Who does not know our intercessor and protector, the Mother of God? There is not a single temple where there is no icon Holy Mother of God. Each apartment or house has an iconostasis, which is headed by the Face of the Mother of God. They pray to Her, they glorify Her, they bow before Her. The Virgin Mary is one of the most prominent personalities in Christian history. Her life-giving image even now attracts not only believers, but also inveterate atheists. Trouble has come to the house - it is the Mother of God who will help cope with it; There is a problem with the children, we are going to solve it. She will definitely help in any, even the most hopeless situations. One of the most widespread and sought-after icons is the seven-arrowed Mother of God.

Whoever saw the seven-arrowed icon of the Mother of God was probably amazed why the Holy Face was pierced with seven daggers; What is the meaning of this amazing icon?

According to Christian sources, the icon of the Mother of God, pierced with seven swords, symbolizes the prediction of Simeon the God-Receiver that he will accept death after seeing the Divine Child. And so it happened. On the 40th day after the birth of Jesus Christ, his parents brought Him to the temple, where they met the venerable old man. He, having seen the wonderful Child, said that he could now depart in peace, and to His mother, the Most Holy Theotokos, he predicted great sorrow, and that a formidable weapon would pass through Her soul.

It is the seven swords stabbed into the heart of the Mother of God that mean that heartache which She had to endure when Her Divine Son was crucified. The number seven, in this case, symbolizes the perfect completeness of the “spiritual weapon” with which the Mother of God was struck. From contemplating the unbearable torment of Her Son on the cross, the Most Holy Mary lost consciousness. It was for these sufferings, which were rightly called a weapon piercing the soul, that the Mother of God was given the ability to see and know the structure of every human soul and to contemplate the thoughts of the hearts. This is the second meaning of the seven-arrow icon - the seven deadly sins of fallen human nature. It is fully reflected in the troparion to another similar icon, “Softening evil hearts»:

“Soften our evil hearts, Mother of God, and extinguish the misfortunes of those who hate us, and resolve all the tightness of our souls! Looking at Your holy image, we are touched by Your suffering for us, and we are horrified by the arrows of our tormenting You! Do not let us, Mother of the Compassionate, perish in our hardness of heart and from the hardness of our neighbors, for You are truly the softener of evil hearts!”

Have you ever dreamed of the Mother of God, who calls people to cleanse and soften their hearts, to open their Divine All-Forgiving Love? She begs humanity with their sins not to cause Her incredible mental pain, which is why she came to our aid in the form of a seven-arrow icon.

How does the seven-arrow icon help?

According to legend, an amazing icon was found about 700 years ago. She was found by a simple Vologda peasant in a church, on the bell tower. She lay on the floor face down, and people walked on her as if on a board. That's not all. A few days before the events described, the peasant had a dream in which the Virgin Mary told him where to look for the miraculous icon. But the miracles did not end there. It was this same peasant who was the first to be healed of all his ailments.

Icon Mother of God The seven-shot weapon is still very popular among believers. Thousands of people come to her with their troubles, believing that the Holy Virgin will save them from misfortunes and help resolve complex problems. life situations. And miracles still happen today.

What does the Most Holy Theotokos protect from in the image of the seven-arrow icon? People turn to her in search of salvation from:

• enemies, ill-wishers and envious people with a request to soften their hearts and open them to Love and Light;
• illnesses, injuries and accidents. It is this icon that will protect and heal from physical and mental illnesses;
• accidental death during wars and armed conflicts, as well as simply from attacks by enemies and murderers. The face of the Most Holy Theotokos will protect you from the use of any weapon against you and will protect soldiers and defenders in the performance of military duty.

The icon will help you find mutual understanding with your children, parents and other loved ones. It will resolve the conflict between spouses and bring peace to people's hearts.

If we sincerely and with great faith turn to the miraculous icon, then the Mother of God will definitely hear us and will not fail to come to our aid, asking and imploring Her Son, Jesus Christ, for us to have mercy, help and protect.

Where to place the icon correctly

In order for the icon not only to please the eye, but also to fulfill its protective function, it is necessary to choose the right place for it. If there is space for an iconostasis in the room, then it is best to place the seven-arrow icon next to the icon of Jesus Christ. If there is no such place in the apartment, then the Face of the Most Holy Theotokos can be placed in any other place so that you can light a candle or lamp near it.

