Just like in the Divine services, where every chant ends with the praise of the One who is the reason for our salvation, this Holy Pashal week is also crowned with the holiday of the purest Theotokos, called The Life-Giving Fountain – Balikli. The history of this holiday begins in the middle of the 5th century, with the miraculous spring in Constantinople, which carries the same name. But in a spiritual sense, it reveals the eternal mystery of the One who is Quick to Heal the mortal wounds of humankind. To those approaching with love, as the Chuch chants today, the Life-giving fountain of the immortal Spring gives abundant healing from deceases. Therefore, we who are stained by passions, let us run to the Mother of God and wash our sins away.
Through Theotokos we feel the Pashal joy, through Her, we taste the sweetness of the Never setting Day, through Her, we dress in glory, through Her we enter the gates of eternal joy. She is our icon of salvation, She is our communion with the Divine beauty. Therefore, every holiday of Her’s is celebrated with particular honour and gratitude. Still, the greatness of today’s festivity in her honour surpasses them all because it is enlightened by the joyful rays of the glorious Resurrection. That is the reason for the immense joy of our monastic family, gathered around our Elder, Archimandrite Parthenius, during the Liturgy and the Pashal Lithany at the convent of the Immaculate Mother in Kichevo. The prayerful and grateful exclamation of our souls during the Liturgy, and later at the Lithany and the blessing of water at the place named Gospodinec, where the holy Prechistants martyrs, gave their lives for eternal Truth and Victory, were a gift by our Mother of Light, the One through Which we are endowed with every heavenly mercy.
It was a gift, but also a conviction that the love and the maternal protection of the Most Holy Theotokos are greater than any suffering, sorrow and any disease, including the recent one, and also greater than any lie, malicious conspiracy and playing with human life. Once again, She, the Parent of the Divine wisdom, confirmed the words of God, spoken through the wise Prophet Solomon: Hear therefore, O ye kings, and understand; learn, ye that be judges of the ends of the earth. Give ear, ye that rule the people, and glory in the multitude of nations. For power is given you of the Lord, and sovereignty from the Highest, who shall try your works, and search out your counsels. Because, being ministers of his kingdom, ye have not judged aright, nor kept the law, nor walked after the counsel of God. (Wisdom of Solomon 6, 1-3).
So, today, moved by the gentle embrace of the Holy Mother, we exclaim with great joy: Rejoice, ye spring of unceasing joy! Rejoice, ye flood of every passion! Rejoice, ye disease healing wave! Rejoice, ye warm spring and sweet ambrosia from God! Rejoice, ye water of salvation! Rejoice, Empress of the world!
