There are a great many images of the Holy Virgin depicted on the icons and lists from them, one of the most revered and famous is the icon “Softener of Evil Hearts”, also referred to as “Seven Arrows”. Today it is revered as miraculous, and the prayer for the softening of evil hearts is used by believers as a petition for recovery from serious illnesses, elimination of anger and intolerance, cure for serious infections, and granting peace and tranquility.

Iconographic reference

The icon depicts the Mother of God alone. Moreover, there is a difference between the icons "Softener of evil hearts" and "Seven-shooter".

Icon of the Mother of God "Softener of Evil Hearts"

In the first case, the Virgin is pierced by swords, located three on the right and left, and the seventh below.

In the second, the Virgin is pierced by arrows, three on one side and four on the other. Swords and arrows are a prototype of the deep sadness that the Great Benefactor carried in her soul all her life.

Finding an ancient icon

The following has long been known about the first glorification of the "Seven-shooter" image. A peasant from one of the districts of the Vologda province for a long time suffered from pain in his legs and limped heavily, it was very difficult for him to walk and the man's body was very relaxed. He was treated for a long time by many healers and healers, but nothing helped him. But only the Mother of God was able to restore his lost health.

Icon "Seven Arrows"

Once, during a dream, a commanding voice was heard, instructing him to climb the church bell tower, find there an ancient icon of the Theotokos and pray fervently before it. Only then will he be granted the desired healing from a serious illness. The peasant came to the temple twice, talked about the "night order" and tried to fulfill the decree given to him in a dream vision, but the ministers of the church did not believe him and did not let him into the bell tower. For the third time, seeing the persistence of the ailing lame man, the acolytes went to meet him: the invalid climbed the belfry and immediately found the icon. She was lying in the dust by the stairs and the ringers, not noticing the shrine under their feet, walked straight along it, as if on an ordinary board. The icon was immediately cleaned of dust, washed of dirt, and a prayer service was served. The peasant, who prayed earnestly during the service, soon received the coveted healing.

Prayer Rules

Prayer for the softening of evil hearts is one of the most powerful prayers to the Most Holy Theotokos. In order for the requested to be realized as quickly as possible, it is necessary:

"Softener of Evil Hearts" ("Simeon's Prophecy")

• come to an Orthodox monastery;
• in front of the icon of Jesus Christ;
• kiss the lips and forehead to the Holy Crucifix;
• go to the icon "Softener of evil hearts" or "Seven-shooter", light a candle and read a prayer (you can pray in your own words).

Useful articles:

You can pray at home in front of the icon. To do this, you need to purchase a candle in the church, light it during prayer and ask the Queen of Heaven for help in business and intercession before the Lord for the bestowal of Divine Grace.

Prayer before the icon

"Softener of evil hearts" icon of the Mother of God. Gallery of Shchigry icons.

According to a long-established tradition, before the face of the Holy Virgin, they pray for their enemies, for the mitigation of enmity between people and for the bestowal of a feeling of mercy.

Troparion, tone 5:

Soften our evil hearts, Mother of God, and quench the misfortunes of those who hate us, and resolve all the narrowness of our soul. Looking at Your holy image, we are touched by Your suffering and mercy for us and kiss Your wounds, but our arrows, which torment You, are horrified. Do not give us, merciful Mother, to perish in our hardness of heart and from the hardness of our neighbors, Thou art truly evil hearts Softening.

To the Chosen Virgin Mary, the highest of all the daughters of the earth, the Mother of the Son of God, who gave Him the salvation of the world, we appeal with tenderness: look at our many-sorrowful life, remember the sorrows and illnesses that you endured, as our earthly one, and do with us according to Your mercy, let's call you ti:

Rejoice, much-sorrowful Mother of God, turning our sorrow into joy.

Prayer 1

O much-sorrowful Mother of God, softening of evil hearts and surpassing all the daughters of the earth, in Your purity and in the multitude of sufferings You have transferred to the earth, accept our many painful sighs and save us under the shelter of Your mercy. We don’t know of any other refuge and warm intercession, but, as if you have boldness to the One who was born from You, help and save us with Your prayers, so that we unstumblingly reach the Kingdom of Heaven, even with all the saints we will sing in the Trinity to the One God now and forever, and till the end of time. Amen.

