This study was for an icon of Our Lady Source of Living Waters. The traditional origin story of this type of icon tells us that in 5th-century Constantinople, there was a grove of trees near the so-called “Golden Gate.” The grove was dedicated to Mary, and inside the grove was a spring noted for its healing powers. Over time these stories led to a church being built which was later destroyed and then rebuilt in the 18th century to honor “Our Lady Source of the Living Waters “.

The iconography shows Our Lady holding Christ, who is the “Living Water”. Together they are embedded in a chalice-like fountain from which flows God’s healing presence. The chalice /fountain references both the baptismal font and the wound of Christ on the Cross from which water and blood flow and is understood by Church Fathers to mystically initiate the sacramental life of the Church. There is an emblem of the Carmelite Order on this font as this particular icon was created for a Carmelite nun taking her final vows. 

“Whoever believes in me, as scripture says: ‘Rivers of living water will flow from within him.’”