A rare antique Russian Orthodox hand painted icon of Mother Of God Live Giving Spring. Mother of God is flanked by two angels on the sides and four small icons. Mixed media painting: egg tempera, gold leaf, gesso on wood panel. Inscribed upper to the center. Circa: 1700s. The Mother of God of the Life-giving Spring or Life giving Font is an epithet of the Holy Theotokos that originated with her revelation of a sacred spring in Valoukli, Constantinople, to a soldier named Leo Marcellus, who later became Byzantine Emperor Leo I (457-474). Leo built the historic Church of St. Mary of the Spring over this site, which witnessed numerous miraculous healings over the centuries, [note 2] through her intercessions, becoming one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Greek Orthodoxy. Thus the term Life giving Font became an epithet of the Holy Theotokos and she was represented as such in iconography. The feast day of the Life giving Spring is celebrated on Bright Friday in the Eastern Orthodox Church, and in those Eastern Catholic Churches which follow the Byzantine Rite. Additionally, the icon of the Theotokos the Life giving Spring is commemorated on April 4 / 17 in Slavic Orthodox churches. Antique Russian religious items and collectibles.