Prayer 2

O who will not please Thee, Virgin of Grace, who will not sing of Your mercy to the human race. We pray to you, we ask you, do not leave us in the evil of the perishing, dissolve our hearts with love and send Your arrow to our enemies, may our hearts be wounded by peace to those who persecute us. If the world hates us - You stretch out Your love for us, if the world drives us - You accept us, give us the grace-filled power of patience - to endure the trials in this world without grumbling. Oh lady! Soften the hearts of evil people who rise up against us, so that their hearts do not perish in evil - but implore, O Gracious One, Your Son and our God, let their hearts die in peace, but the devil - the father of malice - be put to shame! We, singing Your mercy to us, evil, indecent, we sing to You, O Wonderful Lady Virgin of Grace, hear us at this hour, contrite hearts of those who have, protect us with peace and love for each other and for our enemies, eradicate from us all malice and enmity, let us sing to You and Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Important! Your desire will be fulfilled only if it does not contradict the Commandments of the Lord and if it is the Will of God!

The myrrh-streaming miraculous image is kept on Maiden's Field in Moscow, in the church of Michael the Archangel. The celebration of the icon, also called "Simeon's prophecy", takes place annually on August 26 and on the week of All Saints.

Akathist to the Mother of God in front of the icon "Softener of Evil Hearts".

the celebration of the icon "Seven Arrows" takes place on August 13/26; icon "Softening of evil hearts" - February 3/16 and the Week of All Saints

According to the law of Moses, all Jewish parents had to bring their children on the fortieth day after birth to the temple for consecration to God. In fulfillment of this law, the Mother of God with the holy righteous Joseph the Betrothed brought the Infant Jesus to the Jerusalem Temple.

At that time, an old man named Simeon lived in Jerusalem. Many years ago, being the most learned man of his time, he translated the sacred books from Hebrew into Greek. When translating the book of the prophet Isaiah, he stopped at the phrase: "Behold the Virgin shall conceive in the womb." Thinking that a mistake had been made, Simeon already wanted to write “wife”, but the Angel of the Lord withheld his hand, forbidding him to correct the prophecy, and predicted to him that he would not die until he saw the fulfillment of the prophecy. Righteous Simeon lived for an unusually long time after this (according to legend, 270 years). And finally, the long-awaited time has come. Elder Simeon, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, came to the Temple at the time when the Blessed Virgin and righteous Joseph brought the Infant Jesus there. The righteous old man met the Baby, took Him in his arms and, glorifying God, said: “Now you send away Your servant, Master, according to Your word, in peace. For my eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to enlighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel” (Luke 2:29-32).

The Mother of God and the holy righteous Joseph marveled at the words of the elder Simeon. The holy elder blessed them and, turning to the Blessed Virgin Mary, predicted to Her about the Baby: “Behold, this lies for the fall and for the uprising of many in Israel and for the subject of controversy; 2, 34-35).

The prophecy of the holy righteous Simeon: "... and to You Yourself a weapon will pierce the soul" indicates the future sufferings that the Blessed Virgin suffered during Her earthly life. The number seven in Holy Scripture in general means the fullness of something, and in this case the fullness of that grief, sorrow and heart disease that befell the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Mother of God, with firm hope in God, meekly endured such sufferings that are beyond the power of any earthly person. The entire akathist to the icon of the Theotokos "Seven Arrows" is dedicated to the memories of the sufferings endured by Her and the glorification of the patience and humility of the Most Pure One. Being tempted and enduring to the end, the Holy Virgin can also help us in our earthly sorrows: Rejoice, much-sorrowful Mother of God, transforming our sorrow into joy.

The first description of the Seven-shot icon is known.

For a long time, this holy image was located at the turn of the stairs of the bell tower of the Church of the Holy Apostle John the Theologian, near Vologda (on the banks of the Toshni River). The icon turned face down was taken for an ordinary board and walked on it.

This icon was painted on canvas pasted on a board and got its name from the image itself. The Mother of God is depicted on it without the Eternal Child, Alone, pierced by seven arrows or swords - four on the left side and three on the right. The painting of this icon bears obvious traces of ancient origin, and experts say that it was painted about 500 years ago. Despite such prescription, the painting is perfectly preserved.

