‘I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.‘ Ezekiel: 36: 25
Greek Orthodox tradition believes that certain waters are holy and have a healing power. Historians say that this is a specific tradition of Greek Orthodox Christians which has always felt alien to other Orthodox traditions round the globe.
Istanbul has always been the heart of Greek Orthodox Christianity. Almost each İstanbulite is familiar with the ‘ayazma’s (referring to the holy waters) scattered round the city where Orthodox İstanbuliltes along with Muslims visit for their healing powers. Ayazma is derived from the Greek word ‘Hagiasma’ meaning holy place. Ayazmas in İstanbul are natural springs which the ancestors of the Greek Orthodox Christians believed were holy. These ayazmas are almost always a part of a church complex dedicated to a Saint.
Believers drink these waters or take them home to sprinkle them on parts of the body for their healing powers. Those who find healing in these waters tend to bring a symbolic object back to the Ayazma such as oil, broom, a small doll or a key holder.
We know that some of these ayazmas date back to Byzantine Era before Fatih conquered İstanbul in 1453. All of the ayazmas in İstanbul have a name and some are even famous for their healing powers for specific troubles.
One of the best preserved ayazmas is Balıklı Ayazma in Zeytinburnu. Ayazma was built in the 5th century by the Byzantine Emperor V. Leon. The legend says that the emperor had a ‘vision’ close to this location showing him the way to the ayazma (holy water).
The vision guided him to the spring of the holy water, dictated him to wash his face with it and announced him that he would be the emperor if he did it. V. Leon, right after he became Emperor, built Balıklı Ayazma whom he dedicated to Virgin Mary! The original name of the ayazma was Zoodokhos Peges meaning ‘water spring that bestows life’.
Regardless of your belief in the healing power of holy waters, pay a visit to an Istanbul Ayazma to experience the refreshing ‘feel’ of water and this ancient tradition shared both by Christians and Muslims of İstanbul!
Have a glimpse at this short video about this fascinating ayazma by Yasin Karabacak.