However, several conditions must be met in order for it to work and protect all household members:

• You should not place photographs or any religious posters near the icon;
• You shouldn’t put the icon in public with other, even very expensive, objects. The Holy Face is intended for individual communication and prayer, therefore, the proximity of other things to the image will be inappropriate;
• also no need to set the icon to bookshelves, next to the TV or hang near the paintings, otherwise the image will lose its power and will be useless.

You can place the seven-arrow icon above front door. Thus, the Holy Face will protect the home from enemies and ill-wishers.

A body icon that should be located near the heart will be useful. It can be worn together with a cross. Thus, she will always be nearby, which will allow you to turn to the Mother of God constantly, anywhere and at any time. She will protect us from the evil eye, ill-wishers and from our own anger.

How to pray to the seven-arrow icon

Prayer is a cry from a suffering soul for help and intercession to the Higher Powers. If it comes sincerely from the very depths of the heart, then it will certainly be heard, and help will definitely come. You can pray to the icon at any time; not only when the need arises, but also when everything is fine with a person. Gratitude is the same prayer, and you should not forget about it. After all, we often remember God only when we feel bad, and when we feel good, and we don’t think that perhaps it was He who helped us in what we have at the moment.

Prayer to the seven-arrow icon:

“Oh, long-suffering Mother of God, who exceeds all the daughters of the earth in Her purity and in the multitude of sufferings You have endured on earth, accept our much-painful sighs and keep us under the shelter of Your mercy. For you know of no other refuge and warm intercession, but, as you have boldness in the One who was born of You, help and save us with Your prayers, so that we may without stumbling reach the Kingdom of Heaven, where with all the saints we will sing praises in the Trinity to the One God now and ever , and forever and ever. Amen!"

Do not forget that we are all a part of the Creator, our heavenly Father. People, do only good, bring Light and Love to each other! Only They are able to open our hearts to Love, which is a symbol of eternal and have a wonderful life together with our Beloved Father! Don’t hurt each other, open your souls to the world, and the seven-arrow icon of the Mother of God will definitely help you with this.

All the best to you, dear ones!

Icons occupy a place of honor not only in Orthodox churches and temples, but also in the homes of believers. Many believers are interested in how this or that icon helps. Let's consider what kind of help the Seven Arrows icon provides, because for many centuries it has been considered miraculous. We will also find out where in the apartment this icon should be placed.

To understand the meaning of the Seven Arrow Icon, you need to turn to the Gospel story about the prophecy of Elder Simeon (Luke 2: 34-35). On the fortieth day after the birth of Christ, the holy family came to the Jerusalem Temple. According to Jewish traditions, it is on the fortieth day that parents dedicate their baby to God.

Pious Simeon awaited the coming of the Messiah into the world for many years. He was promised in revelation that he would not pass into another world without seeing the baby Savior. When he took the baby in his arms, he prophesied that now much would change in the world: the servants of God would depart from the faith, and unbelievers would be saved. This is what happened when the Pharisees did not recognize the Messiah and demanded his crucifixion.

Looking at the Mother of God, he prophesied that a sharp weapon would enter her. This prophecy came true when the Mother of God suffered unbearable torment due to her son’s suffering on the cross. Therefore, the icon has another name - Simeon's prophecy. The icon is also called “Softening Evil Hearts”, “And a weapon will pierce your very soul”, “Passionate”.

How to distinguish which icon is which? In “Softening Evil Hearts” the seventh arrow is located at the bottom, and 6 others pierce the chest of the Virgin Mary on the right and left. In the “Seven Shot” you can see 3 arrows on one side and 4 on the other. There is no arrow at the bottom.

The “Passionate” icon depicts the Mother of God with a baby in her arms. With one hand she covers her and his body from flying arrows. We see that in this icon the Mother of God looks like she is praying. However, all three images are referred to in Orthodoxy as the “Mother of God of the Seven Shots.” Therefore, before any of the icons, you need to read the same prayer addressed to the seven-arrowed Mother of God.

