Where there is an icon softening evil hearts. This Orthodox prayer for the softening of evil hearts is read in front of the icon with the blessing of the confessor

29.09.2019

On the day of the Meeting of the Lord (February 2/15), there is also the veneration of the icon of the Virgin “Softening evil hearts or Simeon's prophecy”, on which the prophecy of the elder Simeon is depicted with symbolic signs. Seven swords stuck in the heart of the Mother of God denote the fullness of the grief experienced by Her in earthly life.

In modern liturgical practice, it is customary to combine the celebration of different icons of the Mother of God "Softener of Evil Hearts" on one day (August 13/26).

The softening of evil hearts is an ongoing miracle

For twelve years there has been a continuous miracle in the world. This is a miracle of myrrh-streaming and bleeding of the icon of the Mother of God “Softener of Evil Hearts”. A small image, like many tens of thousands like it, was printed by printing at the Sofrino enterprise and bought in a church shop by ordinary Muscovites. But due to God's fate unknown to us, it was this image that was chosen to reveal a wondrous miracle - the icon came to life.

Myrrh-streaming icon “Softener of evil hearts”

When meeting with her, the feeling of communication with a “living being” does not leave. Everyone who had a chance to partake of this spiritual joy will never forget the obvious reality of the meeting with the Queen of Heaven Herself.

Involuntarily, a parallel arises with the well-known myrrh-streaming Iberian-Montreal icon, which disappeared without a trace in the fall of 1997, simultaneously with the martyrdom of its keeper. The service of that Icon and its keeper lasted exactly 15 years. But, as we see, the Queen of Heaven did not leave us orphaned for a long time. New myrrh-streaming icon was revealed a few months later, in the spring of 1998, to Muscovite Margarita.

And now, for twelve years now, the icon's keeper Sergei (Margarita's husband) has been traveling with the new myrrh-streaming icon all over the world from the USA to Australia, from Athos to the Far East. And everywhere the icon generously pours out its wholesome myrrh, and an endless miracle of softening evil hearts takes place.

In the Murmansk Church, the baby, whom the mother put to the icon, unexpectedly loudly and clearly said: “She is 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.

The miraculous image reacts differently to its place of residence, and not every land is equally pleasing to the Queen of Heaven. The keeper of the icon can tell about all this, but let's not offend countries and continents ... Let's talk about something else: for the first time, trickles of blood flowed from the sores that appeared on the icon on August 12, 2000, the day when the whole country was horrified to learn about the tragedy in the Barents Sea , and plunged into grief about .

Since then, if the Russian military touches the icon, the icon sensitively responds to this meeting and exudes blood ... I remember how, after the religious procession with the icon, the marines of the Sevastopol brigade, who carried the icon, looked with surprise at their white ceremonial gloves, which turned absolutely red from the expired bloody world.

What does this sign say? What does the Mother of God warn about, what does she prepare for and before what does she strengthen the Russian army? ..

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE MYRTOOL ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD "SOFTENING OF EVIL HEARTS"

On May 3, 1998, the owner of the icon, bought in an ordinary church shop, Margarita Vorobyeva, noticed that myrrh was flowing over the surface of the icon. These phenomena of myrrh-streaming and fragrance began to repeat from time to time.
On August 12, 2000, sores from tiny wounds appeared on the arms and neck of the Virgin, and a clear blood sore appeared on her left shoulder. Soon it was reported that the nuclear submarine Kursk had sunk. The days of universal sorrow came, and by November 21, 2000, the day of the Archangel Michael, trickles of blood flowed down the icon for the first time, which could be collected on a cotton wool along with the world. Since then, the myrrh-streaming and bleeding of the icon has not stopped and has been accompanied by fragrance.
To store this shrine, a precious ark was made, and a church was built in the village of Bachurino near Moscow. Today, the arrival of this icon is expected all over the world. She has already visited many dioceses of Russia and has been abroad many times - in Belarus, the Czech Republic, the USA, Australia, Ukraine, on Mount Athos, in Germany ... Many people who worshiped this image of the Queen of Heaven with love and reverence witnessed cases of healing, special spiritual joy from touching the shrine.
January 27-29, 2009 myrrh-streaming icon Holy Mother of God"Softener of Evil Hearts" was in the Cathedral 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, a new Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church was elected - His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.
The miraculous image of the myrrh-streaming and exuding drop of blood icon “Softener of Evil Hearts” really softens hardened, evil, indifferent and cold hearts. People seem to wake up from spiritual hibernation and rush to God in their hearts, glorifying our Queen of Heaven, the Most Holy Theotokos:
“Rejoice, much-sorrowful Mother of God, turning our sorrow into joy!”