She became famous after the miraculous healing of a peasant in the Kadnikovsky district, who for many years suffered from general relaxation and lameness. During his sleep, he was told that if he visited the Church of St. John the Theologian and found the icon of the Mother of God on the bell tower, then, having prayed before it, he would receive healing. Twice he came and, conveying his dream, asked to be let into the belfry; but they did not believe him and refused to fulfill his request. Finally, for the third time, they let him into the bell tower. Here he immediately found the holy icon, which he had seen in a dream: it replaced the place of the board on which they passed at the turn of the stairs. The icon he found was washed from the litter and bird droppings that covered it. The sick peasant asked to serve a prayer service before her and was healed.

Later, the icon became famous in 1830, when cholera raged in Vologda. In fear, the inhabitants resorted to the help of the Queen of Heaven and, raising Her holy icons, “Seven Arrows” and “Semigradskaya”, surrounded them around the city in a solemn procession. Soon the cholera completely stopped. Since that time, many have received healing from illnesses from the icon.

After the revolution, the miraculous icon disappeared.

At present, the myrrh-streaming icon of the Mother of God "Seven Arrows" is known in the Church of the Archangel Michael at the clinics on the Maiden's Field (Moscow, metro station "Sportivnaya", "Frunzenskaya").

The icon "Softener of evil hearts" differs from the icon "Seven-shooter" in the arrangement of swords: they are located three on the right and left, and one (seventh) from the bottom. Here swords mean the seven main sinful passions of human fallen nature. For the inexpressible sorrows endured by the Most Holy Theotokos during Her earthly life, which are rightly called a weapon piercing the soul, the Most Pure Virgin was granted special grace to see the thoughts of human hearts. The prophecy of the righteous Simeon was fulfilled: "... and to You Yourself a weapon will pierce the soul, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed." Since then, the dispensation of every person has been revealed to the Theotokos. Human sins, like swords, stab the loving heart of the Most Pure Virgin, but when a person in repentance resorts to Her help, the inexpressible mercy of the Mother of God softens and heals his evil heart.

The miraculous icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Softener of Evil Hearts” has been known since ancient times, but, unfortunately, there is no information about its origin.

Before the icons of the Most Holy Theotokos, the "Seven Arrows" and "Softener of Evil Hearts" pray for healing from cholera, lameness and relaxation, for the appeasement of those who are at war and for the softening of evil hearts, in case of enmity or persecution.

Icon of the Mother of God
"SOFTENING EVIL HEARTS"

Icon of the Mother of God "Softener of Evil Hearts"

The icon of the Mother of God "Softener of Evil Hearts" is also called "Simeon's Prophecy". It symbolically depicts the prophecy of St. Simeon the God-Receiver, pronounced by him in the Jerusalem temple on the day of the Meeting of the Lord: “ And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, His Mother: behold, this lies for the fall and the rising of many in Israel and for the subject of controversy, - and to You Yourself a weapon will pierce the soul, - so that the thoughts of many hearts will be opened.

"Softener of Evil Hearts" is written with swords stuck in Her heart - three on the right and left, one below. The number "seven" in Holy Scripture usually means the fullness, redundancy of something, and in this case, the fullness and boundlessness of that grief, sadness and "heart disease" that the Mother of God experienced during Her earthly life. Sometimes the Pre-Eternal Child is also written on the lap of the Most Pure Virgin.

The choice of the image of the sword on the icon is not accidental, since in the human mind it is associated with the shedding of blood.

There is another interpretation of the image of the seven swords piercing the breast of the Most Holy Theotokos. The seven arrows on the icon are the fullness of the sorrow of the Mother of God. But now She suffers not because she sees the torments of the 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 major sinful passions of man. Every misdeed, every action that is provoked by an evil feeling, an unkind thought, turns those arrows in the chest of our very first Intercessor before God, or swords on other images, hurting the loving heart of the Mother. And She, as we remember, is still ready to pray to the Son for each of us who resort to Her holy intercession.

The image “Softener of Evil Hearts” apparently comes from Southwestern Russia, but, unfortunately, there is no historical information about it; it is not even known where and when the image appeared.

The celebration of this image is made Sunday of All Saints (1st Sunday after Trinity).

Icon of the Mother of God "Seven Arrows"

Very close to the "Softener of Evil Hearts" and another miraculous image - Icon of the Mother of God "Seven Arrows". The only difference between them is that the swords are written differently on the “Seven Arrows” - three on the right side of the Most Pure and four on the left, and the celebration is made for her August 13 old style.

