By Fr. George Dorbarakis
The Hymnographer of the Service for the Zoodochos Pege (Life-Receiving Spring) of the Theotokos, in regards to the church of the Panagia with its renowned holy spring at Balıklı Monastery in Constantinople, is Saint Nikephoros Kallistos Xanthopoulos.[1] The Saint cannot find words in order even slightly to define what has taken place at this holy spring for centuries: the flood of healings, the benefactions, the countless miracles. Therefore he summons images from the natural world and from Holy Scripture in order to give the proper analogies: the church there of the Theotokos is a noetic ocean, something surpassing even the river Nile in the offering of the grace of God; it is a second Pool of Siloam, a second rock gushing forth healing water, a continuation of the Jordan River, another manna covering the needs of the one seeking salvation. It is divine water, ambrosia and nectar[2] (Vespers Aposticha).
And of course these are not only miracles related to the healing of the bodily illnesses of men. The healing water of the Theotokos cures also the illnesses of the soul, the passions of men, so that through it man may find God and become healthy in both respects, spiritually and bodily. Besides, the gift of the grace of God through the water there aims at this: the true restoration of human beings, that is, their spiritual health. For what meaning has bodily health alone, if it is not accompanied by its spiritual dimension as well? Bodily health by itself often proves destructive for man, because it pushes him toward the increase of his sins. Thus the Zoodochos Pege healed man in a twofold manner, “flowing abundantly to all who have need of health of soul and health of body, with the water of grace” (Vespers Sticheron).[3] “How great are your wonders, O Spring, which you offer to all! For not only have you driven away grievous diseases from those who come to you with longing, but you also wash away the passions of souls” (Glory at Vespers).[4] Therefore, because “the water of the Virgin heals souls, let us run to the Maiden, we who are afflicted by the stains of the passions, and let us wash them away” (Praises).[5]
The cause, of course, for this overflowing grace of God from this holy spring is, in the first place according to the Hymnographer, our Panagia herself. She functions as heavenly manna and as the divinely-inspired Spring of Paradise, whose flow and grace cover the whole earth. “In a most fitting way I call you, O Lady, heavenly manna and divinely-inspired Spring of Paradise. For the flow and grace of your Spring has run through the four corners of the earth, covering them each time with mighty miracles” (Vespers Sticheron).[6] And with a sublime image the Holy Hymnographer gives the mark of the Spring’s healing power: “You who seek health, run to the Spring. For the Virgin Maiden is present within the Water” (Ode 9).[7]
Yet the Holy Hymnographer would wrong both the holy spring, and above all our Panagia herself, if he considered that the principal cause of the gift of grace was the Panagia. Rather, he would alter the theology of our Church and distort her teaching concerning the ways salvation is offered to mankind. Therefore, for our Hymnographer, our Panagia becomes the instrument of the Lord, so that He in His love may offer spiritual and bodily healing to men. Jesus Christ Himself is the One who heals men — without any distinction whatsoever, since “to all the faithful He grants healing, whether kings or common citizens and poor, rulers, poor men, rich men” (Ode 3)[8] — while His Mother, the Panagia, becomes His sanctified instrument through this particular Spring. “Strange and wondrous things the Master of Heaven first accomplished in you, O All-Immaculate One. For He openly dripped like rain into your womb, O Bride of God, making you a Spring that bestows every good thing” (Vespers Sticheron).[9] “With splendid hymns, O faithful, let us praise the heavenly cloud, which rained down upon the earth without corruption the heavenly drop, that is, the life-giving Christ” (Vespers Apostichon).[10] “Rejoice, Mary, rejoice. For the Creator of all clearly descended upon you like a drop, and made you, O Bride of God, an immortal Spring” (Ode 1).[11]
Notes:
[1] Saint Kallistos II (November 22), surnamed Xanthopoulos, served as Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople for a short period in the year 1397, during which time Constantinople was under siege by Bayezid I.
[2] In the hymnographer’s own words: “Rejoice, O life-bearing Spring... O noetic ocean, surpassing the streams of the Nile by the outpouring of grace; another second Siloam, gushing forth wondrous water as from a rock; having also received the power of the Jordan, and manifestly becoming saving manna for the need of the one who seeks.” “The divine water, the ambrosia of nectar.”
[3] “Flowing forth abundantly to all who are in need, granting strength to souls and health to the body, by the water of grace.”
[4] “O, the greatness of your mighty works, which you pour forth upon all! For not only have you driven away grievous diseases from those who approach with longing, but you also wash away the passions of souls.”
[5] “The water of the Virgin gives strength to souls; let us who are in the filth of the passions run to the Maiden, and let us wash these away.”
[6] “I most fittingly call you, O Lady, heavenly manna and the divinely-inspired Spring of Paradise, O Virgin; for the flow and grace of your Spring has run through the fourfold divisions of the earth, covering it each time with wondrous marvels.”
[7] “You who seek health, run to the Spring; for the Virgin Maiden dwells in the water.”
[8] “You distribute healing to all the faithful alike: to kings, to citizens, to the poor, to rulers, to paupers, to the rich.”
[9] “Strange and wondrous things the Master of Heaven accomplished upon you from the beginning, O All-Immaculate One; for from above He visibly descended into your womb like rain, O Bride of God, showing you to be a Spring gushing forth every good thing.”
[10] “With most sublime hymns, O faithful, let us praise the heavenly cloud, which without corruption rains down upon the earth the heavenly drop, the life-giving Christ.”
[11] “Rejoice, Mary, rejoice. For the Maker of all clearly descended upon you as a drop, revealing you, O Bride of God, to be an immortal Spring.”
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
