The Seven-Arrow Icon of the Mother of God is known as one of the most important and revered Christian shrines. This image became famous for its incredible power, ability to perform miraculous phenomena and healings. The celebration of the icon is held every year on August 26 (according to the old style - August 13). The relic is also honored after Trinity (with the arrival of the first Sunday), on the ninth Sunday after Easter (with the onset of All Saints Week). Such celebrations are accompanied by a solemn service and the reading of special akathists.
Origin and acquisition of the icon
Church documents do not provide precise information about who is the author of the Seven Arrow Icon. Also, information about the date of painting has not been preserved. According to legend, the basis for its creation were the words of St. Simeon, addressed to the Mother of God in the temple of Jerusalem 40 days after the birth of Jesus Christ: “Behold, this one lies for the fall and for the uprising of many in Israel and for the subject of controversy, and a weapon will pierce your own soul.” .
There is a legend that the Seven-Arrow Icon appeared to the Russian Orthodox people in the 15th century. An unusual event occurred in the Vologda province. A seriously ill peasant heard in a dream an unearthly voice that ordered him to find the image of the Queen of Heaven in the bell tower of a local church and pray to him for healing. Being a deeply religious man, the man immediately went to the indicated place, but the church ministers allowed him to ascend to the upper part of the temple only after several requests.
The seven-shot icon of the Mother of God was discovered among the old, dusty images. Surprisingly, for many years it served as a stair step, and bell ringers stepped on it when climbing the bell tower. After the shrine was found, it was cleaned and a prayer service was served in front of it. The peasant, to whom the location of the sacred image was revealed in a dream, turned to the Mother of God with requests for healing, as a result of which he managed to get rid of many years of lameness.
Meaning and interpretation of the icon
Seven is the number of completeness. And the seven arrows symbolize the fullness of suffering that the Mother of God had to endure during her earthly life.
The plot of the icon reminds believers of the Gospel, the moment when the Baby was brought to the Temple on the fortieth day, and Saint Simenon, who was promised that he would not die until he saw the Son of God, predicted to Mary the suffering that she would experience due to the death of her beloved Son: “The weapon itself will penetrate the soul.”
There is another meaning for the Seven-Arrow Icon. Seven arrows are seven deadly sins that people commit, and each sin, like an arrow, pierces the Heart of the Mother of God.
History of the icon
The Seven-Arrow Icon is a miraculously acquired image. According to legend, back in the fifteenth century, a simple peasant found the icon in the Vologda province. This peasant suffered from severe lameness and constantly prayed for healing. He had a vision that he should climb the bell tower of the local church and find there the image of the Mother of God. The peasant told the priest about everything and, indeed, the Icon was found in the bell tower. The image, turned upside down with its wooden base, served as a step.
A prayer service was served before the seven-arrow icon, and the image was placed in the temple. The peasant recovered, and with the help of such an unusually found icon, many healings and miracles occurred.
Unfortunately, the original of the seven-arrow icon has disappeared, but copies of the image have been preserved, many of which have miraculous properties. Among them there are two myrrh-streaming ones: the first is kept in the Church of the Archangel Michael in Moscow, the second in the small village of Bachurino in the Moscow region.
Who can the icon help and with what?
- the seven-arrow icon is used to resolve disputes and conflicts,
- The Image helps to maintain peace in the family and protects the hearth,
- They pray to the Mother of God during wars and epidemics,
- lists of icons and pendants with a seven-arrow image also have healing powers; the image grants healing from illnesses and protects from mutilation and injury.
The image also helps to soften the hearts of people who are not disposed towards us, harbor some kind of grudge, are angry or irritated.
Prayers to the icon
Before the icon, you can read any of the Mother of God prayers: Akathist to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Virgin Mary, Rejoice, there is also a special prayer for the seven-arrow icon:
Troparion, tone 5
Kontakion
Prayer
You can also pray in your own words. The main thing is to cleanse your heart, turning to the image of the Mother of God, to be sincere, and to believe in the Mercy of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Description of the image and its symbolism
On the icon, the Most Pure Virgin Mary is depicted from the waist up, without the Infant God. Her head mournfully bows to the right, her face shows emotional pain, her hands are folded in a prayerful gesture. 7 sharp arrows (swords) directed from both sides (3 from one and 4 from the other) are pierced into the chest of the Mother of God. Their meaning is interpreted differently:
- the torment that the Mother of God experienced during the crucifixion of her Son Jesus Christ;
- seven sinful passions that overwhelm the human race and wound the Virgin Mary to the very heart;
- The arrows depicted in the picture convey the full depth of suffering endured by the Mother of God during her earthly life.