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

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

A certain peasant from the Kadnikovsky district suffered from lameness for many years and already despaired of the possibility of healing. Once, in a thin dream, a Divine voice commanded him to find the image of the Most Holy Theotokos on the bell tower of the Theological Church, where the dilapidated icons were kept, and with faith to pray before him 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 third request of the peasant, the clergy, who did not believe his words, allowed 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 the stairs, along which the bell ringers climbed. Horrified by this involuntary blasphemy, the clergy washed the image and served a prayer service before it, after which the peasant found complete healing.

In 1830, when most of European Russia, including the Vologda province, suffered a terrible cholera epidemic, the inhabitants of Vologda surrounded the "Seven Shooters" icon with a solemn procession around the city. Then the cholera receded as suddenly as it had come.

After 1917, the miraculous image disappeared from the Church of St. John the Theologian, and in 1930 services ceased in it. In July 2001, the parish of the Church of St. John the Theologian 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 "Softener of Evil Hearts", they pray in case of enmity or persecution, for the appeasement of the warring, and also in the bitterness of the heart - for the gift of patience.

Icon of the Mother of God "Zhizdrinskaya Passionate"

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

The miraculous "Sofrino" icon

Among the miraculous lists of the icon "Softener of Evil Hearts", at present, the myrrh-streaming icon, revealed in Russia at the end of the 20th century, enjoys special reverence. This icon, produced by printing method at the enterprise of the Russian Orthodox Church "Sofrino", was purchased in an ordinary church shop.

On May 3, 1998, its owner Margarita Vorobieva noticed that myrrh was flowing over the surface of the icon. The history of myrrh flow and bleeding is simply amazing. In 1999, before the explosions of houses in Moscow, the face of the Mother of God changed on the Icon, dark circles appeared under the eyes, and the apartment began to smell of incense. On August 12, 2000, on 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 streaming myrrh and bleeding constantly. She streams myrrh so abundantly that the world is collected in liters. And it bleeds on the eve of tragic events, while the examination showed that human blood, of the first group ...

It is the LIVING Mother of God that meets people who come to Her to bow in different ways, healing someone, helping someone, others cannot even approach the Seven-shot Icon ... for example, in the courtyard of Optina Pustyn, in Yasenevo, where the image is often On Sundays, one woman is seen, she always asks men to bring her to venerate the Icon by force. All those possessed break out with superhuman strength, and they themselves cannot approach the shrine. But with 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 strayed 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, alleviate the suffering of relatives and friends, and receive consolation. Not to recall all the amazing testimonies and miracles created by the Icon of the Mother of God and not to list the names of all the sick who were healed and those who received appeasement.

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

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

The myrrh-streaming icon has visited many dioceses of Russia, and has also repeatedly been abroad - 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 a 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 "Softener of Evil Hearts" stayed in the Cathedral Church 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 Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God, the election and enthronement of the new Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, took place. According to eyewitnesses, after the election of the 16th Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill, the icon of the Mother of God "Softener of Evil Hearts", located on the lectern in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, abundantly streamed myrrh.

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

In the Murmansk church, the baby, whom the mother had attached to the icon, unexpectedly loudly and clearly said: "She's crying!" And everything fell into place. Truly, “the mouth of a baby speaks the truth,” 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 hardening of our hearts. About the world retreating from Her Son - Christ our God.

Material prepared by Sergey SHULYAK

for the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity on Sparrow Hills

Prayer
O Many-sorrowful Mother of God, who surpassed all the daughters of the earth in her purity and in the multitude of sufferings that you brought to the earth! Accept our much painful sighing and save us under the shelter of Your mercy, otherwise, refuge and warm intercession, unless You, we know, but, as if you have boldness to the One who was born from You, help and save us with Your prayers, so that we unstumblingly reach the Kingdom of Heaven, where with all the saints we will sing praises in the Trinity to the One God, always, now, and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.

Troparion, tone 5
Soften our evil hearts, Mother of God, / and quench the misfortunes of those who hate us, / and resolve all the narrowness 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, Ty tormenting, horrified. / Do not give us, Mother of Mercy, / perish in our hardness of heart and from the hardness of our neighbors, / You are truly a softening of evil hearts.

Kontakion, tone 2
By Thy Grace, Mistress, / soften the hearts of the villains, / send down the benefactors, who keep them from all evil, / to those who pray fervently to Thee / before Your honest icons.

