The Monastery of the Mother of God at the Spring (full name in Greek : Μονὴ τῆς Θεοτόκου τῆς Πηγῆς , pr. Moni tis Theotóku tis Pigis ; Turkish name: Balıklı Meryem Ana Rum Manastiri ) or simply Zoödochos Pege ( Greek : Ζωοδόχος Πηγή , " Life-giving Spring ") is an Eastern Orthodox sanctuary in Istanbul , Turkey . The present church, built in 1835, bears the same dedication as the shrine erected in this place between the end of the fifth and the beginning of the sixth century. After several renovations, this building was destroyed in the first half of the fifteenth century by the Ottomans . The complex got its name from a nearby holy spring, reputed to have healing properties. For almost fifteen hundred years, this sanctuary has been one of the most important pilgrimage sites of Greek Orthodoxy .
45-445: Patriarch Euthymius may refer to: Patriarch Euthymius I of Constantinople (834–917) Patriarch Euthymius II of Constantinople (c. 1340–1416) Patriarch Evtimiy of Bulgaria (Euthymius of Tarnovo) (1325–1402) Euthymius II Karmah , 17th-century Melkite Patriarch of Antioch Euthymius III of Chios , 17th-century Melkite Patriarch of Antioch Topics referred to by
90-454: A daughter, Anna, Leo pursued a—normally un-canonical —third marriage, to Eudokia Baïana , in hopes of having a male heir. Indeed, a boy named Basil was born in Easter 901, but Eudokia died during childbirth and was soon followed by the baby. This was once more the occasion of a clash between the emperor and Euthymius. The Vita asserts that following the death of Zoe and her father, as well as
135-402: A divorce due to the emperor's neglect and his continued cohabitation with his long-time mistress Zoe Zaoutzaina. After Theophano's death, Euthymius opposed Leo's second marriage to Zoe Zaoutzaina due to her ill repute, which earned him a two-year confinement in the monastery of St. Diomedes. He was not released until after Zoe's death two years later. Following Zoe's death after giving birth to
180-517: A dome glittering with pure gold. Around the church there were three chapels, devoted respectively to Saint Eustratius, the Theotokos and Saint Anne . The present church is also rectangular in shape. It is roughly oriented in E - W direction, and has three naves divided by columns and preceded by an esonarthex. By the Northwest corner rises a metallic bell tower. The interior is richly adorned. On
225-512: A grant of economy , but the Church leadership was vehemently opposed, forcing Nicholas too to change sides. As the impasse continued, in February 907 Nicholas was dismissed by the emperor, and Euthymius was appointed in his stead. The Vita explains Nicholas' stance and his final deposition by his implication in the abortive plot of general Andronikos Doukas , but other sources are silent as to
270-466: A green landscape. According to historians Procopius and Cedrenus , the church was originally erected by Emperor Justinian in the last years of his reign (559-560) near a fountain of water from a holy well ( Greek : ἁγίασμα , hagiasma , whence Turkish : ayazma ) situated outside the walls of Theodosius II in correspondence of today's Gate of Silivri . During hunting the Emperor noticed
315-516: A property of his monastery. Undeterred, the emperor took a mistress, Zoe Karbonopsina , and in September 905 he was finally able to celebrate the birth of the future emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos . The fact that the child's mother was the emperor's mistress caused trouble with leading Church officials, and Leo was forced to promise to separate from Zoe as a precondition for the infant's ceremonial baptism by Patriarch Nicholas Mystikos in
360-526: A small chapel surrounded by many women. Asking the meaning of the building, he was told that this was the “spring of the miracles”. He at once ordered that a magnificent church be built there, with the material remaining after the erection of the Hagia Sophia . According to a later legend, the sanctuary was erected by Emperor Leo I the Thracian (r. 457–474) because of a miracle that occurred when he
405-515: Is adorned with paintings and icons, and is surmounted by a dome painted with Christ in a starry sky. The water flows into a marble basin, where fishes are swimming. These fishes, present in the basin since centuries, gave origin to the Turkish name of the complex ( balikli in Turkish means "place where there are fishes"). According to a late legend, the day of the Conquest of Constantinople a monk
450-457: Is consequently one of the "richest sources for the period from the death of Basil I to the early years of Constantine VII" ( Alexander Kazhdan ). However, despite offering a vivid portrait of Leo and his court, with eye-witness anecdotes that illustrate the emperor's character, as a source it is limited due to its focus on, and bias in favour of, Euthymius, as well as due to the fact that several sections are missing. The single surviving manuscript