Meaning of the icon

The icon depicts the Mother of God pierced by arrows or swords. There are many versions of this image: sometimes the Virgin Mary is depicted alone, sometimes angels or Jesus with the saints can be seen with her. Swords and arrows carry a certain symbolism - the pain of Christ's crucifixion. This is the pain a mother experienced during the execution of her son.

The endless pain and grief of the unfortunate mother is expressed in the number of spears - seven. This number has the meaning of the completeness of something. Sometimes the number 7 is associated with the seven sins of humanity, which pierce the heart of the Mother of God. The Mother of God folded her hands in prayer, as if begging humanity to get rid of their sins. After all, they lead to death. The seven-shot icon of the Mother of God appeals to every heart and promises to intercede with the Son for the forgiveness of all who have repented.

Help icons

What does the seven-arrow icon of the Mother of God help with? Believers say that the Intercessor helps if:

• Enemies and envious people have taken up arms around you;
• it is necessary to reconcile the warring parties;
• family scandals need to be extinguished;
• you need to soften someone's evil heart;
• you need to evoke compassion in a person;
• the heart must be awakened to faith;
• there is a need for healing from the disease.

If the Seven Shore Mother of God is located in the house, peace and tranquility reigns in it. Household members are friendly towards each other, and ill-wishers avoid this house or do not stay in it for long.

Icons must be purchased from the temple. If you bought the Seven Shots elsewhere, the icon should be consecrated in the church.

Previously, Orthodox Christians knew how to pray to icons correctly. IN modern times Orthodox traditions are reborn, but not everyone has an idea of ​​correct prayer. How to properly address the holy face?

Then they read the prayer:

After reading the prayer, you can state your request to the Intercessor of humanity in your own words.

Icon location

Where is the correct place to install the Seven Shore Mother of God? Previously, the place for icons was the Red Corner - a place in the front room opposite the front door. IN modern houses This rule is not followed, and icons are placed in a place convenient for prayer. It could be:

• central room;
• children's room;
• space above the front door;
• a place opposite the front door;
• headboard.

According to ancient tradition, icons are decorated with embroidered towels.

The main thing is that there should be no obscene images adjacent to the icon. You cannot install Semistrelnaya on a TV or next to a laptop. It is unacceptable to place icons in the bathroom or restroom. If you want to place the Seven Shot in the kitchen, place the icon behind glass door- this will protect the holy face from soot and burning.

Is it possible to place photos of relatives with the Seven Shots icon? This is allowed as long as the photos show people sober and not at a party. It is necessary to show respect to the holy faces in every possible way and not allow indecent behavior in their presence.

It is advisable that the holy face be located in the eastern corner of the room. If this rule cannot be followed, that's okay. The main thing is that secular figurines and household items should not be placed next to the icon. It is also unacceptable to hang calendars and paintings with non-canonical content. It is considered sacrilege to place photographs of pop stars or political figures up close and personal.

What can be placed near the icon:

• lamp;
• candles in candlesticks;
• consecrated willow;
• holy water and oil;
• Orthodox literature.

In what order should icons be placed on the shelf? It should be remembered that the central place is given to the Savior and the Mother of God. You can place the faces of saints around them.

You also need to know that placing icons in the house does not lead to piety. Must be done prayer rule and lead a worthy Orthodox lifestyle. Prayer with faith in the heart is the most important weapon in victory over sins and illnesses.

Day of Honor

Despite the fact that there are three different images of the Seven Shot, they are venerated on the same day - August 26. Remembrance Day is associated with the great miracle when the residents of Vologda were saved from a ferocious cholera epidemic in 1830. On that day the townspeople committed procession with the icon around the city, and their prayers were answered. The infection retreated from the city, and many received miraculous healing.

Tell your fortune for today using the “Card of the Day” Tarot layout!

For correct fortune telling: focus on the subconscious and don’t think about anything for at least 1-2 minutes.

When you are ready, draw a card:

Among the huge list of icons that you can or have at home, in any case there should be an icon of the Seven-Shot Mother of God. This best image Mother of God, which helps save the house and maintain it in difficult times, strengthen faith and maintain health.

