Receive reasons to believe
< Find all the Reasons here
EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
n°6

Constantinople

5th century

The Life-giving Font of Constantinople

Since the 5th century, the Monastery of the Life-giving Spring, located in the west of today's Istanbul, has been the scene of a multitude of miracles through the intercession of Mary, source of life. This renowned shrine, which has existed for more than fifteen centuries, still inspires fervent devotion today.

La source miraculeuse. © Alessandro57, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
La source miraculeuse. © Alessandro57, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Reasons to believe:

  • Miracles attributed to Constantinople's Life-giving Spring or Font have been numerous and regular over the centuries. Most concern healings.
  • The history and miracles of the spring are recorded in two collections and numerous poems. Several historiographies also make reference to it. The abundance of documentation on the shrine testifies to its importance in the Byzantine world.
  • The enduring popularity of the site through the vicissitudes of history is remarkable: more than a dozen times collapsed, looted, destroyed or razed to the ground, the church was systematically rebuilt.
  • Such is the influence of this shrine that its name "of the Life-giving Spring" has been adopted by numerous churches and monasteries throughout the Orthodox world.
  • Since its creation, it has been a major place of devotion and pilgrimage for the Eastern Christian Church. Even today, it is just as popular, if not more so.

Summary:

Byzantine historian Nicephorus Callistus Xanthopoulos (13th-14th c.) tells of the spring's first miracle. One day, Leo the Thracian, a soldier from a modest background, acted as a guide to a blind man. The blind man was thirsty, so Leo set off in search of water. He heard a heavenly voice guiding him to a spring and telling him to rub the blind man's eyes with the muddy water. The latter regained his sight. The feminine voice also foretold that Leo would become emperor, and announced that she had chosen this place to be honored. When Leo I became emperor in 457, he had a church built near that spring.

In addition to Xanthopoulos' work, which lists the 17 miracles that happened in his time, there exists a 10th-century compilation of 45 miracles, including all kinds of cures (cancer, hemorrhage, fever, abscesses, sterility, leprosy, etc.) and a few life-saving apparitions. The abundance of physical and spiritual healings can be explained by the intercessory power of the Virgin Mary, Mother of God (Mary Theotokos, cf. Council of Ephesus 431): healing comes from her son Jesus, who is divine in nature, Creator and Redeemer. 

For example, Our Lady intervened to save the monks of Constantinople from the great earthquake of 869. The dome under which they were all gathered was collapsing, but the dome was miraculously held together until all had exited the building safely.

It is also reported that the magistrissa Helena Artabasdina had stolen two icons from the shrine, one of the Virgin and the other of the Archangel Gabriel. Refusing to return them even though the Virgin had appeared to her twice in a dream, the chest in which she kept the icons caught fire. When the woman promised to return them, the fire suddenly went out. The icons were returned to the shrine of the Life-giving Spring. This miracle is the subject of a commemoration celebrated on the first day of Lent.

After the capture of Constantinople by the Turks (1453), the church and monastery were reduced to rubble, but the sick continued to flock to the spring, where miracles and cures multiplied: "What tongue can describe all that this water has produced and all that it works to this day, for the miracles we observe every day surpass in number the raindrops, the stars of heaven or the plants of the earth!" ( Lenten Triodion, Apostolic Diakonia, 1993). The shrine was rebuilt in 1834 with a solemn dedication. Since then, all the patriarchs of Constantinople have been buried in the monastery.

This water of salvation still flows to heal illnesses of body and soul: "O Virgin, you are indeed the Source of living water; you alone erase at your touch the cruel illnesses of souls and bodies, pouring Christ to us as the water of salvation" ( Eastern Matins).

Solveig Parent


Beyond reasons to believe:

Mary is truly the life-giving spring who gave the world the One who is "the Way, the Truth and the Life" (Jn 14:6).