495-527: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Patriarch Euthymius I of Constantinople Euthymius I Syncellus ( Greek : Εὐθύμιος ὁ Σύγκελλος , c. 834 – 5 August 917) was the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 907 to 912. A monk since his youth, he became spiritual father of the future emperor Leo VI the Wise , and
SECTION 10
#1732776654665540-474: The Hagia Sophia . Euthymius too was persuaded to act as one of Constantine's godfathers in the ceremony, which took place in January 906. Despite his pledge to separate from Zoe, however, Leo now was determined to legitimize both her and their son by a fourth marriage, something utterly forbidden by canon law on pain of excommunication . Patriarch Nicholas initially supported the emperor in his efforts to secure
585-614: The Psamathia quarter in Constantinople, built on land confiscated from the exiled Leo Katakalon . According to the Vita Euthymii , he accepted only after the emperor agreed to recall Katakalon from exile and restore to him the rest of his properties. The monastery was inaugurated on 6 May 889 or 890 in the presence of Leo and the latter's brother, Stephen , who since December 886 was Patriarch of Constantinople. At about
630-532: The Vita Euthymii , he helped Leo survive his imprisonment in 883–886, while the young prince constantly requested his advice, forcing him to stay in Constantinople rather than his monastery. At the time of Basil's death in 886, Euthymius was a monk in the monastery of the Theotokos of the Spring . With Leo's accession to the throne, Euthymius was rewarded by being appointed as abbot of a newly built monastery in
675-413: The E and W side) and two esonarthexes (on the S and N sides). The light coming from outside was concentrated on the source, which could be reached descending two stairs having 25 steps. Each stair was delimited by a marble balustrade and surmounted by a marble arcade. The water fell into a marble basin, and a canalization distributed it in the church. The edifice was adorned with frescos and surmounted by
720-583: The Orthodox of Istanbul, who visit it especially during the Friday after Easter and on September 14. On these two days, a great feast, both profane and religious takes place there. Funerals of people to be buried in the nearby cemetery are also celebrated in the church. In Byzantine times the sanctuary was one of the most important in Constantinople . On Ascension Day , the Emperor arrived by boat to
765-526: The Spring (Istanbul) The church is located in Istanbul , in the district of Zeytinburnu , in the neighbourhood of Balıklı , along Balıklı Sivrikapı Sokak . It lies a few hundred meters outside the walled city, about five hundred meters from the Gate of Silivri ( Turkish : Silivri Kapısı ). The complex is protected by a high wall, and – being surrounded by Eastern Orthodox and Armenian cemeteries – lies in
810-420: The background, is represented Leo I with the blind man together with the walls of the city. Under the basin a paralytic and a mad are healed with the spring's water. According to Nikephoros Kallistos (writing in fourteenth century) the church by that time had a rectangular shape of basilica type, with a 4:3 proportion between the sides, and was partly subterranean. It was surrounded by two exonarthexes (on
855-508: The church did not exist anymore, but the sick continued to attend the spring. In 1727 Nikodemos, Metropolitan of Dercos and Neochorion , built a small chapel above the Hagiasma. An icon, discovered in the foundations of the old church, was venerated in the chapel. The Armenians tried to take possession of the spring, but several firmans secured the possession to the Greeks. The complex
900-481: The discovery of a conspiracy by their relatives, Leo had repented of his treatment of Euthymius and asked for his forgiveness. The emperor repeatedly sought his counsel, going as far as visiting him incognito at the monastery in Psamathia. During one of the visits, Euthymius prophesied Eudokia's death, and later refused to attend her funeral, retiring with six followers from Constantinople to the suburb of "ta Agathou",
945-712: The end of the Byzantine Empire. The icon that represents the Virgin of the Spring shows the Virgin blessing and embracing the Child. She is surrounded by two angels and usually is sitting on the more elevated of two basins which are sustained by a water jet coming from a larger marble basin adorned with a cross. Around this, stands the Emperor with his guard, while on the left there is the Patriarch with his bishops. On
SECTION 20
#1732776654665990-494: The exact background of the affair. Despite Euthymius' notorious stubbornness, which probably had discouraged Leo from raising him to the patriarchate sooner, he proved willing to grant the emperor economy, aided by the assent of the other patriarchates of the Pentarchy . Despite Zoe's repeated efforts, however, he steadfastly refused to officially recognize her marriage with the emperor as canonical and her status as empress. Leo