Icon of the Mother of God “Seven Arrows”

Icon of the Mother of God “Seven Arrows” - history

As the legend goes, the original miraculous image Our Lady with Seven Arrows was made in ancient times. According to 19th-century publications, the Icon of the Seven-Shot Mother of God is more than five hundred years old. In pre-revolutionary Russia there was a famous copy of the icon, which was identified with its legendary original. However, the features of pictorial iconography and the fact that the said copy was made on canvas glued to wooden board, indicate its later origin. A copy was made in the 18th century, probably from the original image, which has not survived and is dated to the 17th century, i.e. when many elements of Western icon painting appeared in Russian painting. The miraculous icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of Seven Arrows comes from northern Russia. Before the revolution, it was kept in the Church of St. John the Evangelist, not far from Vologda.

The legend about the icon is reminiscent of similar stories about God's images that are seen in visions different people. A man from Kadnikovsky district (for many years) suffered from lameness and no longer hoped to be cured. One day he was sleeping, and a Divine voice ordered him to find the icon of the Mother of God in the Church of St. John the Evangelist, and to pray in front of the icon with faith in his healing. Arriving at this church, the peasant was not immediately able to do what was ordered in the vision. Only after his third request did the clergy, who did not trust his words, allow him to enter the bell tower and go up. It turned out that the icon, covered with dust and dirt, served as a simple wooden stairs, on which the bells rang as they went up or down the tower. Horrified by their unintentional sacrilege, the clergy cleaned the icon and held a service in front of it, after which the peasant made a full recovery.

A few years later, the memory of the miracle began to gradually disappear and could have completely disappeared if not for a new miracle, when it appeared again miraculous power Our Lady. In 1830, a terrible cholera epidemic swept through a large part of European Russia, including the Vologda region. Many sacred objects were delivered to Vologda, including the image of the Seven-Shot Icon of the Mother of God. Christ-loving residents of Vologda held a religious procession with the icon throughout the city. After a general prayer in front of the miraculous image, the cholera subsided as suddenly as it had come.

Seven-shot icon of the Mother of God - description

The icon with the seven arrows of the Mother of God has several options for depicting the image. They all have something in common - on the icons the patroness is depicted without Christ with spears or arrows. There are always seven of them - hence the name that is now most common - the Seven-Shot Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The number seven signifies the seven cardinal sins, the fullness of a suffering mother whose son suffered and died. There is nothing more upsetting than seeing your child die, so the torment of the virgin, reflected in this powerful image, still remains one of the most common and has a certain fame not only in Russia and the CIS, but also in Europe.

The first mentions of the image of the Mother of God of the Seven Shots, unfortunately, disappeared after the tragic events of 1917. Many great churches throughout Russia have lists of the image of the seven arrows. There are many image options:
“The Softening of Evil Hearts” and “Simeon’s Prophecy” are two icons that are considered types of the image of the Most Holy Theotokos of Seven Arrows.

The most famous icon of the Seven Shot Mother of God at the moment is located in Moscow in the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael.

Icon of the Mother of God Seven-shot meaning, what helps

The Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of Seven Arrows saves from unbelief and loss of vitality. This helps people not give up during difficult times. The icon is a helper for everyone who wants to make their life more enjoyable in a spiritual sense. The image of the Most Holy Theotokos of Seven Arrows helps newlyweds, helps in childbirth, and in raising children.

The holiday dedicated to the image of the Seven Shot Mother of God is celebrated on August 13 of each year. On this day, you can visit a temple or read a prayer at home, specially dedicated to this holiday and this image, which has become part of our country.

How does the Seven-Arrow Icon help, where to hang it

The Seven-Arrow Icon of the Mother of God differs from others in that it is placed not only as usual on the iconostasis, but also in other places in the house.

There is no strict rule about where to hang the Seven-Arrow Icon. You can install it in your home iconostasis or hang it in front of the entrance to one of the rooms in the house, preferably the main one. It can also be hung opposite the front door or above it, so that people with bad intentions cannot harm the owners of the house.

So that there is peace in the family, the Seven-Shot Icon of the Mother of God is located in the main room of the house. If placed above the patient's bed, it will help speed up recovery. The main thing is to pray diligently and believe.

The icon should not be placed next to the TV, computer, paintings, or photographs. It is best to place the icon in the eastern part of the apartment. Also, the cleanliness of the iconostasis must be monitored at all times.

