Icon Mother of God"Softening evil hearts" is also called "Simeon's prophecy." It symbolically depicts the prophecy of Saint Simeon the God-Receiver, pronounced by him in the Jerusalem temple on the day of the Presentation of the Lord: And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, His Mother: Behold, this one lies for the fall and for the uprising of many in Israel and for the subject of controversy - and to You The weapon itself will pierce the soul, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.

“Softening Evil Hearts” is written with swords stuck into Her heart - three on the right and left, one on the bottom. The number “seven” in the Holy Scriptures usually means the completeness, redundancy of something, and in this case, the completeness and vastness of the grief, sadness and “heart disease” that the Mother of God experienced during Her earthly life. Sometimes the Eternal Child is also written on the lap of the Most Pure Virgin.

The choice of the image of a sword in the icon is not accidental, since it is connected in human imagination with the shedding of blood.

There is another interpretation of the image of seven swords piercing the chest Holy Mother of God. The seven arrows on the icon represent the fullness of the sorrow of the Mother of God. But She suffers now not because she sees the torment of her Son crucified on the cross; the soul of the Most Pure One is pierced by the sharp arrows of our sins. These are the seven main sinful passions of man. Every offense, every action that is provoked by an evil feeling, an unkind thought, turns those same arrows, or in other images - swords, in the chest of our very first Intercessor before God, causing pain to a loving heart Mothers. And She, as we remember, is still ready to pray to the Son for each of us who resorts to Her holy intercession.

The image of “Softening Evil Hearts” apparently comes from Southwestern Rus', however historical information Unfortunately, there is no information about him; it is not even known where and when the image appeared.

This image is celebrated on All Saints Sunday (1st Sunday after Trinity).

Icon of the Mother of God “Seven Arrows”

Another miraculous image is very close to “Softening Evil Hearts” - Icon of the Mother of God “Seven Arrows”. The only difference between them is that on the “Seven Shot” the swords are written differently - three on the right side of the Most Pure One and four on the left, and celebrations are performed for her August 13, old style.

According to legend, “Seven Strelnaya” is more than 500 years old, however, the features of the painting and the fact that it was painted on canvas pasted onto a board indicate a later origin - apparently, this list was made in the 18th century from an original that has not reached us.

The miraculous icon of the Mother of God “Seven Arrows” of North Russian origin. Before the revolution, she stayed in the St. John the Theological Church on the banks of the Toshni River, not far from Vologda. The legend about this icon is similar to many similar stories about miraculous images of the Mother of God revealed in visions.

A certain peasant of Kadnikovsky district suffered from lameness for many years and already despaired of the possibility of healing. 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 Theological Church, 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 the icon, covered with rubbish and dirt, as if a simple board, served as a step on a ladder 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.

In 1830, when most European Russia, including the Vologda province, suffered a terrible cholera epidemic, the residents of Vologda surrounded the “Seven Arrow” icon with a solemn religious procession around the city. After which the cholera retreated as suddenly as it had come.

After 1917, the miraculous image disappeared from the Church of St. John the Theologian, and in 1930 services stopped there. In July 2001, the parish of the Church of St. John the Evangelist regained life, but the shrine has not yet returned to the temple.

In front of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Seven Arrows”, or “Softening of Evil Hearts”, they pray in case of enmity or persecution, for the pacification of those at war, and also in the embitterment of the heart - for the gift of patience.

Icon of the Mother of God “Zhizdrinskaya Passionate”

There is also another image of the Mother of God, which has its own special history, which directly bears the name “And a weapon will pierce your very soul” (aka “Zhizdrinskaya Passionate”). In this icon, the Most Holy Theotokos is depicted in a position of prayer; With one hand She supports the Child lying at Her feet, and with the other she covers Her chest from seven swords aimed at it.

The miraculous "Sofrin" icon

Among the miraculous lists, the icon “Softening Evil Hearts” currently enjoys special veneration myrrh-streaming icon, appeared in Russia at the end of the twentieth century. This icon, produced by printing at the Russian enterprise Orthodox Church"Sofrino" was purchased in an ordinary church shop.

On May 3, 1998, its owner Margarita Vorobyova noticed that myrrh was flowing down the surface of the icon. The story of myrrh-streaming and bleeding is simply amazing. In 1999, before the bombings of houses in Moscow, the face of the Mother of God on the Icon changed, dark circles appeared under the eyes, and the apartment began to smell of incense. On August 12, 2000, the day of the sinking of the Kursk submarine, tiny bleeding wounds appeared on the Icon of the Mother of God. Since then, the image has been myrrh-streaming and bleeding constantly. It flows myrrh so abundantly that people collect it in liters. And it bleeds on the eve tragic events, while the examination showed that the blood was human, of the first group...

It is the LIVING Mother of God who greets people who come to bow to Her in different ways, healing some, helping others, others cannot even approach the Seven-Shot Icon... for example, in the courtyard of Optina Hermitage, in Yasenevo, where the icon often appears on Sundays, one woman is noticed, she always asks men to let her venerate the Icon by force. All the possessed ones break out with superhuman strength, and they themselves cannot approach the shrine. But each time the resistance weakens.

Moreover, the Mother of God chooses her own path... repeatedly they simply could not take Her to her destination, as they say “they got lost in three pines” and forgot the way to where they had been many times before... “the Icon does not go”...

Hundreds of believers come to pray before this image, asking to soften the hearts of enemies, to ease the suffering of relatives and friends, and receive consolation. It is impossible to remember all the amazing testimonies and miracles performed by the Icon of the Mother of God and not to list the names of all the sick who were healed and those who asked who received peace.

