For more than five hundred years the icon of the "Seven Shooters" has been known, or, as it is called otherwise, the seven-shooter icon. Its significance for every Orthodox Christian is very great. She softens embittered hearts, before her they pray for enemies.
The glory of the miraculous image of the Mother of God spread throughout Russia after the cholera epidemic that swept the Vologda province and many other regions of the Empire in 1830. Having brought innumerable calamities, the pestilence suddenly ended after a procession held by parishioners. Ahead were carried banners and images, the main of which was the seven-shooter icon. Its significance was understood by believers and then, it was known to be miraculous and healing for a long time, since it cured the peasant who found her in the Church of St. John the Evangelist on the Toshna River from limp.
It is interesting that at first the church was not very careful about this image, it was lying face down on the bell tower, and that unknown cripple that went upstairs at first mistook it for a simple board. When his miraculous healing occurred, his story raised some doubts about the veracity. But he insisted, citing the evidence of the nonrandomness of his find. The “Seven-shot Mother of God” icon was acquired after a voice that sounded in a dream told her to look for her and indicated her place. Then the image was cleansed, put up for worship, and the healing continued. Thus, getting rid of cholera proved his miracles once again.
The court in the manner of writing, the icon was created in the North of Russia. The Mother of God is alone, grieving over her son, and her heart is pierced by seven arrows, symbolizing the sorrows of her earthly life. Russian options differ in asymmetry. Three and four arrows are located on the right and left, unlike other versions, on which there are three in each hand, and the seventh is shown at the bottom of the image.
It is difficult to pray for enemies, but the whole point of Christian teaching is based on humanity and hatred of sins, but not of the people who commit them. The help in this difficult joy for all true believers is provided by the Seven-shooter icon. The significance of such a victory over pride is no less than that of bodily healing. Only mercy is able to lead mankind out of the civilizational impasse in which it, seized by revenge, now resides.
The troubled times of the 1917 coup did not go around the holy image that shared the fate of many relics - it was lost. However, one can exterminate the material incarnation, but not the Holy Spirit. The list of this icon was pacified in the Moscow church of the Archangel Michael, giving hope to believers.
The tremendous power that the seven-shooter icon possesses is huge. Its significance is in the healing of bodily ailments, the mitigation of character. Its beneficial effect on the evil people who come into the house is so great that it is desirable to have it in every house. In Orthodox iconography, it occupies the rank of a certain “divine special forces,” coming to the rescue in the most difficult moments of life. During the years of war, before the Seven Sisters, they pray for the victory of the Orthodox army and the defense of the Fatherland from the adversary.
Church canons do not establish strict rules regarding where the seven-barrel icon should be placed. Where to hang this image - everyone decides for himself, sometimes it is located in the home iconostasis, often he meets guests right in front of the entrance doors. If the image is in the temple of God, then you need to pray before it by placing seven candles, according to the number of arrows.