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[[Image:Saint Mary Of The Spring.jpg|right|thumb|The [[w:Holy well|Holy well]] (Hagiasma) of the Church of the Life Giving Font (Istanbul).]]
[[Image:Procession-Feast of Zoodohos Pigi-Arcadia,Greece-1950s.jpg|thumb|right|Procession on the [[feast day]] of Panagia the Life-giving Font in the village of Kastri, [[w:Arcadia|Arcadia]], Greece, ca.1959, on [[w:Bright Friday|Bright Friday]].]]
There are two accounts extant concerning the revelation of the Life-Giving Font.It is likely that before the 5th-6th century monastery was erected, a shrine with a spring of water, by a grove of trees, had already existed outside the City of Constantinople from early times, dedicated to the [[Theotokos]]. Over time, the grove had became overgrown and the spring had become fetid.<ref>Archpriest Feodor S. Kovalchuk. ''Wonder-Working Icons of the Theotokos.'' Youngstown OH: Central Satates Deanery, 1985. pp.67–70.</ref><br>
'''ProcopiusNicephorus Callistus'''<br>
The first traditional account is recorded by the prominent Byzantine scholar [[w:ProcopiusNikephoros Kallistos Xanthopoulos|Procopius Nikephoros Kallistos Xanthopoulos]], the last of Caesareathe Greek ecclesiastical historians, who flourished around 1320. This tradition begins with a miracle that occurred involving a soldier named Leo Marcellus, who would later become the Byzantine Emperor [[Leo I (emperor)|Leo I the Thracian]] (flourishing ca.500457-565474).<ref group="note">The 11th century Byzantine historian While Leo was on his way to Constantinople he encountered a blind man near the [[w:George KedrenosWalls_of_Constantinople#Golden_Gate_and_the_Yedikule_Fortress|George CedrenusGolden Gate]] also mentions this versionwho was thirsty.</ref> In this versionThough he agreed to search for water, he was unable to find any. A female voice was then heard who told the future Emperor [[Justinian]] that there was out hunting when water nearby. Looking about, he came upon a small [[chapel]] in a beautiful wooded areacould see no one, surrounded by a large crowd of people and a priest in front of a springneither could he see any water. Inquiring about this siteThen he heard the voice again::"Emperor Leo, he was told that this was go into the “source deepest part of miracles”the woods, and you will find water there. He at once ordered that a magnificent church be built there, utilizing materials that had remained after Take some of the cloudy water in your hands and give it to the erection of blind man to drink. Then take the [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]]clay and put it on his eyes. Then you shall know who I am."<ref name="JANINOCA">Raymond Janin (in French)OCA - Feasts and Saints. ''La Géographie ecclésiastique de l'Empire byzantin[http://ocafs. 1oca. Part: Le Siège de Constantinople et le Patriarcat Oecuméniqueorg/FeastSaintsLife. 3rd Volasp?FSID=32 Bright Friday.: Les Églises et les MonastèresThe Life Giving Spring of the Mother of God].'' Paris: Institut Français d'Etudes Byzantines. 1953. p.232-37.</ref> The church was erected in same voice added that she had chosen that very place to be worshiped and prophesied that he would one day receive the last years of his reign, ca.559-560, near crown to the holy springempire.<ref group="note">In this context, "Holy Spring/Holy Font/Holy Source" becomes synonymous with Leo followed her order and at once the Greek: ἁγίασμα, ''hagiasma''; Lit.: 'sanctuary'blind man recovered his eyesight.</ref> After his accession to the erection of throne, the sanctuaryEmperor erected a magnificent church on this place, and the Gate that was situated outside the [[w:Walls_of_Constantinople#Theodosian_Walls|walls of Theodosius II]] was named by the Byzantines ''Gate of the Spring'' (Greek: Πύλη τῆς Πηγῆς).<ref>Wolfgang Müller-Wiener (in German)water continued to work miraculous cures. ''Bildlexikon zur Topographie Istanbuls: ByzantionTherefore, Konstantinupolis, Istanbul bis zum Beginn d. 17 Jh..'' Tübingen: Wasmuth, 1977. pp.416.</ref> It is possible that before the Justinian's building it was erected, a small monastery dedicated to the [[Theotokos]] had already existed there from early timescalled "The Life-Giving Spring."
'''Nicephorus CallistusProcopius'''<br>
A second account is given by the prominent Byzantine scholar [[w:Nikephoros Kallistos XanthopoulosProcopius|Nikephoros Kallistos XanthopoulosProcopius of Caesarea]], the last of the Greek ecclesiastical historians, who flourished around 1320(flourishing ca.500-565).<ref group="note">The 11th century Byzantine historian [[w:George Kedrenos|George Cedrenus]] also mentions this version. This tradition begins with a miracle that occurred involving a soldier named Leo Marcellus</ref> In this version, who would later become the Byzantine Emperor [[Leo I (emperor)|Leo I the ThracianJustinian]] (457-474). While Leo was on his way to Constantinople out hunting when he encountered came upon a blind man near the small [[w:Walls_of_Constantinople#Golden_Gate_and_the_Yedikule_Fortress|Golden Gatechapel]] who was thirstyin a beautiful wooded area, surrounded by a large crowd of people and a priest in front of a spring. Though he agreed to search for waterInquiring about this site, he was unable to find any. A female voice told that this was then heard who told the future Emperor “source of miracles”. He at once ordered that a magnificent church be built there was water nearby. Looking about, he could see no one, and neither could he see any water. Then he heard the voice again::"Emperor Leo, go into utilizing materials that had remained after the deepest part erection of the woods, and you will find water there. Take some of the cloudy water in your hands and give it to the blind man to drink[[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]]. Then take the clay and put it on his eyes. Then you shall know who I am."<ref name="OCAJANIN">OCA - Feasts and SaintsRaymond Janin (in French). ''La Géographie ecclésiastique de l'Empire byzantin. 1. Part: Le Siège de Constantinople et le Patriarcat Oecuménique. 3rd Vol.: Les Églises et les Monastères. ''[httpParis://ocafsInstitut Français d'Etudes Byzantines. 1953. p.oca232-37.org</FeastSaintsLiferef> The church was erected in the last years of his reign, ca.asp?FSID559-560, near the holy spring.<ref group=32 Bright Friday. The Life Giving "note">In this context, "Holy Spring of /Holy Font/Holy Source" becomes synonymous with the Mother of God]Greek: ἁγίασμα, ''hagiasma''; Lit.: 'sanctuary'.</ref>The same voice added After the erection of the sanctuary, the Gate that she had chosen that very place to be worshiped and prophesied that he would one day receive was situated outside the [[w:Walls_of_Constantinople#Theodosian_Walls|walls of Theodosius II]] was named by the crown to Byzantines ''Gate of the empireSpring'' (Greek: Πύλη τῆς Πηγῆς). Leo followed her order and at once the blind man recovered his eyesight<ref>Wolfgang Müller-Wiener (in German). After his accession to the throne''Bildlexikon zur Topographie Istanbuls: Byzantion, the Emperor erected a magnificent church on this placeKonstantinupolis, and the water continued to work miraculous curesIstanbul bis zum Beginn d. 17 Jh.. Therefore'' Tübingen: Wasmuth, it was called "The Life-Giving Spring1977. pp.416." </ref>
==The Icon==