What does the seven-shot icon of the Mother of God help with?

This image of the Blessed Virgin Mary helps every person who asks for help. If you pray with faith in your soul, then the hearts of your enemies will soften, those at war will be reconciled, and no evil will enter your home. It will leave your heart and your home, and peace and tranquility will come to your soul.

This is truly a great icon that deserves to find its place in your home. Try to find time to buy it for yourself and for those you love with all your heart.

The Virgin Mary is one of the key figures Orthodox faith. She is considered the common spiritual mother of all Christians, the intercessor of everyone who asks for help. There are different images of the Virgin Mary. They are created to handle petitions of various types. Therefore, it is so important to know the meaning of the icon that ends up in your home.

Almost every believer has a seven-shot gun. It depicts the Mother of God with 7 swords pointed at her chest. Most often there are three on the left side and four on the right. There is a similar icon called “Softening Evil Hearts.” It shows six arrows on the left and right, and one more on the bottom. The symbolism and meaning of the shrines are almost identical. They are even celebrated on the same days.

In front of the Seven Arrow Icon of the Mother of God, they pray for help in getting rid of sinful feelings, reconciliation with enemies, protection from ill-wishers and scammers, and help in difficult life situations.

Also, before the image, prayers are said for the defenders of the Motherland.

God works in mysterious ways. Nobody knows what trials the next moment of life has in store for us. Some difficulties seem insurmountable and leave doubts in the heart about one’s own strength, and sometimes even about one’s faith in the Almighty. At such moments, it is very important to pray and ask for help not to stray from the true spiritual path.

During her life, the Mother of God went through many trials. She, like any mother, vividly experienced all the persecution, all the pain of her son. She knew anger, fear, and despair. We can say that she, together with the Savior, atoned for the sins of all mankind with her immeasurable suffering.

The symbolism of the Seven Shots icon is multifaceted. The image can be interpreted in at least three ways.

“And a weapon will pierce your own soul, so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed” - a place in the Gospel associated with the betrayal of Christ by Judas and his crucifixion. The phrase “the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed” is interpreted literally - it will become known who is a traitor and who is faithful, who loves and who does not hate, one’s own innermost thoughts will become clear. Therefore, they say that Seven Shots can help to discern in any person his sins and evil thoughts. The seven swords in this case are like the seven sinful passions: envy, despair, adultery, anger, gluttony, pride, greed. One of the meanings of the icon is the message of the Mother of God to humanity, a sign that she is near us.

The image of arrows (swords) is also interpreted literally. This is the weapon from which the Virgin Mary protects us. Therefore, many hang the Seven-Arrow Icon opposite the entrance door - to protect the home from criminals, to soften their hearts when entering the house. Many pray in front of the Seven Arrow Icon for the protection of soldiers on the battlefield.

Finally, swords are a symbol of suffering. The fact that there are seven of them is no coincidence. For the Orthodox faith, this number means completeness and prosperity. The meaning of the Seven Arrow Icon is a reminder of the difficulties that the Mother of God had to go through with humility, love and compassion.

The meaning of a shrine for a believer

For a believer, a shrine is a symbol of suffering for the human race, compassion for one’s neighbors and the willingness to give everything one has for one’s faith. The Virgin Mary pierced by arrows is a symbol of humility, love, mercy and patience. It reminds us of what a real Christian should be guided by in life, of making difficult decisions.

They pray to “soften evil hearts” when sinful thoughts arise, a desire to take revenge on ill-wishers. This icon reminds us how many troubles the Mother of God had to endure - her son was persecuted, beaten, not accepted, and ultimately brutally killed. But she accepted all this with humility and faith in God, with the understanding that everything that the Almighty allowed was necessary. Likewise, a Christian must pacify his anger towards others.

The Seven-Armed Virgin Mary will help not only humility of the soul. The holy face depicted on the icon is able to soften the hearts of those who illegally sneak into your home, envy you or try to do evil.