Seven-shooter Mother of God - arrival

On December 8, 2011, the myrrh-streaming icon arrived on Italian soil, at the airport in Milan - Malpenso. To meet the shrine directly at the airport, the parishioners of the Orthodox Church of St. Ambrose of Milan in Milan arrived on several buses. The Italian Christian brothers perceived what was happening with exceptional disposition and lively participation.

The rector of the parish, Hieromonk Ambrose (Makar), and I, the author of these lines, hegumen Mitrofan, accompanied by carabinieri, were let through directly “to the gangway of the plane.” It was decided to open the wooden case-ark with the shrine, taken out of the plane by the keeper of the icon, Sergey, in order to solemnly bring the icon into the airport hall. However, when we opened the case, we were shocked – the kiot with the icon almost floated in the fragrant world.

Raising the icon case, Father Ambrose and I immediately found ourselves saturated with this world, abundantly flowing from the miraculous image. I looked at my palm - it was covered in blood. “There are no “former” officers,” the words of a movie hero from one of the recent films immediately came to mind. This means that my past 26 years of service in the Northern Fleet have not been written off from the Lord's accounts ...

In the meantime, something unforeseen began to happen at the icon - a kind of spiritual feast. The Italian carabinieri, seeing this miracle, rushed to apply to the image with both hands, almost "pouring" a fragrant liquid on themselves. Seeing what was happening, other employees of the airport services, customs officers, border guards, policemen came running, that is, everyone who was nearby at this exciting moment. It became clear that this Italian land is very pleasing to the Mother of God, these believing people with their unchanging and traditionally deep veneration of the Virgin Mary.

When we went out with the icon into a huge hall international airport, hundreds of our Orthodox people meeting the shrine, they sang the magnificence of the Blessed Virgin, and instantly found themselves in the grip of irresistible grace, literally covering everyone with waves of God's all-conquering love.

The tears were impossible to contain. Everyone sang and cried. And they stretched out their hands for the whole-bearing world, which was enough for everyone ... I again looked at my palms - now the world was crystal clear on them. So that short miracle concerned only me personally.

... We moved through the city, accompanied by carabinieri cars to the church of St.. Ambrose of Milan and wondered why there were such crowds of walking people in the city on a weekday. However, there are no accidents for the Lord, our icon arrived in Italy on one of the main Mother of God holidays in the Catholic world - December 8 Immaculate Conception Virgin Mary.

Back to main Orthodox church northern Italy was not to be approached - thousands of people with tears greeted the Queen of Heaven in the form of Her "Softener of Evil Hearts".

A prayer service began, an akathist, incessant singing by the whole world and anointing, tears and anointing ... The Mother of God did mercy to the human race, softening the withered hearts of people with her fragrant tears.

Thus began our seven-day spiritual marathon through the northern cities of Italy.

Spiritual Marathon

The schedule was like this. Every day late at night the icon returned to the Milan church, in order to leave early in the morning for the next cities of Italy, where they were waiting for it with undisguised jealousy, excitement and impatience. With an endless stream of more and more people arriving, coming, running to the icon from different parts of Italy. And with resentment, why so little, and with all sorts of tricks (rich treats, excursions to the shrines of the city, etc.) in order to delay the time of our departure and delay the moment of farewell to the precious image.

By nightfall, we again, barely alive, got to the St. Ambrose Church in Milan, where a crowd was already standing, hundreds of parishioners were waiting for us in order to start endless singing and praising the Queen of Heaven, just to stand next to this icon, touch it and absorb drops of grace peace. Here, in the temple, people prepared tea, brought food for everyone, but here on the floor, exhausted, they lay down to sleep a little, but did not leave the icon all night. But in the morning everyone had to go to work, and the work, frankly, is very hard.