It is known that the number 7 is sacred and denotes the spiritual perfection and harmony possessed by the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Seven-Arrow Image also reminds Christians that the Queen of Heaven knows everything that happens in the human heart. No one can hide their bright or sinful thoughts from Her.
The Seven-Arrow Icon of the Mother of God is in many ways reminiscent of another miraculous relic called the Softening of Evil Hearts. Both shrines carry a similar meaning, as they are based on the Gospel story that occurred 40 days after the birth of the Savior. The difference in the painting Softening Evil Hearts is as follows: three arrows rush towards the heart of the Mother of God on the right and left, and the seventh is located below.
The meaning of the “Seven Shot” icon
This image is one of the few in which the Mother of God is depicted without the baby Jesus Christ. The seven swords represent the fullness of suffering when She looked at the mockery and abuse of the Son of God. Swords also indicate the seven deadly sins, which all humanity still commits to this day. The Gospel itself contains the prophecy of Simeon the God-Receiver. “And a weapon will pierce your very soul...” he prophesied. And each of our sins wounds Her soul, as if we were again crucifying Her Divine Son.
Miracles of the Seven Shot Icon
The miraculous power of the icon of the Mother of God was most clearly manifested in 1830. At that time, a cholera epidemic was raging in the Vologda region. It was possible to overcome the terrible disease thanks to prayers in front of the original shrine and its lists, which were created for each temple.
The shrine became famous for such a miraculous phenomenon as the flow of myrrh. Fragrant myrrh appeared both in the original painting and in its copies. There is a widely known story about how one believing resident of the Moscow region acquired a small printed copy of the Seven Arrow Icon. Soon the woman noticed that this image of the Mother of God was capable of periodically streaming myrrh and bleeding. This happened on the eve of high-profile tragic events (in the 90s before the terrorist attacks in Moscow, on the day of the tragedy on the Russian submarine “Kursk”).
There is a lot of evidence that after turning to the myrrh-streaming Seven Arrows Icon, healthy children appeared in infertile parents. Many people who prayed to the Most Pure Virgin Mary through Her image were able to be healed of oncology, diseases of the eyes, heart, joints, and mental ailments.
Origin and meaning of the Seven Shot Icon
According to legend, the Most Holy Theotokos appeared in a dream to a simple peasant of the Kadnikovsky district of the Vologda region. The man suffered from lameness for a long time and had already lost hope of healing. In a dream, a divine voice told him to go to the Church of St. John the Evangelist and find the image of the Mother of God among the dilapidated icons in the old bell tower, and then sincerely pray and ask for healing from a serious incurable illness.
The clergy of the church, after listening to the man’s story, only after long conversations and persuasion gave their consent and allowed him to climb the bell tower. However, finding the icon was not so easy. After a long search, the ancient shrine was found in one of the steps of the stairs leading to the bell tower. A small dirty tablet, covered with dust and dirt, turned out to be an icon with the face of the Most Holy Theotokos. The priests of the Church of St. John the Evangelist immediately cleaned the shrine and served a divine prayer service. After saying a sincere prayer before the newly-appeared face, the peasant received the long-awaited healing.
In 1830, the Vologda region was struck by a deadly cholera epidemic, which claimed the lives of thousands of people. The Christ-loving residents of Vologda organized a religious procession with the Seven-Arrow Icon of the Mother of God, delivered to the Church of St. Dmitry of Prilutsky on the banks of the Vologda River, and other significant shrines around the city. Soon the terrible disease subsided. Since then, August 26, 1830 has been considered the day of veneration of the holy image of the Mother of God.
The miraculous face of the Most Holy Mary with seven arrows was written according to the prediction of the holy God-Receiver Simeon and has a special meaning. According to the Gospel narrative, on the fortieth day after the birth of Jesus, the Virgin Mary and Joseph the Betrothed brought the divine baby to the Jerusalem Temple, where they met the holy elder. Righteous Simeon the God-Receiver recognized the divine baby as the Savior and predicted the Mother of God the great sorrow and pain that she would experience.
Thus, 7 arrows piercing the chest of the Blessed Virgin Mary carry the meaning of seven human sins. The second meaning of the Seven Arrow Icon is the fullness of suffering, mental pain and great sorrow that a loving mother experienced from contemplating the torment of Jesus crucified on the cross and his death.
There are several especially revered and significant copies of the Mother of God Seven-Shot Icon.
The miraculous icon “Softening Evil Hearts” (or “Simeon’s Prophecy”).