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Sometimes problems fall on a person like a snowball. He just doesn't know how to get out of this situation. It is valuable to use prayers, because, as you know, they help to overcome the difficulties and hardships of fate. What prayer to read at the same time? What is the right way to ask for help?

In difficult circumstances, people read the prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos "Softener of Evil Hearts." This prayer really helps many. The Almighty tells you how to find a solution in a difficult situation, guides you on the right path. The seven-shooter Mother of God has incredible power, instills hope in a person and helps to reason with him.

What is the support of prayer? Prayer "Softening of evil hearts" comes to the rescue in overcoming physical and mental difficulties. It is important to pronounce it in front of the icon of the Mother of God, holding seven swords in her hands.

The Mother of God is depicted on the icon alone. Note that there is a difference between the icons:

• "Seven-shooter";
• "Softener of Evil Hearts".

The icon "Softener of Evil Hearts" is the Mother of God, pierced with seven swords. Three swords are drawn on different sides and one below. The seven personifies the fullness of life and the universe as a whole, it was not chosen by chance.

The Seven Arrows icon represents the Mother of God pierced by arrows, four on one side and three on the other. Arrows and swords show great sadness and sadness that the Mother of God had to bear throughout her earthly life. Here, the seven reflects all the mortal sins of a person, the fact that they are all known to the Mother of God, that they cannot be hidden from her.
In some cases, it is possible to see an icon depicting the Virgin Mary with a baby in her arms. However, it is very rare.

Seven swords originated from the prophecy of St. Simeon the God-Receiver. In the temple of Jerusalem on the Meeting, he predicted that the Mother of God would have to go through very serious trials, only suffering would fall to her lot, she would have to watch the torment and unbearable suffering of her son. Swords symbolize bloodshed. The icon demonstrates the anguish of the Mother of God, the fullness of her suffering. Moreover, she had to suffer not only because of the torment of her son, but also from the seven deadly sins of man. They pierced her soul and heart through and through.

Description of the icon that worked the miracle

For the first time the icon "Seven Arrows" became famous in ancient times. One peasant from Vologda constantly suffered from pain in his legs. He limped all the time and was practically unable to walk. His body, of course, also ached, and there was no escape from this. He turned to healers and healers, but no one helped the unfortunate man and did not save him from unspeakable suffering. Only the Mother of God was able to restore his lost health.

Once, in a dream, a man heard an imperious voice that ordered him to climb the bell tower of the church, find the icon of the Most Holy Mother of God there and begin to read a prayer in front of the shrine. Only after that the peasant will be able to recover and begin to walk normally again, get rid of lameness. The man visited the temple several times, begged the church servants to let him go to the bell tower to pray in front of the icon, but no one believed him.

However, after a while, kind people supported the peasant and let him into the bell tower. He immediately found the shrine and read a prayer, asking for health. The most interesting thing is that the icon lay at the very stairs in dust and dirt, no one saw the shrine. People walked on it, as if on an ordinary board. Only the peasant managed to open the eyes of the ministers of the church to this. The icon was washed and cleaned, and they prayed before it. The man finally managed to be healed, the Mother of God generously thanked him for showing people the shrine.

In 1830 they made a religious procession near Vologda. The icon of the Mother of God was carried in a place of honor. It was the shrine that helped to overcome the terrible cholera epidemic, which claimed many lives.

Prayer Rules

Prayer "Softener of evil hearts" has great power. It is advisable to know a few rules about how to read it and what it protects:

• one must go to church;
• put a candle in front of Christ the Savior;
• to venerate the forehead and lips to the Crucifixion;
• light a candle in front of the icon "Softener of evil hearts";
• read a prayer or ask for something in your own words.

If there is such an icon at home, then they pray in front of it without visiting the temple. The main thing is to pray with all sincerity and faith to the Mother of God for grace, the gift of wisdom and health, ask her to bow before the Creator and ask for a sinful person.

Most people do not even assume that there is only one prayer "Softener of evil hearts" in Russian. The text is small, so it is recommended to memorize it so as not to be distracted when referring to the Queen of Heaven. Prayer is read when nothing distracts from it. Do not rush, clearly pronounce all the words, think them over.

