"I have inhabited this place for a long time"

The Virgin Mary appeared several times in Constantinople (today’s Istanbul, Turkey), particularly at the still popular Church of Saint Mary of the Spring, west of the city. Many miracles were reported in that city for over more than 15 centuries through the intercession of the "Life-giving" Virgin Mary.

It was Emperor Leo I the Thracian (5^th century) who first found the spring. While he was still a simple soldier, a heavenly voice addressed him with these prophetic words: "Emperor Leo, enter deep into this wood, take some muddy water with your hands and cure the thirst of the blind man. Apply that water to his eyes, and you will immediately know who I am, I have inhabited this place for a long time." The blind man regained his sight, and Leo, once he became emperor, built a church at the site of the spring in around A.D. 474.

A long time later, as the large church threatened to crumble, the Mother of God appeared and held up the structure until the crowds inside came out safely.

After the capture of Constantinople by the Turks (1453), the church and monastery were destroyed, but the sick continued to come to the Spring where miracles and cures were still taking place: "The miracles we witness here every day surpass in number the droplets of rain, the stars of heaven, or the plants of the earth." (Lenten Triodion, Apostolic Diakonia, 1993)

Today, the name of the complex is "Balikli" or "Baloukli," from the Turkish "balik" which means "place where there are fish." In fact the water flows into a marble basin filled with fish. Since 1824, all the patriarchs of Constantinople have been buried in the Monastery of the Spring. This healing water continues to flow, bringing healing to the body and the soul.

The Marie de Nazareth Team