineffable and supernatural wonders, all-immaculate Lady! — not even a trace remained of that grievous disease.

Therefore, after thanking the invincible, ready, and swift assistance and help, he returned to his own home, becoming thereafter a loud herald to all of that great miracle. And even until today, rendering thanks to the Benefactress and keeping in mind the greatness of the grace, in the holy name of the all-pure Life-Receiving Spring, he not only paints icons, but also builds churches to the glory and honor of the all-glorious Theotokos, and each year keeps a feast, showing mercy and giving generously with open hand to many needy and poor.

And these things concern the miracles of the Life-Receiving Spring. But if anyone thinks himself unsatisfied and seeks to learn more, let him draw near to the immaculate icon of the All-pure One, and let him look attentively, and there he shall see countless miracles: various people healed from many great afflictions.

Kings, queens, priests, bishops, monks, nobles, noblewomen, and people of every race and rank; demons cast out, blind receiving sight, lame walking, the sick made whole, and every grievous and incurable suffering driven away and put to flight by the grace of the Theotokos. Thus let him satisfy his desire and cease seeking further proof.

Nor should he say that such things are the works of painters and false; for those things handed down in the Church are not false or unreal, nor inventions of foolish men, nor Greek myths, but all are holy, all divine, all true and God-delivered, determined synodically by the Holy Fathers through the grace of the All-Holy Spirit, without deceit or addition, though many things are set forth deficiently because of the weakness of human nature and because the divine operations are beyond description.

Therefore painters reveal by painted panels in the churches of God those things which spiritual and ecclesiastical historians proclaim by word, paper, and ink. There the Church historians write what truly happened — or rather, a portion of those things truly accomplished by divine power and accepted in the Church.

For this reason, everyone believing in the Holy Traditions of the Church should believe what is spiritually narrated, should receive what is painted according to the tradition of the Fathers, venerating through the immaculate icons the God-man Jesus Christ who is depicted in them, His spotless and Ever-Virgin Mother and our Lady, and all the holy angels and the righteous.

And let him not appear unbelieving concerning the wondrous miracles performed by Almighty God through the pure Mother of God and through all the Saints, and painted by pious iconographers, lest he be deprived also of the coming glory of the saints from all ages.

Through the intercessions of my Lady Theotokos of the Life-Receiving Spring. Amen.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.