Father Ambrose spent all those nights with the people in church, singing, praying, anointing with chrism, preaching, confessing, sometimes dozing on a little chair...

Probably, it was here that I first saw an echo of the life of those very early Christian communities, known to us from the Acts of the Apostles, when “The multitude of those who believed had one heart and one soul; and none of his possessions called his own, but they had everything in common.(Acts 4:32).

And in the morning there were new cities ahead, parishes, prayers ... Genoa, Turin, Padua, Parma, Piacenza, Brescia, Varese, Canetto, Lecca, Venice ...

Spiritual discoveries

During these days of the icon’s stay on Italian soil, the time for the conference “New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia during the times of persecution in the 20th century” “fell” (albeit an inappropriate word) was held. In five cities of northern Italy, at the initiative of the Catholic Church, these unique conferences were held, resulting in a very important and serious conversation about the fate of Christian Churches in an eschatological perspective, and about the acute demand for the spiritual experience of our contemporaries - the new Russian saints.

The conferences took place in the universities, monasteries and seminaries of the north of Italy and invariably received great attention from the participants and the media.

The organizer of the conference, Franciscan monk Professor Fiorenzo Emilio Reati, is known for his translations from Italian and into Italian of the works of the Holy Fathers of the ancient undivided Church. Father Fiorenzo is especially sympathetic to his very important book: “Orthodoxy. The view of a sympathetic Catholic." Now Professor Reati is preparing The Life for publication in Italy. His future plans include the translation of fifty selected lives of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia for Italian Christians.

From the Russian side, the conference was attended by Professor of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy, Doctor of Historical Sciences M. V. Shkarovsky and I, the author of these lines. He was invited, but due to the heavy workload, the professor could not come.

The indispensable condition of the organizers was the presence of our myrrh-streaming icon at the conference. The presence of the Queen of Heaven at such an important conversation about the spiritual heritage of the New Martyrs, about the need to enter into the precious experience of their suffering for Christ, raised the spiritual "degree" of our meetings, not allowing us to slide into the traditional search for the guilty and scourging the totalitarian regime. The Catholic Christians who came to the conference approached the icon with exceptional reverence, and touching it, many began to cry.

In addition to our reports on the New Martyrs of the Russian Orthodox Church, a study by Professor Reati on representatives who suffered for Christ in Russia was proposed. catholic church.

It must be said that by the beginning of the persecution, the number of believing Catholics in Russia was approaching five million. The study of the investigation files of the NKVD made it possible to select worthy examples of a clear confession of faith by Catholic Christians and their suffering for Christ to death. A number of victims have now been selected by the Catholic Church for the process of beatification (glorification).

It was surprising to hear obvious anxiety and even fear in the questions of the hall, in the comments to the reports in this outwardly calm and prosperous country of the West. Christians of the Catholic Church did not hide their deep inner anxiety about what is happening in the world: the growing godlessness, the atheism of the authorities, the liberal ideology of society, sometimes aggressively directed precisely against Christianity.

It must be admitted that Western Christians perceive with great attention and even trepidation the examples of our New Martyrs' staunch stand for the faith, their experience of opposing the ideological and repressive machine of theomachists.

In the reports and speeches of the conference participants, the idea clearly sounded that the Church of Christ of the 21st century already loudly tells the modern Christian that there is no other way than to partake in the suffering experience of the martyrs. The Lord gave us this experience of suffering for us to learn from. To shape and nurture your inner spiritual world a Christian in anticipation, in foresight, in preparing himself to suffer for Christ.

The Experience of the New Martyrs, Their Standing in the Faith and Ascension to the Cross of Martyrdom in the Conditions of the Order and Sovereign Structure So Rapidly Collapsed Orthodox country are precious and unique to us. For the wisdom of Christian knowledge teaches us to always remember "that the days are evil"(Eph. 5:16) and that "when they say, 'Peace and security,' then sudden destruction will come upon them, and they will not escape"(1 Thessalonians 5:3).