The words of the prayer "Softener of evil hearts"

Troparion

“Soften our evil hearts, Mother of God,
And quench those who hate us,
And resolve all the narrowness of our soul.
Looking at Your holy image,
Your suffering and mercy
We are touched by us and kiss Your wounds,
But our arrows, tormenting You, we are horrified.
Don't give us, merciful Mother,
In our hardness of heart and from the hardness of our neighbors perish,
Thou art truly evil hearts Softening.

Kontakion

"To the chosen Virgin Mary, who exalted all the daughters of the earth,
Mother of the Son of God,
Having given it to the salvation of the world, we cry out with tenderness:
Look at our mournful life,
Remember sorrows and illnesses,
Thou hast endured them, as our earthly,
And do with us according to Your mercy,
Let us call you: Rejoice, much-sorrowful Mother of God,
Turning our sadness into joy."

Healing

“O much-sorrowful Mother of God,
Softening of evil hearts and surpassing all the daughters of the earth,
According to His purity and according to the multitude of sufferings,
You transferred to the lands,
Accept our painful sighs
And keep us under the shelter of Your mercy.
Other more refuge and warm intercession
Are you not wise, but, like boldness,
To Whom from Thee is Born,
Help and save us with Your prayers,
May we reach the Kingdom of Heaven without fail,
Idezhe with all the saints we will sing in the Trinity
One God now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen".

Relief of mental anguish

“O who does not please Thee, Virgin of Grace,
Who will not sing of Your mercy to the human race.
We pray to you, we ask you
Do not leave us in the evil of the perishing,
Dissolve our hearts with love
And send Your arrow to our enemies,
May it wound our hearts with peace to those who persecute us.
If the world hates us - You stretch out Your love for us,
If the world drives us - You accept us,
Grant us the grace-filled power of patience
Without murmuring, endure trials in this world, experienced.
Oh lady! Soften the hearts of evil people,
Those who rise up against us, so that their hearts do not perish in evil,
But beseech, O Gracious One, Thy Son and our God,
May their hearts die with peace,
The devil is the father of malice - let him be put to shame!
We, singing Your mercy to us,
Evil, obscene, let's sing to Ty,
O Wonderful Lady Virgin of Grace,
Hear us in this hour, contrite hearts of those who have,
Protect us with peace and love for each other and for our enemies,
Eliminate from us all malice and enmity,
Let us sing to You and Your Son,
To our Lord Jesus Christ: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!"

Icon "Seven Arrows" in the dwelling

When purchasing an icon of the Mother of God, it is imperative to clean the room in which it is planned to install or hang the shrine. After that, it’s time to read the prayer “Softening evil hearts”, and then place the icon.

The icon is the strongest amulet in any home. After she is in the house, people with evil thoughts will stop coming there, wishing misfortune to the residents. It is advisable to hang an icon opposite the entrance, regularly read a prayer over it, then ill-wishers will stop visiting housing.

The origin of the icon "Seven Arrows"

The shrine is revered by all believers, because they are convinced of its great power and magical power. Vologda is considered the birthplace of the icon. At first she was in the church of John the Theologian, which stood on the banks of the Toshnia. The miraculous icon disappeared from the church at the beginning of the twentieth century: the war did not allow worship in the temple. However, after that, the church again began to receive parishioners and read prayers. But only the icon from the walls of the temple evaporated without a trace, it has not been found to this day.
The day of veneration of the icon of the "Seven-Arrowed Mother of God" is celebrated on August 26.

When to turn to the Mother of God

When reading the strongest prayer in front of the icon of the Mother of God, they achieve relaxation, improve relations in the family. The Mother of God helps to cope with outbursts of anger and protect against them, teach tolerance towards others and kindness. The Mother of God also favors protection from troubles, hostilities or attacks from others.

Many people are sure that prayer can instantly help and cure any disease, immediately get rid of problems. Naturally, when reading a prayer once, the result may not be expected. The main thing is to ask for help with all sincerity and believe in higher powers, only then will the long-awaited relief from suffering come.

You need to believe in the Lord, that the Mother of God will definitely come to bow to him and ask for help for the one who is praying. It is necessary to read a prayer daily, even just walking down the street, constantly going to church, talking with the Lord. Until a person opens his heart to the Creator, there will be no help. If he communicates with God, then it is imperative to observe the laws of the Bible, not to sin.