You should direct your prayers to this icon of the Mother of God in the following cases:

• When there are quarrels and misunderstandings between spouses in the family. The Mother of God will help preserve the family hearth, find love and trust in the soul to a loved one, which are the basis of harmony and mutual understanding.
• When you have a quarrel with people around you, you should ask the Mother of God for help in order to cope with anger and hatred. You can also ask her to reveal love, tolerance and humility in those who are negative towards you.
• For serious injuries. The miraculous discovery of this icon took place several hundred years ago on the territory of the modern Vologda region. The holy face appeared in a dream to a lame and eternally ill man and ordered him to find the icon in the local chapel. After completing this assignment, he was cured of his lameness.

Where to place the image?

Many people don’t know where to hang the Seven Shot. This is an important icon, but the order of its placement in the home does not differ from the canons adopted for other images. Shrines should stand separately - away from household appliances

, photographs, secular literature, etc. Usually a corner in the eastern part of the room is allocated for them.

• When placing images on a home iconostasis, you should adhere to the hierarchy: The Mother of God is one of the most revered figures. It is placed in the center right side
• from the icon of Christ the Savior.
• The remaining images are located below or on the same level with the indicated shrines.
• Above the Virgin Mary and the Savior, only images of the Holy Trinity or a crucifix can be installed.
• It is good if the iconostasis is decorated with fresh flowers and embroidered fabric.

It is allowed to hang icons on the wall, but it is better to build shelves for them.

The Seven Shot is often hung above the front door or opposite it. It is believed that this way it will protect from intruders, envious people, and everyone who comes to the home with bad thoughts.

Semistrelnaya performed the first known miracle upon its acquisition. She cured a lame man from his illness after he found the icon in the temple. The image lay there for a long time, serving as one of the steps leading to the bell tower. Nobody knew about its existence as it was covered in dust and dirt.

The second great miracle happened in early XIX century. A plague epidemic began in the Vologda region. The priests organized a religious procession through local towns so that everyone could pray to the icon for salvation. At the end of the procession, the plague subsided. To this day, Semistrelnaya is prayed for the cure of serious illnesses that modern medicine cannot cope with.

Icon of the Mother of God “SEMISHOT”

The “Seven Arrow” Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos is one of the most miraculous icons in Rus'. For many centuries, Christians appealed to the Queen of Heaven through this icon if wars or riots broke out in the country.

The “Seven Arrow” Icon of the Mother of God depicts the Gospel story of how the Virgin Mary and Joseph the Betrothed brought the Infant Christ to the Jerusalem Temple on the 40th day after His birth. The holy elder Simeon the God-Receiver, who was present in the temple, at the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, saw in the Infant God the Messiah, the Redeemer expected by all the Israeli people. Anticipating the sorrow that the Mother of God will have to endure at the crucifixion of Christ, righteous Simeon turned to Her with the words: “Behold, this One lies for the fall and rebellion of many in Israel and for the subject of controversy - and a weapon will pierce your very soul.”(Luke 2:34-35).

The icon depicts the Most Holy Theotokos without the Infant God with seven arrows or swords piercing Her heart. Number 7 in Holy Scripture generally means the “completeness” of something. In this case, seven arrows piercing the Body of the Most Pure One, about which Simeon the Receiver of God prophesied allegorically: "Weapons will pierce the soul", mean the fullness of that grief, “sadness and heart disease” that was suffered Holy Virgin Mary in Her earthly life.

This image is sometimes supplemented by the image of the deceased Christ on the knees of the Mother of God.

There is another interpretation of the image: the seven arrows piercing the chest of the Blessed Virgin Mary represent the seven main human sinful passions, which the Mother of God is easily able to read in every human heart. And the passions of fallen nature pierce her soul no less than the vision of a host of demons rejoicing around the desecrated Son, tormented on the Cross.

According to legend, the original miraculous image of the “Seven Arrow” Mother of God was painted in ancient times, more than 500 years ago.

