#bright friday

Appearance of the Icon of the Mother of God “The Footprint” at Pochaev

Commemorated on May 10

O Victorious Leader, who has chosen the mountain of Pochaev as your habitation, we, your servants, sing our grateful thanks and praise to you, O Theotokos; for you have glorified this godly place from of old by the appearance of the healing power of your footprint and your wonderworking image. As you once preserved your habitation from the invasion of infidels, set us free from every calamity and invasion, so that always preserved through your help, we may sing from the depths of our souls: “Rejoice, O Praise of Pochaev, our hope and consolation.”

On Bright Friday we commemorate the Appearance of the Icon of the Mother of God “The Footprint” at Pochaev.

In the year 1340, two monks came and settled in a cave on the hill where the monastery is now located. After reading his usual Prayer Rule, one of them went to the top of the hill, and and suddenly he beheld the Theotokos standing on a rock and enveloped in flames. He summoned the other monk, who also witnessed the miracle. A third witness of the vision was the shepherd John Bosoy. He ran to the hill, and the three of them glorified God. The Most Holy Theotokos left the imprint of her right foot on the stone where she had stood, and this filled up with water. Since that time, many people have been healed at this miraculous spring.

Bright Friday: The Life Giving Fountain of the Mother of God

Commemorated on May 10

O most favored by God, you confer on me the healing of your grace from your inexhaustible Fountain. Therefore, since you gave birth incomprehensibly to the Word, I implore you to refresh me with the dew of your grace that I might cry to you: Hail, O Water of salvation.

Today we commemorate the Life-Giving Fountain of the Most Holy Theotokos.

There once was a beautiful church in Constantinople dedicated to the Mother of God, which had been built in the fifth century by the holy Emperor Leo the Great (January 20) in the Seven Towers district.

Before becoming emperor, Leo was walking in a wooded area where he met a blind man who was thirsty and asked Leo to help him find water. Though he agreed to search for water, he was unable to find any. Suddenly, he heard a voice telling him that there was water nearby. He looked again, but still could not find the water. Then he heard the voice saying “Emperor Leo, go into the deepest part 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.Then take the clay and put it on his eyes. Then you shall know who I am.” Leo obeyed these instructions, and the blind man regained his sight. Later, Saint Leo became emperor, just as the Theotokos had prophesied.

Leo built a church over the site at his own expense, and the water continued to work miraculous cures. Therefore, it was called “The Life-Giving Fountain.”

After the Fall of Constantinople in 1453, the church was torn down by the Moslems, and the stones were used to build a mosque. Only a small chapel remained at the site of the church. Twenty-five steps led down into the chapel, which had a window in the roof to let the light in. The holy Fountain was still there, surrounded by a railing.

After the Greek Revolution in 1821, even this little chapel was destroyed and the Fountain was buried under the rubble. Christians later obtained permission to rebuild the chapel, and work began in July of 1833. While workmen were clearing the ground, they uncovered the foundations of the earlier church. The Sultan allowed them to build not just a chapel, but a new and beautiful church on the foundations of the old one.

Construction began on September 14, 1833, and was completed on December 30, 1834. Patriarch Constantine II consecrated the church on February 2, 1835, dedicating it to the Most Holy Theotokos.

The Turks desecrated and destroyed the church again on September 6, 1955. A smaller church now stands on the site, and the waters of the Life-Giving Fountain continue to work miracles.

There is also a Life-Giving Fountain Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos which is commemorated on April 4.

http://techytalk.online/2017/11/21/black-friday-history-and-islamic-points-of-view/

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If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you may have noticed that I am a 2014 Busch Gardens Williamsburg Ambassador.  I received two free visits to Busch Gardens for myself and my family.  We had been to Busch Gardens prior to my ambassadorship.  Our dear friends moved to Virginia in 2008.  Suddenly, instead of living far, far away in England, they lived about four hours away.  It was…

Artist, Gregoire Abrial releases Bright Friday furniture onto NY streets:

"For the past few months, I have been collecting off the curb pieces of furniture that were being thrown away. One by one, I brought a total of 12 to my studio and started to work on turning those unwanted pieces of trash into desirable and meaningful gifts."