Going further:


More information:

Share this reason

THE REASONS FOR THE WEEK

Marie , Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Des miracles étonnants
Zeitoun : ils sont des centaines de milliers à avoir vu la Vierge en Égypte
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
La source vivifiante de Constantinople
Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Guérisons miraculeuses
La Vierge Marie guérit un adolescent, avant de lui apparaître des dizaines de fois
Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Histoires providentielles
La Vierge Marie délivre les chrétiens de la cité de Cuzco
Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Guérisons miraculeuses
Les apparitions de Gietrzwald en secours à une minorité persécutée
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
Les apparitions de saint Joseph au Bessillon
Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Stigmates
Luz Amparo et les apparitions de l’Escurial
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
Les extraordinaires apparitions de Medjugorje et leur impact mondial
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
La Rosa Mystica de Montichiari
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
Maria Esperanza et Notre Dame Réconciliatrice des Peuples
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
Cotignac, premières apparitions modernes de l’histoire
Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Guérisons miraculeuses
L’apparition silencieuse de Knock Mhuire
Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Histoires providentielles
Le Saint Nom de Marie et la victoire décisive de Vienne
Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Guérisons miraculeuses
Le ciel touche la terre en Colombie : Las Lajas
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
A la Salette, Marie pleure près des bergers
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
La victoire de Lépante et la fête de Notre-Dame du Rosaire
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
La Vierge Marie dans le Wisconsin : « Heureux ceux qui croient sans avoir vu »
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
Notre Dame de Nazareth à Plancoët
Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Histoires providentielles
Les apparitions au frère Fiacre
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
Marie « Mère abandonnée » apparaît dans un quartier populaire de Lyon
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
La Vierge Marie prophétise les massacres au Rwanda
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
Les trente-trois apparitions de la Vierge Marie à Beauraing
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
« Une Belle Dame » vient au secours de la France à l'Île Bouchard
Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Histoires providentielles
« Consacre ta paroisse au cœur immaculée de Marie »
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
Apparitions et message de la Vierge Marie à Myrna
Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Guérisons miraculeuses
La Madone de Laghet
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
Les confidences du Ciel à la bergère du Laus
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
La « Vierge des pauvres » apparaît à huit reprises à Banneux
Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Histoires providentielles
Notre Dame des Vertus sauve la ville de Rennes
Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Guérisons miraculeuses
« Je suis toute miséricordieuse » : Notre Dame à Pellevoisin
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
Marie fait arrêter l’épidémie de peste au mont Berico
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
Savone, 1536 : la naissance d’un sanctuaire
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
Seuca : l’appel de la « Reine de lumière » en Roumanie
Marie , Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Des miracles étonnants
Zeitoun: cientos de miles de personas han visto a la Virgen María en Egipto
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
La fuente vivificante de Constantinopla
Marie , Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Des miracles étonnants
In the 1960s, the Virgin Mary appeared in Egypt before hundreds of thousands of witnesses
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
The Life-giving Font of Constantinople
Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Guérisons miraculeuses
The Virgin Mary heals a teenager, then appears to him dozens of times
Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Guérisons miraculeuses
Zeitoun, un miracle de deux années
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
Le « vœu des échevins », ou la dévotion mariale des Lyonnais
Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Guérisons miraculeuses
La Virgen María cura a un adolescente y se le aparece decenas de veces
Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Histoires providentielles
La Virgen María salva a los cristianos de la ciudad de Cuzco
Les saints , Les apparitions et interventions mariales
Bernadette Soubirous, bergère qui vit la Vierge
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
La Vierge apparaît et prophétise en Ukraine depuis le XIXe siècle
Marie , Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Des miracles étonnants
Zeitoun: centinaia di migliaia di persone hanno visto la Vergine Maria in Egitto
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
La sorgente vivificante di Costantinopoli
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
Marie répond au vœu des Polonais
Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Guérisons miraculeuses
La Vergine Maria guarisce un adolescente e poi gli appare decine di volte
Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Histoires providentielles
The Virgin Mary delivers besieged Christians in Cusco, Peru
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
Notre Dame des miracles guérit un paralytique à Saronno
Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Guérisons miraculeuses
Las apariciones de Gietrzwald en auxilio de una minoría perseguida en Polonia
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
Le « M » que Marie a tracé sur la France sera rappelé le 26 mai prochain
Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Histoires providentielles
La Vergine Maria libera i cristiani della città di Cuzco
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
Las apariciones de San José en el monte Bessillon
Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Guérisons miraculeuses
Gietrzwald apparitions: heavenly help to a persecuted minority
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
Saint Joseph’s apparitions in Cotignac, France (1660)
Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Stigmates
Luz Amparo and the El Escorial apparitions
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
The extraordinary apparitions of Medjugorje and their worldwide impact
Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Stigmates
Luz Amparo y las apariciones de El Escorial
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
Las extraordinarias apariciones de Medjugorje y su repercusión mundial
Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Guérisons miraculeuses
Le apparizioni di Gietrzwald in aiuto di una minoranza perseguitata
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
Le apparizioni di San Giuseppe sul monte Bessillon
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
Our Lady "Rosa Mystica" of Montichiari
Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Stigmates
Luz Amparo e le apparizioni di El Escorial
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
Apparition, prophétie et guérisons de la Vierge Marie dans le Nord de la France
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
La Rosa Mística de Montichiari
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
Le straordinarie apparizioni di Medjugorje e il loro impatto mondiale
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
María Esperanza y Nuestra Señora Reconciliadora de todos los Pueblos
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
Cotignac, las primeras apariciones modernas de la historia
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
La "Rosa Mistica" di Montichiari
Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Les anges et leurs manifestations
La nuit extraordinaire de sœur Labouré
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
Maria Esperanza and Our Lady, Reconciler of Peoples
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
Cotignac: the first apparitions of the Modern Era (1519)
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
Maria Esperanza e Maria Vergine e Madre, Riconciliatrice dei Popoli
Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Guérisons miraculeuses
The silent apparition of Knock Mhuire in Ireland (1879)
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
Cotignac, le prime apparizioni moderne della storia
Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Histoires providentielles
Les 37 000 prières exaucées, gravées dans le marbre d’une basilique parisienne
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
Notre Dame des Neiges au secours des soldats catholiques
Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Guérisons miraculeuses
La silenciosa aparición de Knock Mhuire
Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Guérisons miraculeuses
L'apparizione silenziosa di Knock Mhuire
Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Histoires providentielles
El Santo Nombre de María y la victoria decisiva en Viena
Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Guérisons miraculeuses
El cielo toca la tierra en Colombia: Las Lajas
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
En La Salette, María llora junto a los pastores
Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Histoires providentielles
The Holy Name of Mary and the major victory of Vienna (1683)
Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Guérisons miraculeuses
Heaven and earth meet in Colombia: the Las Lajas shrine (1754)
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
At La Salette, Mary wept in front of the shepherds
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
Czestochowa, l’âme de la Pologne
Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Histoires providentielles
Il Santo Nome di Maria e la vittoria decisiva a Vienna
Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Guérisons miraculeuses
Il cielo tocca la terra in Colombia: Las Lajas
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
Notre Dame de l’Agenouillée
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
A La Salette, Maria piange davanti ai pastori
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
The victory of Lepanto and the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
Our Lady of Champion, Wisconsin: the first and only approved apparition of Mary in the US (1859)
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
La victoria de Lepanto y la fiesta de Nuestra Señora del Rosario
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
La Virgen María en Wisconsin: "Bienaventurados los que creen sin haber visto"
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
La vittoria di Lepanto e la festa della Madonna del Rosario
Les apparitions et interventions mariales
La Vergine Maria nel Wisconsin: "Beati coloro che credono pur non avendo visto"