Attention! The miraculous image of the Mother of God “Softening Evil Hearts,” produced in a typographical manner and purchased in an ordinary church shop, has been myrrh-streaming and bleeding for several years, warning of terrible, tragic and significant events taking place in the world.
The Zhizdra Passion Icon “And a weapon will pierce your very soul” differs from other exact copies in that, in addition to the Virgin Mary, the canvas of the shrine depicts Jesus Christ lying in the arms of the Mother of God.
On some famous significant lists of the miraculous face, you can see swords instead of piercing arrows, with one of the swords piercing the heart of the Mother of God, and the other 6 swords (or arrows) are located symmetrically.
The most famous copy of the Seven Shot Icon is located in the Lazarus Church in the city of Vologda. The famous copy of the unpreserved original of the Seven-Shot Icon of the Mother of God was miraculously saved after the destruction of the Toshnenskaya Church of St. John the Theologian and transferred to the Lazarevsky Church in the post-war years.
According to the original version, it was believed that the sacred face of the Mother of God was painted more than 500 years ago. However, studies of the features of painting and the execution of the painting indicate that it was painted in the 18th century.
What prayers are addressed to the image?
You can pray at the Seven Arrow Icon in almost any life situation. The Mother of God always hears believers who come to Her with pure requests. The Queen of Heaven helps:
- to be healed from various ailments;
- regain lost health;
- protect weakened children from diseases;
- maintain peace and love in the family;
- resolve conflicts safely;
- resist the evil plans of enemies;
- to restore justice;
- avoid a needless death;
- cleanse the soul of anger, resentment, pride;
- learn humility and mercy;
- find true faith in the Lord.
For many years, prayers have been read in front of the Seven-Arrow Icon for the cessation of hostilities and interethnic conflicts. It is known that she was approached with requests for support and protection during the Crimean and Great Patriotic Wars. Many fighters who prayed to this image managed to survive mortal battles with the enemy and remain unharmed. People turn to the shrine with prayers for the repose of the souls of those who died on the battlefield, and pray for the gift of strength to come to terms with a bereavement.
What does the Seven-Arrow Icon of the Mother of God protect from?
Prayer at the face of the Blessed Virgin Mary can help in various life situations. Most often, the sacred face of the Mother of God is approached with a request for reconciliation with loved ones and relatives. People also turn to the holy image with a prayer request in the following situations:
- for protection from envious people and ill-wishers;
- for quick reconciliation of warring people;
- to strengthen family relationships and eliminate conflict situations;
- when it is necessary to make the right decision in difficult life situations;
- to protect home and family from troubles and misfortunes;
- healing from serious physical illness;
- getting rid of feelings of anger and overwhelming anger towards another person.
Important! Sincere prayer at the image of the Mother of God will help soften evil human hearts and bring peace, mutual understanding and tranquility into your own life.
How to pray correctly at the Seven Arrow Icon
Orthodox Christians begin reading prayer texts after respectfully bowing to the Divine image and making the sign of the cross. Before turning to the Virgin Mary, they light a blessed candle. If the person praying is in the temple, seven candles must be placed in front of the Seven-Shot Icon of the Mother of God.
Prayer should come from a pure heart, and the person asking for help should be in a peaceful state. A layman who turns to the Mother of God, being offended, angry or filled with the desire to take revenge on someone, will never receive the desired answer. Only those Christians whose souls are pure and free from all negativity receive heavenly support.
You can pray at the Seven-Arrow Icon on any day and at different times. This is especially worth doing when the icon is celebrated by the Orthodox Church. It is believed that on such dates, prayers to the Most Pure Mother of God acquire special power.
Body icon and its features
Body icons appeared back in the days of the first Christians. The first followers of Jesus were forced to hide their faith. And they wore body icons so that at any moment they could turn to the intercession or help of the Saints. In Rus', body icons came along with Christianity. Even Princess Olga wore the Image without taking it off, which she then passed on to her grandson.
Pectoral icons are worn together with the cross without removing them. Now images are made in the form of pendants or medallions from silver, gold or various metal alloys. By choosing a seven-arrow icon pendant, praying to this image, the believer is under the protection of the Mother of God, who protects him from anger and hatred, illness and troubles, softens his heart and the hearts of those around him.
Correct placement of the shrine in the house
Being in a dwelling, the icon of the Mother of God of Seven Arrows becomes a strong amulet against people who enter it with bad intentions. It is believed that this bright image reliably protects from envious people, gossips, slanderers, uninvited guests, and robbers.
