Dear Friends,
For the first time since the Soviets were in power, the miraculous well of Nestorivka near Borispil in Ukraine has had its traditional pilgrimage and Cross procession renewed!
Here is a picture:
http://www.orthodox.org.ua/News-R_ooua.php?id=4606 The curative powers of this holy well were well-known in previous centuries and the wife of the Ukrainian Hetman Cyril Rozumovsky experienced a cure by drinking its holy water.
Sacred wells were particularly honoured in Ireland and Britain.
Up the street from where I live, there is "Annswell Park" in Thornill.
This is where the "prayer hut" of Toronto's "Holy Ann Preston" an Irish Methodist saint, has been preserved by the municipal authorities.
Beside it is a well with a cement cap.
The children that Ann was looking after had to walk a long distance to carry fresh water (this was the end of the 19th century).
Henry, the oldest boy, was something of an agnostic and complained to Ann that she should ask "her Father" to bring back fresh water to the well near their home (that had dried out).
Ann spent two hours in prayer for this intention, asking God to grant the favour, especially to enliven Henry's faith . . .
After two hours of intense prayer, Ann took a bucket and threw it into the well - and then drew up crystal-clear, fresh water!
She brought it into the kitchen of the house ("Holy Ann's Cottage" is now located across the street from the park and exactly one block away from St Volodymyr's Ukrainian Catholic parish) and put it on the table.
She then asked Henry, "What do you think about it all now?"
Henry looked at the water and said, "Well, Ann, why couldn't you have asked your Father to do this three weeks ago?"
Holy Ann Preston, pray unto God for us!
Alex