To store it in the village of Bachurino near Moscow was built chapel(Address: Moscow region, Leninsky district, village Bachurino. Directions: 3 km from the Moscow Ring Road along the Kaluzhskoe highway until the turn to the agricultural Kommunarka (after the Mostransgaz building). For 15 s extra years The keeper of the icon is Margarita's husband Sergei.

Temple-chapel in honor of the Icon of the Mother of God (Softener of Evil Hearts), village of Bachurino

The myrrh-streaming icon visited many dioceses in Russia, and also visited abroad several times - in Belarus, Ukraine and Germany. Many people who worshiped this image of the Queen of Heaven with love and reverence testified to cases of healing and the feeling of special spiritual joy that they felt from touching the shrine. On January 27-29, 2009, the myrrh-streaming icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Softening Evil Hearts” was in the Cathedral Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow at the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church. In the presence of this shrine, as well as the miraculous Theodore Icon of the Mother of God, the election and enthronement of the new Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church took place - His Holiness Patriarch Moscow and All Rus' Kirill. As eyewitnesses testify, after the election of the 16th Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Kirill, the icon of the Mother of God “Softening Evil Hearts,” located on the analogue in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, flowed abundantly with myrrh.

Now the world-famous icon is on pilgrimages all over the world, almost without interruption, from the USA to Australia, from Mount Athos to Far East. And wherever this icon appears, extraordinary events and miracles occur: the icon generously pours out its healing myrrh, other icons begin to flow myrrh, people are healed of incurable diseases, and an endless miracle of softening evil hearts occurs.

In the Murmansk church, the baby, whom his mother placed next to the icon, suddenly said loudly and clearly: "She's crying!" And everything fell into place. Truly, “through the mouth of a baby the truth speaks,” for it became clear what we are witnessing, why this miracle was given to us, what exactly the image of the Queen of Heaven pours out to us in the form of this crystal clear and fragrant world. These are the tears of the Mother of God. She cries for us. About the hardness of our hearts. About the world retreating from Her Son - Christ our God.

The Day of the Presentation of the Lord (February 2/15) also marks the veneration of the icon of the Mother of God “The Softening of Evil Hearts or Simeon’s Prophecy,” on which the prophecy of Elder Simeon is depicted with symbolic signs. The seven swords stuck into the heart of the Mother of God signify the fullness of the grief She experienced in earthly life.

In modern liturgical practice, it is customary to combine the celebration of different icons of the Mother of God “Softening Evil Hearts” on one day (August 13/26).

Softening Evil Hearts – A Continuous Miracle

For twelve years there has been a continuously occurring miracle in the world. This is the miracle of the myrrh flow and bleeding of the icon of the Mother of God “Softening Evil Hearts.” The small image, like many tens of thousands like it, was printed at the Sofrino enterprise and bought in a church shop by ordinary Muscovites. But according to God’s destinies unknown to us, it was this image that was chosen to show a wondrous miracle - the icon came to life.

Myrrh-streaming icon “Softening Evil Hearts”

When you meet her, you never leave the feeling of communicating with a “living being.” Everyone who had the chance to partake of this spiritual joy will never forget the obvious reality of the meeting with the Queen of Heaven Herself.

A parallel involuntarily arises with the famous myrrh-streaming icon “Iverskaya-Montreal”, which disappeared without a trace in the fall of 1997 simultaneously with the martyrdom of its custodian. The service of that Icon and its guardian lasted exactly 15 years. But, as we see, not on for a long time The Queen of Heaven left us orphans. The new myrrh-streaming icon was revealed just a few months later, in the spring of 1998, to the Muscovite Margarita.

And for twelve years now, the keeper of the icon, Sergei (Margarita’s husband), has been traveling with the new myrrh-streaming icon all over the world from the USA to Australia, from Mount Athos to the Far East. And everywhere the icon generously pours out its healing myrrh, and an endless miracle of softening evil hearts occurs.

In the Murmansk church, the baby, whom his mother placed next to the icon, suddenly said loudly and clearly: “She is crying!” And everything fell into place. Truly, “through the mouth of a baby the truth speaks,” for it became clear what we are witnessing, why this miracle was given to us, what exactly the image of the Queen of Heaven pours out to us in the form of this crystal clear and fragrant world.

These are the tears of the Mother of God. She cries for us. About the hardness of our hearts. About the world retreating from Her Son - Christ our God.

The miraculous image reacts differently to the place where it resides, and not every land is equally pleasing to the Queen of Heaven. The keeper of the icon can tell you about all this, but let’s not offend countries and continents... Let’s talk about something else: for the first time, streams of blood flowed from the sores that appeared on the icon on August 12, 2000, the day when the whole country was horrified when it learned about the tragedy in the Barents Sea , and plunged into grief about.

Since then, if the Russian military touches the icon, the icon sensitively responds to this meeting and bleeds blood... I remember how, after a religious procession with the icon, the marines of the Sevastopol brigade, carrying the icon, looked in surprise at their white ceremonial gloves, which had turned completely red from the expired bloody world.

What does this sign mean? What is the Mother of God warning about, what is She preparing for, and what is She strengthening the Russian army against?..

