The "Seven-shot" Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of the famous Orthodox shrines. She is revered as a talisman for the space of the home, she is prayed for the reconciliation and softening of hearts, as well as for healing from diseases. This is a fairly ancient example of icon painting, which was discovered for the first time in the XVII-XVIII centuries in Russia.
Description
This shrine is also called the Icon of "Softening Evil Hearts." It is revered as miraculous and healing not only from diseases, but also from anger, intolerance, feelings of anxiety.
Prayer to the Queen of Heaven, depicted in the image, gives a feeling of peace and tranquility, protects from bad thoughts and negative attitudes of people who came to the house, from scammers and thieves.
The icon of the “Seven-shot” Mother of God is for every truly believing Christian. Usually they carry it with them (in a small format) or place it in a house opposite the entrance.
Story
According to legend, the image was found on the bell tower of a church in the vicinity of Vologda - on the Toshni River.
One peasant had a dream in which the Virgin asked to find the icon among the boards that were placed on the landing leading to the roof of the church, where the bells were located.
The abbot of the temple believed this poor man only the third time. When the Icon of the “Seven-shot” Mother of God was truly acquired, 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 XIX century, when cholera was rampant everywhere, the image of the Theotokos protected everyone from coming to church to pray before him. Since then, the shrine is also the protector of serious diseases of an infectious nature.
Value
The seven-shooter icon depicts the Virgin, which is pierced by 7 (sometimes 6) arrows. This is a symbol of the pain Mary experienced in her earthly life when Jesus Christ was severely condemned and executed for preaching the good news of God.
This face shows all the pain and torment for each person that the Queen of Heaven suffered with her Son.
According to spiritual teachings, as well as the laws of Orthodoxy, the number of arrows (swords) - seven (sometimes six) also have their sacred meaning:
- It is a symbol of fullness, abundance, wealth.
- Sins from which a person needs to be healed (pride, anger, despondency, adultery, envy, greed, gluttony).
It is in this that the meaning of the Seven-shooter Icon (which helps) is manifested - to “see” the vicious in each converted heart and help get rid of it, as well as strengthen the positive qualities and spheres of life of the believer.
Where is located
Several miraculous images are in the churches of the Russian Federation:
- in the Moscow monastery of the Archangel Michael;
- in the church, which is in the village of Bachurino (Moscow region);
- in Vologda - in the church of St. Lazarus.
The shrines are miraculously found, they are taken to different cities and villages of Russia, and pilgrims come to their faces every year.
The icon of the “Seven-shot” Mother of God or the “Softening of Evil Hearts” is in one of the Venetian chapels.
Important shrine
Modern Christians consider the icon to be one of the important images of the Virgin, and each one stores it in his house, the space of the workplace.
After all, the face protects:
- From enemy swords, which can threaten a loved one in the war zone.
- From bursts of envy, irritation, anger and despondency.
- From gluttony and lack of patience towards something or anyone.
- From the vileness of ill-wishers who have the intention of destroying human well-being, humiliating, robbing.
- It protects the home (especially if you place the icon opposite the entrance), “expelling” or softening everyone who comes into it with bad intentions.
- From disbelief in God - sincere and ardent prayer before the image helps a person who has gone down the righteous path, having lost faith for a while, to return.
- From diseases of the physical plane, infections, serious ailments.
Prayer before the Icon
Each woman has a special advantage in life - she is given the opportunity to help (loved ones, acquaintances, all people) through a prayer appeal to God, the Virgin and other Saints. The main thing is to do it from a pure heart and with a sincere desire to help, not wanting anything in return.
Including help prayers addressed to the Icon of the "Seven-shot", of which there are several.
One of them especially protects travelers traveling on a long journey, in which there may be dangers. It begins with an appeal to the Queen of Heaven, the mistress of the "Seven-shot". The following is a request to protect from arrows arrows of sorrow, anger, sorrow, temptation, persecution, languor and ailment. About protection from all sinful thoughts and deeds that are objectionable to God, from bad people. About intercession before God.
Another strong prayer helps to get protection from evil and evil eye. It begins with the words of the appeal to the Lady of the Mother of God. The following is a comparison with the arrows that fly by, so the thoughts of those who mourn and spoil go around a person to the side, without causing harm. A request for protection and protection at any time of the day or night from demonic attacks and all that is evil.
Celebration
In the churches of the Russian Federation and the entire Orthodox world there are days of celebratory services - in honor of the Icon of the “Seven-shot” or “Softening of Evil Hearts” (also “Simeon's Prophecy”). These images are of the same type, and therefore the celebration dates are identical:
- August 13 and 26;
- Sunday 9th after Easter;
- Sunday 1 of the Trinity holiday.
These days, Akathist, Kondak and Troparion are sung. And also special prayers are read.
There are two prayers in the text of Akathist:
- The first is an appeal to the multi-afflicted Mother of God, who suffered more than any of the people. What follows is a request for protection under the Protection of Grace, which cannot be found anywhere else. A request for help and salvation through prayers and chanting praise in the Trinity to God.
- In the second prayer of the Icon of the “Seven-shot” it is said that every believer wants to please the Virgin Mary, to sing Her mercy to people. The request to protect from evil, to dissolve hearts (ours and enemies), to send an arrow that pierces the world to persecuting believers and prayers. The request to the Virgin Mary to receive and send love. Give strength to patience and soften people's hearts. A prayer to ask the Lord to humble the hearts of people and send peace into them. The chanting of the Blessed and Blessed Virgin, which is protection from enemies through filling people with love for each other and eradicating all malice, enmity.
Conclusion
Each of the images of the Virgin is in its own way strong and gracious. And sincere prayers are filled with powerful energy and tranquility. And it is especially important for a person to remember this in the most difficult days of his life and to turn and ask for help from the Queen of Heaven.
The “Seven-shot” Icon, which really softens the hearts, protects against bad thoughts and attacks (including energy) from other people, is no exception.