Orthodox Christians mark the Feast of the Life-Giving Spring — Significance and name days

This is simply a feast dedicated to the Virgin Mary and is observed each twelvemonth connected the Friday aft Easter (Bright Friday). It belongs to the alleged movable feasts of the ecclesiastical calendar and is celebrated 5 days aft Easter.

Why the feast is important

The Virgin Mary is besides known arsenic the “Life-Giving Spring” – “Zoodochos Pigi.” It originated from the revelation of a ineffable outpouring successful Balıklı, which, according to tradition, was revealed by the Theotokos to a worker named Leo I, who aboriginal became Byzantine Emperor (457–474).

Leo I aboriginal built the historical Church of the Life-Giving Spring astatine that location. Over the centuries, galore miraculous healings were said to person taken spot there, making it 1 of the astir important pilgrimage sites successful Greek Orthodoxy.

The feast is fundamentally dedicated to the Virgin Mary, who, though a quality being similar each others, conceived Christ done divine grace and, done her obedience to God’s will, contributed to the Incarnation. She gave commencement to Jesus Christ, the root of beingness and resurrection for humanity.

Who celebrates today

The pursuing names observe their sanction time today:

• Zoe, Zois, Zisis, Zisimos
• Zisoula, Zoitsa, Zozo
• Pigi (Peggy), Krini, Krinio
• Niki

Other saints commemorated today

According to the Orthodox calendar, April 17 besides honors:

• Mark the Evangelist
• Macedonius II of Constantinople
• Saint Nike

Who other celebrates

People with the pursuing names besides celebrate:

• Zoi, Zisis, Zisimos, Zoipigi
• Theopigi
• Polyzoi, Polyzoe
• Chrysopigi, Pigi, Krini, Krinio
• Panagiotis, Panagiota
• Markos, Markia
• Niki