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE MYRRHSTREAMING ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD “SOFTENING EVIL HEARTS”

On May 3, 1998, the owner of an icon purchased in an ordinary church shop, Margarita Vorobyova, noticed that myrrh was flowing down the surface of the icon. These phenomena of myrrh flow and fragrance began to recur from time to time.
On August 12, 2000, ulcers from tiny wounds appeared on the arms and neck of the Mother of God, and an obvious bloody ulcer appeared on the left shoulder. Soon it was reported that the nuclear submarine Kursk had sunk. The days of general sorrow came, and by November 21, 2000, the day of the Archangel Michael, streams of blood flowed down the icon for the first time, which could be collected on cotton wool along with the world. Since then, the myrrh flow and bleeding of the icon have not stopped and are accompanied by a fragrance.
To store this shrine, a precious ark was made, and a church was built in the village of Bachurino near Moscow. Today the arrival of this icon is awaited all over the world. She has already visited many dioceses of Russia and has been abroad many times - in Belarus, the Czech Republic, the USA, Australia, Ukraine, on Holy Mount Athos, in Germany... Many people who worshiped this image of the Queen of Heaven with love and reverence witnessed cases of healings, experiencing a feeling special spiritual joy from touching a shrine.
On January 27-29, 2009, the myrrh-streaming icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Softening Evil Hearts” was in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow at the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church. In the presence of this shrine, as well as the miraculous Theodore Icon of the Mother of God, the election of the new Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus', took place.
The miraculous image of the myrrh-streaming and oozing drops of blood icon “Softening Evil Hearts” really softens bitter, evil, indifferent and cold hearts. People seem to wake up from spiritual hibernation and direct their hearts to God, glorifying our Queen of Heaven, the Most Holy Theotokos:
“Rejoice, much-sorrowful Mother of God, transforming our sorrow into joy!”

Seven Shot Mother of God – arrival

On December 8, 2011, the myrrh-streaming icon arrived on Italian soil, at the airport in Milan - Malpenso. To meet the shrine directly at the airport, parishioners of the Orthodox Milan Church of St. Ambrose of Milan arrived on several buses. The Italian Christian brothers perceived what was happening with exceptional disposition and lively participation.

The rector of the parish, Hieromonk Ambrose (Makar), and I, the author of these lines, Abbot Mitrofan, accompanied by carabinieri, were allowed directly “to the plane.” It was decided to open the wooden case-ark with the shrine, taken out of the plane by the custodian of the icon Sergei, here in order to solemnly bring the icon into the airport hall. However, upon opening the case, we experienced a shock - the icon case almost floated in a fragrant world.

Having lifted the icon case, Father Ambrose and I immediately found ourselves saturated with this world, abundantly flowing from the miraculous image. I looked at my palm - it was all covered in blood. “There are no “former” officers,” the words of a movie character from one of the recent films immediately came to mind. This means that my past 26 years of service in the Northern Fleet have not been written off by the Lord...

Meanwhile, something unexpected began to happen at the icon - a kind of spiritual feast. The Italian Carabinieri, seeing this miracle, rushed to touch the image with both hands, almost “pouring” the fragrant liquid onto themselves. Seeing what was happening, other airport service employees, customs officers, border guards, police officers, that is, everyone who happened to be nearby at this exciting moment, came running. It became clear that the Mother of God was very pleased with this Italian land, these believers with their constant and traditionally deep veneration of the Virgin Mary.

When the icon and I went out into the huge hall international airport, hundreds of our Orthodox people, meeting the shrine, sang the glorification of the Blessed Virgin, and instantly found themselves in the power of irresistible grace, literally covering everyone with waves of all-conquering God's love.

It was impossible to hold back the tears. Everyone sang and cried. And they stretched out their hands for the wholesome myrrh, which was enough for everyone... I looked at my palms again - now the myrrh on them was crystal clear. This means that that brief miracle concerned only me personally.

...We moved through the city, accompanied by carabinieri cars, to the Church of St. Ambrose of Milan and wondered why there were such crowds of people walking in the city on a weekday. However, there are no coincidences for the Lord; our icon arrived in Italy on one of the main Mother of God feasts of the Catholic world - December 8, the Day of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary.

To the main thing Orthodox church northern Italy was not suitable - thousands of people met the Queen of Heaven with tears in the image of Her “Softening of Evil Hearts.”

A prayer service began, an akathist, incessant singing by the whole world and anointing, tears and anointing... The Mother of God showed mercy to the human race, softening the withered hearts of people with her fragrant tears.

Thus began our seven-day spiritual marathon through the northern cities of Italy.

Spiritual Marathon

The schedule was like this. Every day, late at night, the icon returned to the Milan church, in order to leave early in the morning for the next cities in Italy, where they were waiting for her with undisguised jealousy, excitement and impatience. With an endless stream of more and more people arriving, arriving, running to the icon from different parts of Italy. And with resentment, why so little, and with all sorts of tricks (rich treats, excursions to the shrines of the city, etc.) in order to delay the time of our departure and delay the moment of farewell to the precious image.

By nightfall, we again, barely alive, made it to the St. Ambrose Church in Milan, where a crowd was already standing, hundreds of parishioners were waiting for us, in order to begin the endless singing and magnification of the Queen of Heaven, to simply stand next to this icon, touch it and absorb drops of the blessed peace. Here in the temple people prepared tea, brought food for everyone, and here on the floor, exhausted, they lay down to sleep for a while, but did not leave the icon all night. But in the morning everyone had to go to work, and the work, frankly speaking, was very hard.

Father Ambrose spent all these nights with the people in church, singing, praying, sometimes anointing with myrrh, sometimes preaching, sometimes confessing, sometimes dozing on a chair...

It was probably here that I first saw an echo of the life of those very early Christian communities, known to us from the Acts of the Apostles, when “The multitude of those who believed had one heart and one soul; and no one called anything of his property his own, but they had everything in common.”(Acts 4:32).

And in the morning there were new cities, parishes, prayer services ahead... Genoa, Turin, Padua, Parma, Piacenza, Brescia, Varese, Canetto, Lecca, Venice...

