The seven-shot icon of the Mother of God has its significant place not only in the temple, cathedral and church, but also in the residential building of an ordinary person.
The face of the Mother of God has been one of the most powerful and miraculous icons for many centuries. And many people believe that if you place this Holy image in your own home, you can protect yourself from a huge number of misfortunes and vices. In view of this, all believers must be aware of what exactly is the patronage and in what place it is necessary to place the miraculous icon.
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History of the icon
Celebration: August 26
One peasant discovered the prototype of the icon on a church bell tower near Vologda, where it lay face down, and everyone took it for a board and walked on it. Before this, he had a vision in a dream that he would be cured of his many ailments thanks to prayer in front of this icon. That's how it all happened.
The Seven-Arrow Icon of the Mother of God demonstrated all its miraculous power in 1830, when a cholera epidemic broke out in the Vologda region. Lists of the miraculous icon quickly spread to churches and more than once provided examples of how prayer in front of it helps sincere believers.
How to pray correctly
Use the following prayers when you turn to the image of the Seven Shore Mother of God:
After reading the prayers, you can sincerely and with all your soul turn to the image with your requests. But keep in mind the following recommendations:
- Do not approach the icon immediately after eating; your stomach should be empty. It is best to pray early in the morning, after waking up. Or in the evening, before going to bed.
- If you are overwhelmed by negative emotions, first try to calm down. Say out loud everything you feel and let those feelings go. And only then start praying.
- Do not use the icon to make requests that will bring negativity to other people. You can ask for help only for yourself personally, do not interfere with the prayer of everyone else who surrounds you.
The best days for prayer are the ninth Sunday after Easter, the first Sunday after the Holy Trinity and the time from August 13 to 26.
The meaning of the Seven Arrow Icon
The image on the icon of the Mother of God “Seven Arrows” is very similar to the icon of the Mother of God “Softening Evil Hearts”; their meaning is also similar and is based on the Gospel story of the Presentation of the Lord, which occurred on the 40th day after the Nativity of Christ.
When the Most Holy Virgin Mary brought the Infant of God to the Jerusalem Temple, He was met there by the ancient elder Simeon the God-Receiver, who was predicted that he would not die until he saw the Messiah. Simeon was already more than 300 years old, and according to the revelation of God revealed to him, he predicted to the Mother of God what fate awaited Her Son, and to her that “a weapon will pierce your soul, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.” Therefore, the icon “Softening Evil Hearts” is also called “Simeon’s Prophecy” (prophecy).
According to one version, seven arrows (swords) embedded in the body of the Mother of God symbolize Her torment during the crucifixion of Jesus; according to another version - seven sinful passions that overcome human souls.
This is the meaning of the Seven Arrows icon : it shows how deeply the Mother of God worries about the human race, how much our sins hurt Her soul.
But something else is also important: the icon “The Seven-Arrow Mother of God” means that the Queen of Heaven knows everything that happens in the human heart, all his bright and sinful thoughts.
Meaning and interpretation of the icon
The image of the Mother of God of the Seven Arrows has a deep symbolic interpretation. It is important to understand that the Mother of God went through severe trials; she suffered the death and resurrection of her son. With her heart pierced by arrows, the Mother of God seems to hint at these sufferings and adversities. Is there another meaning? Here are the three most common interpretations:
- Knowing yourself and others. The idea is that the Mother of God will allow you to consider friends and enemies, to see evil thoughts and sins from a distance. Arrows (in some variations - swords) are associated with mortal sins. The icon of the Seven-Arrow Mother is a kind of Ariadne’s thread in the labyrinth of evil.
- Literal interpretation. Some theologians see a direct meaning in arrows (swords) - protective. The Mother of God can be asked for intercession against any weapon. If you install an icon in your own home opposite the front door, it helps soften the hearts of unexpected robbers and intruders. If your relative is fighting in a war, the Seven-Arrow icon can protect him in battle.
- Suffering. In Orthodox culture, swords are a symbol of suffering. “Seven” is a number associated with wealth and completeness. Therefore, the third meaning of the image tells us about the inevitability of obstacles in the process of moving towards one’s goal.
Those who regularly pray in Orthodox churches can offer their own vision of the symbolism of the Seven Shot Icon. The Virgin Mary, pierced by arrows, personifies humility, mercy, patience and love. Our Lady of Seven Arrows will soften your heart and help you make difficult life decisions.
How does the Seven-Arrow Icon of the Mother of God help?
The Mother of God deeply sees into the human soul, knows all its hidden sinful passions, therefore one must pray before the Seven-Arrow Icon of the Mother of God with complete sincerity, offering not only one’s requests, but also a prayer for forgiveness.
This is what the Seven-Shot Icon of the Mother of God helps with through your prayer:
- gives peace to the soul and healing to the body from illnesses;
- protects against hostility with others, be it relatives, neighbors, colleagues, etc.;
- pacifies hard-heartedness, anger, anger and irritation;
- helps in softening the hearts of enemies and ill-wishers;
- helps reconcile quarreling spouses, relatives, and friends.
Miracle-working icons
Over the course of five hundred years of its history, the Seven-Arrow Icon has amazed people's minds with miracles. The first miracle of the Mother of God is associated with the healing of a lame man who discovered a holy image in the church. Initially, the icon, unaware of its significance, was used as a step leading to the top of the temple bell tower. The step was covered with dirt and dust, no one knew about its true purpose. The lame peasant who saved the icon of the Seven Shot Mother of God from desecration received health as a reward.