1035-405: The great earthquake of 869 – under Basil I (r. 867–886). On 7 September 924 Tsar Simeon I of Bulgaria burned the complex, which was at once restored by Romanos I Lekapenos (r. 920–944). Three years later the son of Simeon, Peter was married to Maria , the niece of Lekapenos. Due to its position outside the city, the monastery was often used as place of exile. In 1078 Georgios Monomachos
1080-567: The patriarchal throne (867–877) that he was appointed as the spiritual father of the prince Leo, the son of Emperor Basil I the Macedonian ( r. 867–886 ) and future emperor as Leo VI the Wise ( r. 886–912 ). Indeed, the historian Shaun Tougher argues in his study of Leo's reign that Euthymius was possibly the spiritual father of all of Basil's sons. Euthymius supported Leo in his conflict with his father over his affair with Zoe Zaoutzaina . According to Euthymius' hagiography,
1125-413: The reign, and with whom Euthymius was engaged in a battle "for the prize of Leo's soul". How far Stylianos' reported dominance reflects reality is questioned by Tougher, who points out that from the historical sources, Leo does not seem to have simply followed Stylianos' initiative, but to have retained control of affairs throughout his reign. Euthymius has also been seen by modern scholars as an advocate of
1170-511: The rift in the Church and reconcile many leading churchmen with the emperor's fourth marriage. Bishop Gabriel of Ancyra is even said to have sent the omophorion of Saint Clement as a gift and a token of appreciation. Shortly before Leo's death in May 912, the emperor reconciled himself with Nicholas Mystikos, who now demanded his re-instatement as Patriarch. The sources are unclear, but shortly after Leo's death, or perhaps already before, Euthymius
1215-412: The right side near the middle of the nave there is a Pulpit , while at the end lies a rich iconostasis . Right of the iconostasis there is an icon which the tradition says painted by Saint Luke . The source lies in a subterranean crypt outside the church, and can be accessed descending a stair parallel the long sides of the church. A symmetric stair leads from the crypt to the church's yard. The crypt
1260-478: The same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Patriarch Euthymius . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Patriarch_Euthymius&oldid=1210942266 " Categories : Disambiguation pages Title and name disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description
1305-487: The same time (according to P. Karlin-Hayter in late 888 or early 889 ) he was also named to the post of syncellus , succeeding Stephen, who had held the post in tandem with the patriarchate since 886. This was an important office in the Byzantine ecclesiastical hierarchy, and several of its holders had subsequently advanced to the patriarchate. Despite his closeness to the new emperor, Euthymius' relationship with Leo
1350-468: The small harbor of the Golden Gate . He rode up to the sanctuary, where he was acclaimed by the factions , who offered him a cross and garlands. Later, he dressed in his ceremonial robes in his apartments and, after receiving the Patriarch, the two entered the church hand-in-hand. After the celebration, he invited the Patriarch for dinner. Each future Empress coming to Constantinople for her wedding
1395-461: The throne, the emperor erected a magnificent church on this place. This legend is possibly a later invention of the monks of the sanctuary. It is possible that, before the Justinian's building was erected, a small monastery had already existed there. The building underwent many repairs over the centuries. The largest were required because of earthquakes: in 790, under Empress Irene , and – after
Patriarch Euthymius - Misplaced Pages Continue
1440-553: The town of Didymoteicho , he drank water from the spring and recovered at once. During the Ottoman siege of Constantinople in 1422 , Sultan Murad II camped in the sanctuary. It is unknown whether the Byzantines restored the building before the conquest of the city in 1453 Russian pilgrims of the fifteenth century do not mention the church, only the spring. The 16th-century French scholar Pierre Gilles writes that in 1547
1485-864: The traditional aristocracy, and at odds with Leo's "foreign" (i.e. non- Byzantine Greek and non-aristocratic) advisers, such as the Armenian Zaoutzes, the Arab eunuch chamberlain Samonas , or the Italian Nicholas Mystikos , who preceded Euthymius on the patriarchal throne, although this probably has more to do with the obvious effort of the Vita to present Euthymius as a perfect saint, which leads it to denigrate his rivals. Euthymius first incurred Leo's displeasure when he supported his first wife, Theophano , and dissuaded her from seeking
1530-505: Was "notoriously stormy" (Shaun Tougher), and perhaps explains why did not succeed to the patriarchal throne until 907. The Vita Euthymii also assigns much of the blame for Euthymius's troubled relation with the emperor on the machinations of Zoe Zaoutzaina's father, Stylianos Zaoutzes . Zaoutzes' rivalry with Euthymius is a major theme of his hagiography, where the former is represented as an all-powerful minister whose ambitions and machinations are responsible for all errors and calamities of
