On Friday, in the Orthodox calendar, the Feast of the Healing Spring is celebrated. Tradition says that the sick who wash in holy water on Good Friday are cured of their illness.
Annually, on the first Friday after Easter, the faithful celebrate the Healing Spring, a feast dedicated to the Mother of God. In 2024, this holiday is celebrated on Friday, May 10. On this day, services for the consecration of water, Aghiasma Mică, are held in all churches, writes Alba24.
About the Source of Healing
The name Healing Spring comes from several miracles that allegedly happened near a spring near Constantinople.
According to the legend, the Mother of God revealed to the emperor Leo the Great (457-474), before his ascension to the throne, a spring with healing water.
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Emperor Leon, walking through a forest, met an injured blind man who was looking for his way.
Leon took him by the hand to lead him, but, at the blind man’s request to give him water, he went to look for it.
Not finding it, he heard the voice of the Mother of God who indicated to him the place where he would find water to quench the blind man’s thirst and to anoint his blind eyes.
“There is no need to toil, for the water is near!
Go, Leone, deeper into this forest, and taking the murky water with your hands quench the blind man’s thirst and then anoint his dark eyes with it.”
Following what he heard, Leon found the spring, which proved to be healing.
The blind man not only quenched his thirst, but also regained his sight.
After he became emperor, Leon built a church in that place, and with the water of that spring, many sick people were healed over time.
Later, Emperor Justinian (527-565), who was suffering from a serious illness, was said to have been cured after drinking water from this spring.
As a sign of gratitude, he built an even bigger church.
This church was destroyed by the Turks in 1453, at the Fall of Constantinople.
Feast dedicated to the Mother of God
Over time, the water of this spring would have cured many diseases and healed various wounds and sufferings.
This holiday dedicated to the Mother of God is also reminiscent of Good Friday.
The Most Holy Mother of God, who then shed tears next to the Savior’s Cross, now appears to us as a source of hope and healing.
The Healing Spring: What Happens Today
On this day, in the places of worship after the Liturgy, the small aghesma is sanctified. In some places there is a belief that those who drink it are protected from diseases and evil spirits for a year and become strong.
Sometimes the custom of the priests to go to the water sources on this day to sanctify them and protect them from drought or from harboring evil spirits around them is still preserved.
Also, in some areas the prelates go and sprinkle the houses of the parishioners with small agheas.
In popular tradition, the Izvorului Tămăduirii is the most troublesome of the year for well diggers, as the waters are turbulent and noisy, making them easier to find.
Aghiasma Mică can be drunk all year round
The faithful come to the church on this day to take part in the water consecration service, also known as the Little Aghiasma, which can be drunk all year round.
On this day, after the Holy Liturgy, in churches, and sometimes at fountains and springs, the water consecration service is performed.
In some parts of the country, priests go and sprinkle the houses of believers with this holy water.
After the priest has consecrated the water, he sprinkles the faithful while the troparion is sung:
“Save, Lord, your people and bless your inheritance, give victory to the good-faithful Christians over the enemy and protect your people with your cross.”
Thus, it was remembered among the people that the aim pursued by aiasm is to drive away the “ugly and bad appearance”, that is, the evil spirit.
Traditions and customs
Teenagers in certain areas of the country used to make the juvenile covenant – in the house, in the gardens or around a flowering tree.
The “related” persons, cousins, sisters, brothers, cross brothers, met annually or after marriage, at Pentecost.
After the conclusion of the covenant, they behaved towards each other as true brothers and sisters.
The sick who drink holy water from the day of the feast in the morning, before breakfast, get stronger.
All the rooms in the house are sprinkled with Aghiasma Mică.
The noise of the water helps well diggers to find a water source more easily, because on this day, the waters are noisier and more turbulent.
Women must not wash, iron or cut clothing.
It is said that the work done on the holy day will not be useful and will never be finished.
The householders throw holy water over the cattle, so that they are healthy and work hard at agricultural work.
The gardens and orchards are also sprinkled with holy water on the day of the holiday, for a fruitful year.
At the same time, people believe that this ritual protects crops from damage caused by hail.
Bright Week services are held with the altar doors wide open. This symbolizes the open door at the Savior’s tomb, but also the breaking of the veil of the Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Savior’s death.
Good Friday Superstitions: What not to do
Women do not have to do any housework. Do not wash or iron on this day.
It is said that if we observe these Good Fridays, pray and take care of the church ordinances, we will have an assured place in Heaven.