The second known miracle dates back to the 19th century (first half). The story took place in the Vologda region, during the outbreak of the plague epidemic. The priests decided to take the Seven-Shot Icon out of the temple in order to organize a religious procession with it. Everyone he met prayed for recovery, and eventually the plague subsided. Now the image is hung at the bedside of the sick to ward off misfortune.
Where to hang the Seven-Shot Icon in an apartment
The place where the Seven Arrows icon should hang in the house can be either above the front door or opposite it. It is believed that this will protect the home from negative energy, conspiracies and the penetration of evil.
But another option is also possible: this icon, along with others, can be placed in a home iconostasis, in the role of which they use separate shelves, a table or a bedside table, or the icons can be hung on the walls in the corner. Candles or a lamp are placed in front of them, which is lit during prayer and on Sundays.
Remember that in such a home iconostasis you cannot put photos of relatives, even children for whom you are deeply worried. There should be no other secular objects near the icons: paintings, posters, posters, decorative items, so that they do not distract from prayer.
Story
According to legend, the image was found in the bell tower of a temple in the vicinity of Vologda - on the Toshni River.
One peasant had a dream in which the Mother of God asked to find an icon among the boards that were placed on the landing leading to the roof of the church, where the bells were located.
The rector of the temple believed this poor man only the third time. When the Icon of the “Seven Arrow” Mother of God was actually found, cleansed of dirt and bird droppings, believers felt grace, and some of them, including the good peasant, found mental and physical healing.
And in the 30s of the 19th century, when cholera was raging everywhere, the image of the Mother of God protected everyone who came to the temple to pray in front of it from illness. Since then, the shrine has also been a protector against serious infectious diseases.
Prayers before the icon
Troparion, tone 5
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,/ with Your compassion and mercy We are touched by our lamentation/ and we kiss your wounds/ our arrows that torment you , we are horrified./ Don’t let us, O Gracious Mother,/ perish in our cruelty and from the cruelty of our neighbors,// You are truly the softener of evil hearts.
Translation: Soften our evil hearts, Mother of God, and repel the attacks of those who hate us, and resolve all our spiritual sorrows, for, looking at Your holy image, with Your compassion and mercy for us we heartily lament and kiss your wounds, for our arrows that torment We are terrified of you. Do not let us, Merciful Mother, perish in our hard-heartedness or from the hard-heartedness of our neighbors, for You are truly the softener of evil hearts.
Kontakion, tone 2
By Your grace, O Lady,/ soften the hearts of evildoers,/ send down benefactors,/ keeping them from all evil,/ those who pray to You fervently// before Your honest icons.
Translation: By Your grace, Lady, soften the hearts of evildoers, send down benefactors who will preserve them from all evil, praying to You with gratitude and zeal before Your revered icons.
Prayer
Oh, much-sorrowful Mother of God, who surpassed all the daughters of the earth in Her purity and in the multitude of sufferings You brought to earth! Accept our much-sick sighs and keep us under the roof of Your mercy, for there is no other refuge and warm intercession than You know, but as we have boldness towards Him 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 to the One God in the Trinity, always, now, and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
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Important Shrine
Modern Christians consider the icon to be one of the important images of the Mother of God, and everyone keeps it in their home or workplace space.
After all, the face protects:
- From enemy swords that could threaten a loved one in a war zone.
- From outbursts of envy, irritation, anger and despondency.
- From gluttony and lack of patience towards anything or anyone.
- From the meanness of ill-wishers who intend to destroy a person’s well-being, humiliate, and rob.
- Protects the home (especially if you place the icon opposite the entrance), “expelling” or softening everyone who comes into it with bad intentions.
- From unbelief in God - sincere and fervent prayer in front of the image helps to return to a person who has strayed from the righteous path, who has temporarily lost faith.
- From physical diseases, infections, serious illnesses.
Where is the image
At the moment, the location of the original icon is unknown. During the revolution she disappeared from Vologda. In the 1930s, service in the Church of St. John the Evangelist ceased. It was only restored in 2001. By that time, any mention of the original icon had disappeared. There is a version that it was taken abroad and is now in a private collection.
However, from the 19th century, lists began to be created from this image. The holy icon appeared in many churches throughout the country. The most famous list is considered to be the image that began to flow myrrh. A woman named Margarita and her husband Sergei purchased the image in Moscow.
It was an unremarkable product, printed at a large printing enterprise. But now it is the most famous myrrh-streaming icon in modern Orthodoxy. Sergei travels all over the world to show the miracle to as many people as possible.
For a long time it was not clear why she was streaming myrrh, but one day during a service in Murmansk a small child touched her and exclaimed “She is crying!” Then all those present understood that this was how the Mother of God grieved for all the troubles and sins of mankind.
In the village of Bachurino there is a copy of the icon, which bleeds from time to time. This happens during times of strong shocks, disturbing news and tragedies. For example, they first noticed that the Semistrelnaya was bleeding during the sinking of the Kursk submarine.
The myrrh-streaming icon and the Temple of the Icon of the Mother of God “Softening Evil Hearts” in the village of Bachurino