1575-511: Was a relative of the "miracle-worker" Gregory of Dekapolis . Following stints at the monastic community of Mount Olympus and a monastery near Nicomedia , Euthymius came to the Byzantine capital, Constantinople , where he entered the monastery of St. Theodore, in the capital's outskirts. Euthymius had a relationship with the Patriarch Ignatius , whom he alludes to as his master, and it is probably during Ignatius' second tenure on
1620-586: Was banished there. In 1084, Emperor Alexios I Komnenos confined the philosopher John Italus to the monastery, because of his neoplatonic theories. After the Latin invasion of 1204 , the church was occupied by the Latin clergy and, according to Byzantine sources, this caused the end of the so-called "habitual miracle" ( to synetés thauma ). In 1328 Andronikos III Palaiologos used the monastery as base to attack Constantinople. Two years later, as he lay dying in
1665-608: Was controlled by Turkish guardians, who collected from the pilgrims a tax that used for the maintenance of the prisons. Later the complex came into the possession of the Patriarchate , until in 1821 the Janissaries destroyed the chapel and poisoned the spring. In 1833, a firman allowed Patriarch Constantius I to rebuild the church, which was inaugurated in 1835. During the Istanbul Pogrom on 6 September 1955 it
1710-499: Was deposed by a synod convened at Magnaura in favour of Nicholas, who was recalled from exile. Euthymius was exiled to Agathou, where he died on 5 August 917. Euthymius' hagiography, the Vita Euthymii , or The Life of Euthymius , was apparently written in the years 920/25 according to P. Karlin-Hayter, or, according to D. Sophianos, soon after 932. Its author is unknown, but, in the words of Shaun Tougher, "he had an insider's perspective on court affairs during [Leo VI's] reign", and
1755-422: Was forced to do penance to atone for his marriage, and to pass a law excluding anyone from ever again marrying for a fourth time. As a result of the settlement, on 15 May 908 Euthymius crowned the infant Constantine VII as co-emperor. Even though the later Byzantine chroniclers tend to side with Nicholas Mystikos against Leo, they paint Euthymius in a favourable light. According to the Vita , his tenure helped heal
1800-594: Was frying fishes in a pan near the source. When a colleague announced him the fall of the city, he replied that he would have believed him only if the fishes in the pan would have come back to life. After his words these jumped in the source and began swimming. The yard in front of a church is a cemetery with marble tombs – mostly of them dating to the nineteenth and twentieth century - belonging to wealthy Rûms of Istanbul. Also several Patriarchs are buried here. Characteristic of this cemetery are also several gravestones with Karamanli inscriptions, which constitute by far
1845-560: Was kept in Berlin and vanished during World War II , but the Vita exists in several critical editions: Euthymius' own writings are few and relatively insignificant, comprising sermons on the conception of St. Anne and an homily on the Virgin Mary . His contemporary Arethas of Caesarea also wrote a panegyric in his honour, but according to Kazhdan "it is conventional and provides only limited data". Church of St. Mary of
Patriarch Euthymius - Misplaced Pages Continue
1890-526: Was raised by him to the high ecclesiastical office of syncellus . Despite his turbulent relationship with Leo, in 907 he was appointed to the patriarchate and held the post until his deposition shortly before or after Leo's death in 912. Euthymius was born in Seleucia in Isauria c. 834 , and became a monk at an early age. According to his funeral oration, composed by Arethas of Caesarea , he
1935-689: Was received by her future spouse in the Monastery of the Spring. The dedication feast of the church took place on July 9. Moreover, the Ascension, the Marriage at Cana (8 January) and the anniversary of the Miracle of Leo I on 16 August were celebrated here. The Life-giving spring gave origin to many churches and monasteries bearing the same name in the Greek world, but most of them were erected after
1980-434: Was still a soldier. Before entering the city, Leo met a blind man who asked him to give him water. A female voice ordered the future Emperor to wet the eyes of the blind man with water from a nearby swamp. The same voice added that she had chosen that very place to be worshiped and that he would one day receive the crown to the empire. Leo followed her order and at once the blind man recovered his eyesight. After his accession to
2025-484: Was targeted by the state-sponsored fanatic Muslim mob. During this attack the sarcophaguses of the Ecumenical Patriarchs which are located outside the church were opened and their remains were scattered. Moreover, the church and the monastery were completely burned to the ground. Since then the damage has been restored. The sanctuary is directed by a titular bishop and is one of the most popular among
#664335