Spiritual discoveries

During these days of the icon’s stay on Italian soil, the time for holding the conference “New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia during the Persecution of the 20th Century” “fell” (albeit an inappropriate word). In five cities of northern Italy, at the initiative of the Catholic Church, these unique conferences were held, which resulted in a very important and serious conversation about the fate of Christian Churches from an eschatological perspective, and about the acute demand for the spiritual experience of our contemporaries - the new Russian saints.

The conferences took place in universities, monasteries and seminaries in northern Italy and invariably received great attention from participants and the media.

The organizer of the conference, Franciscan friar Professor Fiorenzo Emilio Reati, is known for his translations from and into Italian of the works of the holy fathers of the ancient undivided Church. He has a special sympathy for Father Fiorenzo important book: “Orthodoxy. The view of a sympathetic Catholic." Now Professor Reati is preparing “Life” for publication in Italy. His future plans include the translation of fifty selected lives of the new martyrs and confessors of Russia for Italian Christians.

From the Russian side, the conference was attended by Professor of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy, Doctor of Historical Sciences M. V. Shkarovsky and I, the author of these lines. I was invited, but due to the heavy workload the professor was unable to come.

An indispensable condition of the organizers was the presence of our myrrh-streaming icon at the conference. The presence of the Queen of Heaven during such an important conversation about the spiritual heritage of the new martyrs, about the need to enter into the precious experience of their suffering for Christ, raised the spiritual “degree” of our meetings, not allowing us to slide into the traditional search for the guilty and flagellation totalitarian regime. Catholic Christians who came to the conference approached the icon with exceptional reverence, and, touching it, many began to cry.

In addition to our reports on the new martyrs of the Russian Orthodox Church, we offered a study by Professor Reati about representatives of the Catholic Church who suffered for Christ on the territory of Russia.

It must be said that by the beginning of the persecution the number of Catholic believers in Russia was approaching five million. The study of the NKVD investigative files made it possible to select worthy examples of the clear confession of faith by Catholic Christians and their suffering for Christ to the point of death. A number of victims have now been selected by the Catholic Church for the process of beatification (glorification).

It was surprising to hear obvious anxiety and even fear in the questions from the audience and in the comments on the reports in this seemingly calm and prosperous Western country. Christians of the Catholic Church did not hide their deep inner anxiety about what was happening in the world: growing atheism, atheism of the authorities, liberal ideology society, sometimes aggressively directed specifically against Christianity.

It should be recognized that Western Christians perceive with great attention and even trepidation the examples of our new martyrs’ steadfast stand for the faith, their experience of confronting the ideological and repressive machine of the atheists.

In the reports and speeches of the conference participants, the idea was clear that the Church of Christ of the 21st century is already loudly telling the modern Christian that there is no other way but to join in the suffering experience of the martyrs. The Lord gave us this experience of suffering so that we could learn from it. To form and nurture your inner spiritual world a Christian in anticipation, in anticipation, in preparing himself to suffer for Christ.

The experience of the new martyrs, their standing in faith and ascension to the Cross of martyrdom in the conditions of the then so rapidly collapsed order and sovereign structure of the Orthodox country is precious and unique for us. For the wisdom of Christian knowledge teaches us to always remember, “that the days are evil”(Eph.5:16) and that “When they say, ‘Peace and security,’ then destruction will suddenly come upon them, and they will not escape.”(1 Thess. 5:3).

At the conference we certainly touched on one special topic. It's opened these days amazing story the long-standing veneration of the icon “Softening Evil Hearts” by Italian Catholics, although until now they knew this image under the name “Madonna del Don” (“Don Madonna”).

"Madonna del Don"

The gist of the story is this. During World War II, on the right bank of the Don, near the city of Pavlovsk, Italian mountain rifle units fought on the side of Germany.

In the second half of December 1942, Ugo Balzare, a private of the Tridentina division of the Italian Alpine Corps, and other soldiers of Lieutenant Giuseppe Perego’s platoon, hiding from terrible bombing in one of the chalk caves of an ancient Russian monastery, discovered the icon “Softening Evil Hearts.” This discovery of the icon was preceded by a certain appearance of the Mother of God to Italian soldiers, the details of which we do not yet know. The found icon was transferred to the camp church, to the military priest-chaplain Father Policarpo from Valdagna.

Local residents told Father Polycarp that this icon was from the Resurrection Belogorsk cave, which was devastated and blown up by the Bolsheviks. monastery near Pavlovsk, and that the last abbot of the monastery was Abbot Polycarp. Not knowing the name of the acquired image, the Italians called the icon “Madonna del Don” (“Madonna of the Don”).

In the Alpine Corps, everyone soon learned about this holy find and began to come to the icon to pray for their salvation. Many later were firmly convinced that they survived those terrible battles only thanks to the help of the Mother of God - Madonna del Don.

After the Ostrogozh-Rossoshan offensive Soviet troops in January 1943, despite the obvious threat of encirclement, the remnants of the Italian corps, led by the icon Madonna del Don, managed to safely leave Russia and return to Italy.

Many veterans of the Alpine Corps recalled the amazing mercy that Russian women who lived in villages on their way to Italy showed them. Most of the Italians were frostbitten and had no food. And if it weren’t for the kindness and help of the Russian population, they would all have died. Veterans still remember Russian word“potatoes”, because this was the only food in Russian villages of that time.

Chaplain Policarpo brought the “Madonna of the Don” to Italy, in Mestre (mainland Venice), where a chapel was built especially for her. Veterans, relatives and friends of both the participants in those events and all the Italian soldiers who died in that terrible war still gather at this icon in September.