At the conference, we certainly touched on one special topic. It's open today amazing story the long-standing veneration by the Catholics of Italy of the icon "Softener of Evil Hearts", although until now they knew this image under the name "Madonna del Don" ("Madonna of the Don").

"Madonna del Don"

The essence of the story is this. During the Second World War, on the right bank of the Don, near the city of Pavlovsk, there were Italian mountain rifle units that fought on the side of Germany.

In the second half of December 1942, Ugo Balzare, a private of the Tridentina division of the Italian Alpine Corps, and other soldiers of the platoon of Lieutenant Giuseppe Perego, hiding from terrible bombardments in one of the chalk caves of an old Russian monastery, discovered the icon "Softener of Evil Hearts". This acquisition of the icon was preceded by a certain appearance of the Mother of God to Italian soldiers, the details of which we do not yet know. The found icon was handed over to the camp church, to the military priest-chaplain Father Policarpo from Valdanya.

Local residents told Father Polycarp that this icon was from the cave Resurrection Belogorsky Monastery near Pavlovsk, ruined and blown up by the Bolsheviks, and that Abbot Polycarp was the last rector of the monastery. Not knowing the name of the acquired image, the Italians called the icon "Madonna del Don" ("Don Madonna").

Soon everyone in the Alpine Corps learned about this holy find and began to come to the icon to pray for their salvation. Many then were firmly convinced that they survived those terrible battles only thanks to the help of the Mother of God - Madonna del Don.

After the Ostrogozhsk-Rossosh offensive Soviet troops in January 1943, despite the obvious threat of encirclement, the remnants of the Italian corps, led by the icon Madonna del Don, managed to safely leave Russia and return to Italy.

Many veterans of the Alpine Corps recalled the amazing mercy shown to them by Russian women who lived in the villages on their way to Italy. Most Italians were frostbitten and had no food. And if it were not for the kindness and help of the Russian population, they would all have died. Veterans still remember Russian word"potato", because it was the only food in the Russian villages of that time.

Chaplain Policarpo brought the Madonna of the Don to Italy, in Mestre (the mainland of Venice), where a chapel was built especially for her. Veterans, relatives and friends of both the participants in those events and all Italian soldiers who died in that terrible war still gather near this icon in the month of September.

We were able to verify the authenticity of this story by arriving in Venice with our miraculous image. Both our Orthodox parishioners and Italians, among whom there were many gray-haired old men, were present at the prayer service at these two amazing icons standing next to each other. It was a very important meeting. Important for softening our hearts, hardened by the terrible 20th century.

The icon "Madonna of the Don" from the Russian Belogorsk Monastery is now decorated with a rich silver setting, on which rosettes with scenes of those events of 1943 are minted. On both sides of the icon there are glass bowls in which the water of the Don and the earth from the Don are stored. And numerous inextinguishable lamps are burning.

At parting, all those gathered were anointed with the expired chrism. Until then, the Catholic Dominican monks who had been standing somewhat at a distance and watching what was happening from the side could not stand it and also came under the anointing.

spiritual experience

Each time, approaching a new city, a new temple, where crowds of people were waiting for the icon, we became witnesses of the icon's response to people's aspirations. As soon as we got out of the car and started moving towards people, the myrrh appeared on the entire surface of the icon case.

I must say that the kiot itself is never opened during trips - this is the condition of the keeper of the icon, dictated by concern for the preservation of the image. Let me remind you that a miraculous icon is just a paper image, extremely saturated with the world. And the cavity in the frame under the icon, where myrrh flows, is freed only in calm, domestic conditions. It is then that numerous bottles are filled with the purest fragrant liquid in anticipation of new temples and meetings.

But these restrictions, as we wrote earlier, do not matter for an amazing substance of unearthly origin. As we have seen, the laws of gravity, for example, have no power here - the myrrh flows just as easily up the icon case. It easily increases in quantity, and just as suddenly can disappear from the bottle. But the reasons for such a “non-blessing” will certainly soon become apparent. At the same time, a small glass vial of ointment (the size of a “perfume probe”) is easily enough to anoint many hundreds of those who wish, and still enough for all those who are late.