It is recommended that every Orthodox family have a seven-shot icon of the Mother of God. The shrine should be located in the red corner, occupying the eastern part of the house. In this case, the face of the Mother of God should be located opposite the entrance to the house. It can also be hung above the front door. It is acceptable to have the Seven-Arrow Icon at work, but it must be placed in a quiet, quiet and uncrowded place.
If there is a child growing up in a family, you must place the icon in his room opposite the bed. A crucifix should hang above it. The image of the Most Pure Virgin Mary will protect the baby’s peaceful sleep and protect him from the fear of the dark.
A relic located in an apartment should be treated with due respect. This means that you should not hang it next to posters, calendars, paintings, photos, place it near household equipment, sources of loud sounds, or on shelves with cosmetics, toys, and accessories. You cannot place an Orthodox shrine in the kitchen or bathroom, near objects related to other religions, near esoteric literature, magical symbols or talismans.
What does the “Seven Arrow” Icon of the Mother of God help with?
- Frees a person from evil thoughts and intentions, from feelings of revenge or desires for another person to do something unpleasant.
- Protects your home from scammers, thieves, and blasphemers.
- Protects you from envious people and slanderers.
- Brings peace and tranquility to the family.
- Helps to establish mutual understanding between parents and children.
- Prayer in front of the “Seven Arrow” image protects soldiers from enemy arrows.
Most often, women turn to the icon - who else but the Mother, who adopted all people, will understand the anxiety and sadness of an earthly mother. Usually the icon is placed in the iconostasis, but if there is a sick person in the family, then the icon is hung in his room so that, through sincere and heartfelt prayers, recovery occurs.
Like all icons, the “Seven Arrows” must be treated with reverence. After all, we turn our prayers not to the image, but to the prototype. Therefore, always keep the iconostasis clean and tidy, wipe the dust often. On days of veneration, light a candle or lamp in front of the icon. The days of veneration of the “Seven Arrows” are August 26 and February 15, as well as on the ninth Sunday after Easter.
When sending your son to serve in the army, give him a silver icon or a small icon of the Mother of God, let him keep it all the days of his service. If your daughter is having trouble with her husband or has problems with her teenage children, give her the image “Softening Evil Hearts” and, according to your faith, everything will work out for them.
How the icon of the Mother of God of Seven Arrows protects
The image of the Most Holy Theotokos of Seven Arrows must be present in the home of a Christian believer. Daily appeal to the Seven-Arrow Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God will protect you from enemies, envious people, and protect you from illnesses. The image located above the front door will protect the house from evil people and ill-wishers.
If there is a seriously ill person in the house, then the icon of the Seven Shore Mother of God can be placed at the head of the bed - it will help heal from the disease and contribute to a speedy recovery.
A consecrated body medallion with the image of the Mother of God of the Seven Arrows will not only protect you from ill-wishers, but will also help a person become more kind-hearted, sympathetic and merciful towards loved ones.
Where to hang the Seven-Shot Icon
Only true faith and sincere prayer in front of the Seven Arrow Icon can work miracles. The correct placement of the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the house is also important. The ideal place to place the Seven Arrow Icon is the eastern part of a house or apartment.
You can also install the image:
- above the main entrance door of the house or opposite the entrance;
- on the wall in the corner of the room located on the eastern side of the home;
- on a special shelf at the head of the bed or baby's cradle.
The iconostasis or the place where the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary is located must be regularly cleaned of dirt and dust. The home iconostasis can be decorated with fresh flowers, hand-embroidered towels by the devout, or blessed church candles.
Important! It is advisable not to hang icons, but to place them on a flat surface, a separate shelf or a special stand for the iconostasis.
It is not advisable to place the icon in the kitchen or other dining room, or above the dining table. It is important that next to the iconostasis or the location of the Seven-Arrow Icon there are no photos of living or deceased family members and relatives, as well as:
- electrical appliances;
- posters, calendars, wall clocks;
- figurines, souvenirs, medals, award cups;
- books and other items.
The location of the image on the iconostasis also matters - the Seven-Arrow Icon should be placed to the right of the image of the Savior. If it is not possible to build an iconostasis, the image should be placed on a shelf or hung just above the middle of the wall.
Buy seven-shot icon pendant in the church shop PravLife
There are consecrated mini-images made according to the canons of the church and with its permission:
- made of gold;
- made of silver;
- with enamel.
Medallions of various shapes, sizes, and decor will allow you to choose the right option for yourself or as a gift. You can give them for Angel Day, baptism, birthday, or if people dear to you need support in difficult life circumstances. Such a gift will emphasize your love, care and will become a faithful companion for your family and friends.