We were able to verify the authenticity of this story when we arrived in Venice with our miraculous image. At the prayer service with these two amazing icons standing next to each other, both our Orthodox parishioners and Italians, among whom there were many gray-haired old men, were present. It was a very important meeting. Important for softening our hearts, hardened by the terrible 20th century.

The icon “Don Madonna” from the Russian Belogorsk Monastery is now decorated with a rich silver frame, on which rosettes with scenes of those events of 1943 are minted. On both sides of the icon there are glass bowls in which the water of the Don and the soil from the Don are stored. And numerous unquenchable lamps burn.

At parting, all those gathered were anointed with the expiring chrism. Before this, the Catholic Dominican monks, who had stood somewhat at a distance and watched what was happening from the side, could not stand it and also came under the anointing.

Spiritual experience

Every time we approached a new city, a new church, where crowds of people were tensely waiting for the icon, we witnessed the icon’s response to people’s aspirations. As soon as we got out of the car and began to move towards people, myrrh appeared on the entire surface of the icon case.

It must be said that the icon case itself is never opened during trips - this is the condition of the custodian of the icon, dictated by concern for the safety of the image. Let me remind you, miraculous icon- just a paper image, extremely saturated with the world. And the cavity in the frame under the icon, into which the myrrh flows, is emptied only in calm, homely conditions. It is then that numerous bottles are filled with the purest fragrant liquid in anticipation of new temples and meetings.

But these restrictions, as we wrote earlier, do not matter for an amazing substance of unearthly origin. As we have seen, the laws of gravity, for example, have no power here - myrrh flows just as easily up the icon case. It easily increases in quantity, and just as unexpectedly it can disappear from the bottle. But the reasons for this “non-blessing” will certainly soon become obvious. At the same time, a small glass vial of ointment (the size of a “perfume sampler”) is easily enough to anoint many hundreds of people who want it, and there is still enough for all those who are late.

One can cite a great many different testimonies of gracious help from the Queen of Heaven these days, miraculous healings, apparitions, signs... But the facts of the “accidental” entry into the temple of curious passers-by interested in what was happening remain especially vivid in my memory. And that moment when an irresistible force of gravity picks them up, draws them to the icon, and now their eyes are full of tears, their hearts are full of contrition...

I remember a young, impudent-looking gypsy who came into the temple, either to beg or to steal something. At this time I had to go into the altar, and I did not catch the moment when he approached the icon. But soon his screams and sobs began to be heard. The gypsy stood, clutching the icon case and sobbing loudly, all the time repeating some words.

The Moldovan parishioners translated, he shouted: “What is this!? What’s happening to me!?” It must be said that everyone who found themselves next to this shrine, with one degree or another of emotionality, was ready to utter these words of amazement.

The icon “Tenderness of Evil Hearts” depicts the Virgin Mary. Seven swords are pointed at her, symbolizing suffering, pain, and human sins. The image has " Native sister"under the name "Semistrelnaya". She is depicted similarly with one difference - the arrows are located on both sides (on the left - 3, on the right - 4), and in “Softening Evil Hearts” one of the swords is located at the bottom.

Experts in icon painting identify the two images. You can often find the names of one under the image of the other. Such an error is not considered gross. The celebration of “Seven Arrows” and “Softening Evil Hearts” takes place on the same day.

Origin of the icon

Nothing is known exactly about the origin of the shrine. Experts know that she is of Northern Russian origin. The original image was created a very long time ago, so no records have been preserved about its history.

Analysis of the image painted on canvas pasted on a board made it possible to determine that it dates back to the 18th century. This is evidenced by the type of paints and their condition. It is obvious that the examined canvas is a copy of an earlier icon.

Interpretations of the image

The symbolism of the image is multifaceted. It can be interpreted in different ways, and each meaning will be correct in its own way. Three main explanations:

• Gospel - associated with the lines of the Gospel that were addressed to the Virgin Mary.
• Swords - 7 sins that threaten every person.
• Swords are a physical threat. The birth of Orthodoxy is associated with persecution. Everyone who preached the faith put themselves in danger.

Gospel interpretation

On the appointed day, the Mother of God brought her baby to the temple - this was required by the Mosaic Law. The priest there, Simeon, was enlightened - he spent his whole life in fasting and prayer, so he saw the souls of people, could prophesy and work miracles. He saw the holy spirit and realized that the newborn was the Son of God. Simeon told Mary about the greatness of her baby, but warned her that she would suffer because of the sacrifice her son would make.

“And a weapon will pierce your own soul, so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed,” the prophet compared mental suffering with physical pain. The fact that there are seven swords on the icon is not an accident. The number means completeness, completeness.

“Simeon’s prophecy” is the unofficial name of the icon. She found it because of the gospel lines.

7 Sins

7 swords - like seven sinful passions that threaten a person and destroy the soul: anger, envy, gluttony, adultery, despondency, greed, pride. During difficult trials, they also threatened the Virgin Mary during her earthly life. But she did not succumb to sins and walked her path with a humble soul and faith in the Almighty. It is believed that through “Softening Evil Hearts,” the Mother of God is able to discern any of the sinful feelings in a person and help get rid of them. The icon of the Mother of God reminds us that we need to steadfastly endure all the hardships of life, believing in God and humbly submitting to his will.

Miraculous acquisition of the image

According to legend, the image was found in the 17th or 18th centuries in one of the cities Vologda region. One peasant suffered from lameness almost all his life - neither doctors, nor healers, nor prayers helped. He had already lost hope of being cured and humbly carried his cross. One day, in a dream, a holy face came to him, who ordered him to visit the local Theological Church and find the image of the Virgin Mary in the bell tower, where the oldest icons were kept.