The appearance of the icon is associated with healing help given to a peasant in the Vologda province who was ill for a long time in the Kadnikovsky district near Vologda (on the banks of the Toshni River). He suffered from lameness and lameness for many years and tried unsuccessfully different ways overcome your illness. One day, in a subtle dream, a Divine voice commanded him to find the image of the Most Holy Theotokos in the bell tower of the Church of the Holy Apostle John the Theologian, where the old icons were kept, and to pray with faith before it for the healing of his illness. Arriving at the temple, the peasant was not immediately able to fulfill what was indicated to him in the vision. Only after the peasant’s third request did the clergy, who did not believe his words, allow him to climb the bell tower. It turned out that for a long time this holy image was located at the turn of the stairs of the church bell tower. The icon turned face down was mistaken for an ordinary board, which served as a step in the staircase along which the bell ringers climbed. Horrified by this involuntary blasphemy, the clergy washed the image and served a prayer service in front of it, after which the peasant received complete healing.

Unfortunately, after the revolution miraculous icon disappeared. But there remain numerous lists that are also miraculous. One of them, m emitting icon “Seven Arrows” is in temple Archangel Michael on the Maiden Field in Moscow.

Church of the Archangel Michael at the Clinics on the Maiden Field (Moscow, Elanskogo St., 2a)

There is also a very similar type of icon of the Mother of God, which is called Icon of the Mother of God “SOFTENING EVIL HEARTS”,or"Simeon's Prophecy". Its difference lies in the fact that the arrows piercing the heart of the Mother of God in this image are located three on the right and left, and one on the bottom, while the “Seven Arrow” icon has four arrows on one side and three on the other.

In modern iconography, these icons are considered to be varieties of the same iconographic type, and despite the differences, they are often combined and called the same - “Semistrelnaya” (“Softening Evil Hearts”). Moreover, in prayer practice these two images are also combined, because have the same meaning.

Finally, there is another image, close in iconography to the “Seven Arrows” and “Softening Evil Hearts” - this icon is called, which was previously located in the village of Zhizdra Kaluga region, "Passionate" or “And a weapon will pierce your very soul”. It was established that the celebration should take place on the same day as the “Seven Shot”. Unlike the common icons of the Mother of God “Passionate”, which belong to a completely different iconographic type - Hodegetria, the image from Zhizdra depicts the Mother of God in a prayer pose. With one hand she supports the Baby Jesus, and with the other she covers her own chest, at which 7 swords are aimed. It is customary to pray to the Mother of God and ask Her intercession before this icon in the same way as before the “Seven Arrows”.

Zhizdra Passion Icon of the Mother of God or “And a weapon will pierce your very soul”

The celebration in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Seven Arrows” takes place once a year - August 26 (August 13, old style). This date coincides with the miraculous deliverance of Vologda from cholera in 1830 after the townspeople fervently prayed to the Mother of God in front of Her image of the “Seven Arrows” and made a religious procession around the city with the icon.

They pray in front of the “Seven Arrow” icon of the Most Holy Theotokos when any discord, quarrel, enmity or complex litigation occurs in a person’s life. This bright image of the Mother of God is also venerated as a guardian hearth and home. They pray to the Most Pure Virgin in front of the “Seven Arrows” icon in order to maintain harmony in the house, reconcile with relatives, resolve a long-term conflict with loved ones, and improve relationships between spouses, as well as children and parents.

Material prepared by Sergey SHULYAK

for the Temple Life-Giving Trinity on Vorobyovy Gory

Prayer
O long-suffering Mother of God, who exceeds all the daughters of the earth in Her purity and in the multitude of sufferings You have endured on earth, accept our much-painful sighs and keep us under the shelter of Your mercy. You know of no other refuge and warm intercession, but, as you have boldness in the One who was born of You, help and save us with Your prayers, so that we may without stumbling reach the Kingdom of Heaven, where with all the saints we will sing praises in the Trinity to the One God, now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen.

Troparion, tone 5
Soften our evil hearts, Mother of God, / and extinguish the misfortunes of those who hate us, / and resolve every tightness of our soul, / looking at Your holy image, / We are touched by Your compassion and mercy for us, / and we kiss Your wounds, / Our arrows, You tormenting, we are horrified. / Do not let us, Mother of the Compassionate, / perish in our hardness of heart and from the hardness of our neighbors, // For you are truly the softener of evil hearts.

Kontakion, tone 2
By Thy grace, O Lady, / soften the hearts of evildoers, / send down benefactors, keeping them from all evil, / to those who earnestly pray to Thee // before Thy honorable icons.

When copying, please provide a link to our website