One can cite a great many different testimonies of grace-filled help from the Queen of Heaven these days, miraculous healings, phenomena, signs ... But the facts of the “accidental” entry into the temple of curious passers-by interested in what is happening are especially vivid in my memory. And that moment when an irresistible force of attraction picks them up, draws them to the icon, and now their eyes are full of tears, their hearts are filled with contrition ...

I remember a young, impudent-looking gypsy who went into the temple, either to beg, or to steal something. At this time, I had to go to the altar, and I did not catch the moment when he approached the icon. But soon his cries and sobs were heard. The gypsy stood, clutching the icon case and sobbing in his voice, repeating some words all the time.

The Moldovan parishioners translated, he shouted: “What is this!? What is happening to me!?” I must say that everyone who happened to be near this shrine, with one degree or another of emotionality, was ready to utter these words of amazement.

Difficult periods often arise in a person’s life, and there is simply not enough strength to cope with all the hardships and problems. In such situations, many turn to the Higher Forces for help. The prayer of the Mother of God “Softener of evil hearts” has tremendous power. It helps people cope with both physical and mental problems. It is customary to pronounce it before the icon, which has the same name.

The icon depicts the Mother of God, who holds seven swords in her hands, symbolizing the most important and deadly human sins. The swords are arranged like this: three on the right and on the left side, and one pointing down. There is also a very similar icon, which is called "Seven Arrows". It also depicts the Virgin with swords, but she has them arranged differently: three on one side and four on the other. The icon "Softener of Hearts" is a reflection of the intense suffering that the Mother of God experiences for her Son throughout her life. Therefore, seven swords were chosen, since this number symbolizes the fullness of something, in this case, suffering.

Prayer "Softener of evil hearts"

Prayers before this image help to admit their mistakes and atone for them.

What else does the prayer to the Mother of God "Softener of evil hearts" help with:

The main purpose of this image is to rid a person of bad thoughts and commit various crimes.
It allows her to protect herself and protect her house from the arrival of people with bad intentions. That is why it is recommended to have the icon "Softener of Evil Hearts" in your home.
The prayer for the icon "Softener of Evil Hearts" is also read in the case when conflicts and misunderstandings arise in relations with loved ones. Many people know that the Mother of God is the main protector of the family hearth. Prayer appeals to her help to return harmony, love and warmth to the family. It is worth noting that they help both in relations between spouses and in tandem parents-children.

In the Orthodox prayer book, you can also find the Mother of God "Softener of Evil Hearts", which has tremendous power. It can be read not only to praise the Mother of God, but also in difficult situations when you need help and support.

Prayer is not a simple set of words, and in order for it to reach the Higher powers, some pronunciation rules must be taken into account. First of all, this concerns sincerity, since the spoken words must come from the heart. Equally important is an unshakable faith in God and his powers.

It is best to pronounce the words in front of the icon, kneeling or sitting at the table. The necessary image can be found in any church shop. It is also recommended to light candles in front of the icon.
It is important that when communicating with Higher powers nothing distracted, and this applies not only to external stimuli, but also own thoughts. Attention should be focused exclusively on prayer.
It is best if there is a cross on the body during the pronunciation of the prayer, and women are also advised to wear a scarf on their heads.
You need to start by saying the prayer “Our Father” three times, do not forget after each time.
It is best to read prayers in the morning and it is worth doing it every day.

Remember that you should not expect help for requests that are associated with any benefit or self-interest. Do not ask and punish enemies or other people. Such appeals always go unanswered. It is important that a person repent of his sins and be cleansed of all the burden on his soul.

Events from the history of the icon

Exact origin icons "Softener of evil hearts" shrouded in obscurity - it is assumed that she came from somewhere in South-Western Russia, and there, perhaps, from the West, since the veneration of this image in Catholicism is known. Otherwise, this icon is called "Simeon's Prophecy", based on the text of the Gospel of Luke about the righteous Simeon the God-Receiver - an old man to whom it was revealed that he would not die until he saw the Infant Messiah. And when, on the fortieth day after the birth of Christ, they brought Him to the temple, Simeon also came there at the call of God. Taking the Son of God in his arms, he uttered the words that became known as the prayer of Simeon the God-Receiver and are heard at every evening service: “Now you release your servant, Master, according to your word in peace ...” After that, blessing the Holy Family - Mary the Mother of God and Joseph, the elder turned to Mary with the words that became "Simeon's prophecy." In it, he predicted strife between the followers of Christ and the Pharisees, the suffering of the Lord himself on the Cross, and that the soul of the Most Pure One would also be pierced by pain and suffering for her son and the entire human race in its entirety. The fullness of Her sorrows is symbolically indicated by the number seven (a sign of the fullness of something) - the number of arrows (or swords) depicted on the icon.