At first, the priests did not believe the man and refused to let him into the ancient shrines. He came three times and only on the third time did they take pity on him and go to the bell tower. But in the room itself there was not a single image of the Most Holy Theotokos. The peasant did not despair and continued his search. It turned out that the icon served as one of the steps and was covered with dirt, which is why it was not noticed before. It was an unforgivable sacrilege - they walked on the holy face with their feet. She was immediately washed and a prayer ceremony was performed. Chromata left the person.

Miracles

In 1830, an epidemic of a terrible disease raged in the North of the Empire. It literally devastated Vologda and its outskirts. The ruling bishop at that time blessed the religious procession. “Softening Evil Hearts” was moved to one of the churches in the city. Everyone could come and pray before the holy face for salvation. The epidemic soon subsided.

The fate of the image is unknown. Back in 1930, it was hidden in the Church of St. John the Theologian. It was closed and resumed its work relatively recently. But this shrine was not there.

“Softening Evil Hearts” - a new miraculous shrine

The discovery of one of the miraculous images happened in our days. In 1997, something tragic happened for Orthodox world event - the “Iverskaya-Montreal” myrrh-streaming icon was stolen. She mysteriously disappeared on the day of her guardian's death. After some time, the pious Russian woman Margarita bought the image “Softening Evil Hearts” in one of the church shops.

Anticipation of disasters

At first glance, the shrine was no different from the others. But soon it began to flow myrrh. Moreover, she did not do this haphazardly, but reacted to important events taking place in the world. The face of the Mother of God changed when in 1999 Moscow was rocked by house explosions - black circles were clearly visible under her eyes, and the smell of incense began to be heard throughout the apartment. After the death of the Kursk, bloody wounds appeared on the shrine. To this day, the image is covered with drops of blood on the eve of tragic events. Many who approached the shrine say that they were never left by the feeling of communicating with a living being who understands and sympathizes with them.

The shrine's wanderings around the world

Now the icon is carried around the world by Margarita’s husband. A precious ark was created for her, a chapel was built. The list was present at the election of the new Patriarch of All Rus'.

The keeper of the icon says that she herself chooses her wandering paths and always ends up where she needs to be. Any of the owner’s most logical plans always collapse in an instant, and what seemed impossible becomes possible.

What do they pray to the image for?

Many people are interested in what the image helps with. The Most Holy Theotokos is our common mother, intercessor before God and the Son. Her image on “Softening Evil Hearts” is prayed for various things:

• so that the evil thought, intention leaves or rids one’s ill-wishers of them;
• return to the true spiritual path, remove doubts in your faith that appear in difficult situations;
• Many prayers to the shrine are aimed at getting rid of diseases and protecting soldiers.

In fact, it is not so important why you pray in front of this or that shrine, what images of saints are on it. The main thing is that the request is conveyed with pure thoughts, from the bottom of the heart - then it will definitely be heard and passed on to the Savior.

In the Orthodox tradition, there are many different iconographic images of the Mother of God. Most of them are little known, being purely local shrines. However, there are also examples marked by general church veneration. Among them, the image called the Seven-Shot stands out for its unusualness. This icon, as well as the prayers offered in front of it, will be discussed in this article.

Meaning of the image

Seven-shot also has another name - “Softening Evil Hearts.” Less commonly, it is also called Simeon’s prophecy. At its core, it is an illustration of the event of the Feast of the Presentation, that is, the Feast of the Meeting of the Lord, described in the Gospel. When Jesus Christ was still just a baby, his mother, that is, the Mother of God, brought him for the first time to the Jerusalem Temple. There they were met by a righteous man named Simeon. According to legend, this man was one of the translators scripture on Greek language, which took place in Egypt three hundred years before the birth of the Savior. When Simeon was translating the book, he doubted whether it was written correctly that a virgin would conceive and give birth to a son. After hesitating, he finally decided that this was a mistake and wrote the word “woman” in the translation. At that very moment, an angel appeared before him, who told him that the original prophecy about the virgin conception was true, and in order to dispel his doubts, he would be given the opportunity to see this wonderful baby. And so Simeon waited three hundred years for this meeting (presentation in Slavic) at the temple. And finally, he waited. When Mary handed the baby into his arms, a prophetic spirit descended on him, and he prophesied about the newborn Jesus, noting that “a weapon will pierce the soul” of his mother too. This weapon, that is, the suffering of the Mother of God, is symbolically depicted on the “Seven Shot” icon in the form of seven swords piercing her heart. There are exactly seven swords depicted, since in the biblical tradition this number means completeness and completeness.

This legend is, without a doubt, apocryphal in relation to the original Christian tradition. But this does not detract from its moral significance, which gave birth to a second, more practical interpretation. Since Mary is revered in Orthodoxy as the heavenly queen and spiritual mother of all Christians, the weapon that pierces her is not only grief from the torment Jesus Christ accepted on the cross, but also human sins, for the sake of which he endured this crucifixion. Seven swords in this context mean seven with which the loving and grieving heart of the Mother of God is pierced.

Origin of the image

No one knows where this icon came from. According to a pious legend, she was discovered by a peasant from Vologda, who was seriously ill with lameness and partial paralysis. No doctors could cure him. Once in a dream, he was given instructions to climb the bell tower of the local Church of St. John the Evangelist and take an icon from there. Of course, the clergy of the cathedral did not take this revelation seriously and twice refused the old man’s request, knowing full well that there were no icons there. But the peasant was persistent, and in the end he was allowed to climb the belfry to see for himself the meaninglessness of his own words. However, as soon as he reached the top, he recognized an icon in one of the boards, which served as a step on the stairs. The image was immediately taken down, cleaned, and a prayer service was served. Then the first Seven Shot was pronounced, as a result of which the peasant was completely healed. Since then, miracles began to occur from the icon. And this, in turn, led to the spread of fame about the miraculous image. They began to make lists from it, of which there are now a huge number in several varieties. Unfortunately, the original image disappeared after the repressions of the 1930s and has not yet been found.