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The prayer addressed to the Mother of God of Seven Arrows “Softening of Evil Hearts” (other names are “Seven Arrows”, “Simeon's Prophecy”) is aimed at appeasing and calming the warring people. Before the icon of the Mother of God "Simeon's Prophecy" they pray for their enemies, asking to soften their hearts. The icon of the Mother of God of Seven Arrows also helps to alleviate mental anguish, overcome hostility in relationships, and instills mercy in people's hearts.

It is necessary to pray to the Most Pure Mother of God in front of her icon “Seven Arrows” (“Softener of Evil Hearts”) using the following texts:

Description of the Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Softener of Evil Hearts” (“Seven Arrows”)

The face of the Mother of God “Softener of evil hearts” is very similar to the “Seven-shooter” icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, therefore both of them are united by the name “Seven-shooter”. The difference between them lies in the location of the arrows:

• at the “Seven-shot” arrow, which pierced the heart of the Virgin, are located on two sides: three - on one side, four - on the other;
• the Mother of God “Softener of Evil Hearts” has the following arrangement of arrows: three on the left, three on the right side, one on the bottom.

On the icon “Softening of Evil Hearts”, the Most Pure Mother of God is depicted alone, with her heart pierced by seven swords (arrows). Sometimes there is also a variety where the Blessed Virgin is written with the Christ child on her knees. Seven swords (arrows) are a symbol of the prophecy given by St. Simeon the God-Receiver in the Jerusalem Temple during the Candlemas. He predicted that many trials, sorrow and grief were prepared for the lot of the Mother of God at the sight of how her Son would suffer. The swords were not chosen by chance: they mean bloodshed.

The number 7 itself is endowed with a symbolic meaning. In the Holy Scriptures, 7 is a sign of completeness, an excess of something. In the case of an icon, this is the fullness of grief and anguish of the heart that fell to the lot of the Blessed Virgin Mary during her earthly life, the fullness of her sorrow. The Mother of God suffers not so much because of the torments of Jesus Christ, but because of the seven deadly human sins that pierce her soul. Thus, swords (arrows) also act as a symbol of sinful passions.

The origin of the icon of the “seven-shooter” Mother of God (“Softener of evil hearts”)

The icon of the “Seven Arrows” Mother of God is extremely revered among believers. The Vologda region is considered to be the birthplace of the icon. Initially, she stayed in the Church of St. John the Theologian, which was located on the banks of the Toshni River. This river flows near Vologda. There is one curious legend about its origin.

A legend tells about a peasant from the Kadnikovsky district, who for many years suffered from incurable lameness. Once he had a dream in which the Divine voice told that his illness would be healed if he found the icon of the Most Holy Mother of God in the bell tower of the Theological Church, prayed to her with faith, asked for a cure.

The peasant came to the temple, told about his dream, asked to be let inside the bell tower, but the clergy refused to fulfill his request, and so 2 times. The man came for the third time, and his perseverance with perseverance did their job. The peasant was allowed to climb the bell tower, and he immediately found the image of the “Seven-shot” Mother of God.

The icon performed the function of a staircase, and the bell ringers simply walked along it, not suspecting anything. Terrified by the accidental blasphemy, the clergy cleaned and washed the image well, brought it into proper shape, and then served a prayer service, during which the peasant prayed fervently. Immediately after this, a miracle happened: his illness receded, he was completely healed. So the Orthodox Church acquired another icon - the image of the “Seven-pointed” Blessed Virgin Mary.

The image of the “Seven-shot” Mother of God received special fame in 1830, when a cholera epidemic raged in Vologda. The inhabitants of the city held a procession around the city walls, led by an icon. After that, the disease subsided, and soon the epidemic stopped completely.

The miraculous icon disappeared from the Church of St. John the Theologian after the fateful year 1917. No services have been held here since 1930. The parish resumed its activities in 2001, but the icon of the Mother of God of Seven Arrows has not yet returned to its homeland.

In what cases should one turn to the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Softener of Evil Hearts”?

By reading a strong prayer in front of the image of the Most Holy Mother of God “Softening Evil Hearts”, you can improve relations between family members, between relatives and close people, between husband and wife, between children and their parents.

The “seven-shot” Mother of God is able to protect from outbursts of anger, anger and irritation (both her own and other people), from someone else's intolerance. The icon helps with any enmity between members of the family or society. The Mother of God is also prayed to during hostilities: she is asked for protection from an enemy attack.