What do they pray for in front of the Seven-Arrow Icon of the Mother of God?

As before any icon, the prayer to the Mother of God Seven Arrows can be dedicated to any occasion. However, the specificity of the image has formed a special sphere of needs, mainly in which they turn to Mary in front of this icon. First of all, these are requests for peace and to overcome anger, hatred and vindictiveness on the part of someone. In fact, that’s why she was nicknamed “The Softener of Evil Hearts.” Offended people, stern bosses, strict parents and teachers - in all these cases a prayer can be addressed to the Seven Arrows icon. How to pray to the Mother of God does not really matter. Examples of prayers will be given below, but in general you can address Mary in your own words, as long as they are sincere. What is important is not the beauty of prayer, but the ardent believing heart. If this condition is met, then without a doubt the prayer to the Seven Arrows icon will be heard. When to pray, how, how much - it doesn’t matter.

Text of the prayer before the Seven Arrow Icon

As an example, we will nevertheless cite several generally accepted texts that believers read in churches during public services and in their homes. The main prayer of the Mother of God Seven Arrows in Russian translation sounds like this:

“Oh, much-suffered Mother of God, surpassing all the daughters of the earth in her purity and her sufferings that you endured on earth! Accept our sorrowful prayers and keep us under the protection of your mercy. Because we have no other refuge and such an ardent intercessor as you - We don’t know. You have boldness in your prayers to the one born by you, so help and save us with your prayers, so that we can reach without hindrance heavenly kingdom and there, with all the saints, sing the praises of the one Trinity - God, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen!"

This is the usual prayer of the Mother of God of the Seven Arrows. The All-Tsarina of the Christian faith is represented in it as an intercessor, which she is, according to the ideas of Orthodox Christians. There are also more short prayers dedicated to this image. They have a special liturgical purpose and are called troparion and kontakion.

Troparion, tone 5

Soften our evil hearts, Mother of God, and destroy the attacks of those who hate us, and deliver our souls from oppression, looking at your holy image. By your compassion and mercy towards us we are brought to tenderness and we kiss your wounds, but we fear our arrows that torment you. Do not let us, good mother, perish in our hardness of heart from the cruelty of our neighbors, since you are truly a softener of evil hearts.

Kontakion, tone 2

By your grace, mistress, soften evil hearts, send down benefactors, protecting them from all evil, who fervently pray to you for good before your holy icons.

The kontakion, troparion and official prayer of the Mother of God Seven Arrows reflect her main idea - overcoming evil in the hearts. However, this icon also serves as a symbol of heartfelt sorrow, so any suffering of the soul can be poured out in front of this image. For example, this could be a request for help in creating a happy personal life.

Prayer for loneliness

O Lady and Lady Mother of God, pour out your great mercy on me, giving me the strength to get rid of the heavy burden of loneliness of the soul. Free me from every evil curse, from the influence of unclean spirits, from the evil brought upon my life. Amen!

The prayer that believers offer before the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Softening Evil Hearts” is aimed at pacifying and calming the souls of warring people. Also, this prayer appeal helps to alleviate mental anguish and instills mercy in people's hearts. This miraculous icon is found in almost every Orthodox church.

Myrrh-streaming images are considered the most powerful in the following places:

• In the Church of the Archangel Michael, which is located on the Maiden Field in Moscow.
• In the village of Bachurino in the Moscow region. It is noteworthy that this is a printed image. But after the owner noticed that the image was streaming myrrh, it was recognized as miraculous.
• In the Church of the Holy Righteous Lazarus in Vologda. This icon appeared here in the year of the end of the Great Patriotic War and immediately began to stream myrrh.
• In the temple of the city of Zhizdra, Kaluga region.

It is noteworthy that after the Second World War, the copy of the icon “Softening Evil Hearts” came to Venice and is currently kept there in one of the chapels. There is a legend that during the battles, German soldiers discovered an icon in a church in Voronezh region and handed it over to their regimental priest. And it was he who took her to Italy.

Prayer before the icon of the “Seven Arrow Mother of God” or “Softening Evil Hearts”

The Holy Icon of the Seven Shot Mother of God depicts the Virgin Mary alone. Her heart is seven swords and arrows. It is generally accepted that they symbolize the “completeness” of everything. Most often, clergy associate them with the seven deadly sins. The image of the Most Pure Mother of God clearly symbolizes the fullness of the grief she experienced during her life, her sorrows and heart disease.

In order for the petition before the miraculous icon to be more effective, the following rules must be followed:

• Visit an Orthodox church.
• Place a candle of health in front of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos.
• Offer a prayer in front of the icon of the Savior.
• Purchase an icon of the Seven Shot Mother of God and a church candle.

Upon returning home, you should retire to a separate room and place the purchased icon and candle in front of you. After this, you can turn to the Most Holy Theotokos. You should also know that the miraculous image of the Virgin Mary is located in the Church of the Archangel Michael, which is located on the Maiden Field in Moscow. In this place, the appeal to the Most Holy Theotokos is most powerful.

Text of the most powerful prayer to the Mother of God in Russian

In Russian, the most powerful prayer before the icon of the Self-Armed Blessed Virgin Mary sounds like this:

“O long-suffering Mother of our Lord, Most Holy Virgin Mary, Most Pure and Greater than all the daughters of the earth, in Her purity and in the multitude of sufferings she had to endure during her earthly life. Accept my sincere sighs and keep me under your protective roof. I have no other refuge than yours, and I hope only for your intercession before our Lord, Your Son. Do not consider my request daring, help me and save me with your prayers. so that I, a sinful and unworthy servant of God (proper name), can reach the Kingdom of Heaven, where with all the saints I will chant the Name of the Holy Lord. Amen".

Listen to the prayer of Our Lady “Softening Evil Hearts”

The meaning of the “Seven Arrow” icon of the Mother of God and how it helps

The icon of the Seven-Arrow Mother of God is extremely revered among believers. You can explain the meaning of a rather strange image by turning to the Gospel. When the parents brought baby Jesus to the temple on the 40th day after his birth, they met the elder Simeon.

It was to him that the Lord prophesied that he could die only when he saw the Infant of God. The priest, seeing the baby brought, sighed joyfully and said that he could now rest in peace. After this, he predicted that Mary would have to endure many sorrows and that a weapon would fall into her soul. In the church, the number "7" symbolizes the "completeness" of something. In this case, it means all the grief that the Most Holy Theotokos endured during her earthly life.

Another meaning of the miraculous face is associated with the seven deadly sins. It is our human sins, not forgiven by us, that pierce the heart of the Most Holy Theotokos with sharp daggers.

Before this icon, prayers are offered with requests for the resolution of conflicts and troubles, for an end to quarrels. They turn to the Most Holy Theotokos in prayer when they need to restore peace and harmony in their own home. Prayer Appeal helps maintain good relationships between household members and helps to win in litigation. If you have enemies, then you need to read a prayer to soften the hearts of your offenders. Such prayer also allows you to let go of your own grievances, which allows you to cleanse your soul. The Most Holy Theotokos also helps sick people, especially those who have suffered from wars and epidemics.

There are two versions of similar icons of the Blessed Virgin Mary. These are the images “Softening Evil Hearts” and “Seven Shots”.

The difference between them is the location of the arrows:

• In the “Seven Arrow” image, the arrows piercing the heart are located on two sides: three on one side, four on the other.
• In the image “Softening Evil Hearts,” arrows piercing the heart are located on three sides: three on the left, three on the right, and one on the bottom.

How the face of the Virgin Mary is depicted

In most cases, the Most Holy Theotokos is depicted alone in the icon, but sometimes there are options when she holds the baby Jesus in her arms. The Virgin Mary in the icon tilted her head slightly to the right, which indicates the calmness of the Most Holy Theotokos. The hands of the Virgin Mary are folded humbly on her chest, symbolizing submission to fate. The difference between the image options is only in the location of the arrows, which was described above.

The icon “Softening Evil Hearts” has a second name: “Simeon’s Prophecy.” Minor differences in the writing of icons are associated with different origins. It is believed that the image “Softening Evil Hearts” was painted in the South-Eastern regions of Russia. It is on this icon that the baby Jesus is sometimes depicted sitting on the lap of his Mother.

More famous is the Seven Shot icon, whose origin story is connected with the Northern regions of Russia. It was she who was first discovered by a lame peasant in the belfry. Many other miracles are associated with it.

Where and by whom was the Holy Image painted?

The birthplace of this image is the Vologda region. Nobody knows who wrote it and when. But the creation of the first image dates back to the 16th century. An interesting church tradition is associated with the discovery of miracles.

Initially, the icon was located in the Church of St. John the Theologian near Vologda. Not far from the temple lived a lame and greatly suffering peasant. One day in a dream he heard a divine voice, which ordered him to go to the Church of St. John the Theologian and offer a prayer before the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. The image had to be found in the belfry.

The peasant did not dare to disobey, but the clergy did not believe his story and did not allow him into the temple. Only on the third try did the man manage to get into the belfry. He began to climb the bell tower and, indeed, on one of the steps of the stairs he discovered an abandoned icon, which lay face down. Along it, the bell ringers repeatedly climbed up to the bells.

Such blasphemy shocked the church ministers, and they quickly washed the discovered icon and hung it in the church. On this occasion, a prayer service was served and after that the sick peasant was completely healed and the lameness disappeared. After this, many copies were made from the miraculous image, which were distributed throughout the churches of Russia. All of them are miraculous. Unfortunately, the original disappeared without a trace over time.

Where is it customary to hang an icon and what does it protect against?

The “Seven Arrow” icon must be in the home of a believer. But you just need to know the place where you need to place it correctly. Best place For such a shrine, of course, there is an iconostasis.

There are no special requirements for this, but you should remember the following:

• To attract positive energy into the house, the face of the Mother of God should be placed on the eastern side of the home.
• It’s very good if the image can be placed opposite front door, this will protect against evil people and other negative energy.
• Priests recommend adding a towel to the icon.
• You cannot place any magical talismans or amulets next to the icon that are not related to the Christian religion.
• It is imperative to maintain perfect cleanliness around the icon.
• It is not recommended to install household appliances near the icon.
• You cannot hang photographs of loved ones next to the image.

The Seven Arrows icon has amazing power. Its second name alone, which sounds like softening evil hearts, instills in the soul the belief that everything in life will turn out well. In addition, the image instills hope in the soul that peace will soon reign on earth and truth will triumph. People will become merciful to each other and begin to love one another. It is precisely because of this influence that you must have an icon in your home. The celebration of this Icon takes place on All Saints Sunday, the first Sunday after Trinity.

The icon “Seven Arrows” can be given as a gift to a loved one. She will protect him from all evil and fill his soul with kindness. And if you always keep a small icon with you, then you will be able to find compromises and resolve conflicts in the most difficult situations.