With the plot of this icon, which comes from the "Simeon's prophecy", another icon is often associated - the "Seven-shooter". The difference with the “Softening of Evil Hearts” lies in the composition of the icon: on the “Softening ...” icon, arrows are written three on the right and left and one on the bottom, and on the “Seven-shot” - three with right side and four on the left.

The icon "Seven Arrows" came from the Russian North, from the Vologda region. Its first location is the Church of St. John the Theologian on the banks of the Toshni River, which flows near Vologda, a tributary of the river, the name of which is also the city. According to legend, this icon is more than half a century old, but, in all likelihood, this is a later list from the original, since it was painted on canvas pasted on a board, which is typical of icon painting techniques that arose around the 18th century, and the original image has been lost.

The legend about finding the original image is as follows. A certain peasant, who lived in the Kadnikovsky district of the Vologda region, suffered for many years from an incurable lameness. Once he dozed off and through his slumber he heard a voice that told him to find the image of the Mother of God on the bell tower of that very St. John the Theologian Church. Three times the peasant asked to be allowed to go up to the bell tower, to pray before that image, since dilapidated icons were kept there, but they did not believe him, and only on the third time they were allowed to go up. And then, stumbling, he looked under his feet and on the staggering and then accidentally turned upside down step he saw the image of the Mother of God! It turned out that once in a blasphemous way, one of the steps of the stairs was made from the board on which the icon was painted. From year to year, priests and ringers climbed along it, stepping on the image of the Most Pure One, turned face down when embedded in the stairs.

The icon was dirty, covered with rubbish. The ministers of the church were horrified by such sacrilege, took the icon out of the stairs, cleaned it and placed it in the church with prayers. The peasant also prayed heartily before her and received healing of his illness.

If we continue the conversation about our modern acquisition of one of the lists of the icon "Softener of Evil Hearts", then we know the event that took place during the Great Patriotic War in the south of Voronezh, in Belogorye, which is so named for the white limestone rocks on the right bank of the Don, where, as it is known that the allied Italian troops of the fascist coalition fought. In December 1942, soldiers from a platoon of one of the mountain infantry units found the icon “Softener of Evil Hearts” in a house destroyed by a bomb, which was handed over to Chaplain 1 named Policarpo from Valdanya.

As the inhabitants of these places said, the icon previously belonged to the cave Resurrection Belogorsk Monastery near Pavlovsk, not far from Voronezh. The Italians called it "Madonna del Don" - "Madonna of the Don", but this icon has nothing to do with the image known as Our Lady of the Don. In January 1943, the Italian troops were defeated. Father Policarpo took this icon with him when he retreated to his homeland, where in Mestre - on the mainland of Venice - a chapel was built for it. For many years, relatives and friends of those killed in Russia during the Great Patriotic War Italian soldiers.

An icon of the same type is known in the southwest of the Kaluga province; it was located in the city of Zhizdra. According to the cathedral inventory, its title contains the words from “Simeon’s prophecy”: “And weapons will pass through your very soul,” and its celebration is also celebrated on August 13/26. Here is another spelling: unlike the icon “Softener of Evil Hearts” and “Seven Arrows”, on this icon the Mother of God supports the Infant lying at Her feet with one hand, with the other she covers her chest from seven swords aimed at Her.

What a miracle happened

Many years have passed since the miraculous acquisition of the icon, its version of the "Seven-shot" in the Vologda region, this event has been forgotten. However, in 1830, a cholera epidemic began in the Vologda province, which wiped out a huge number of residents. The shrine was then transferred to Vologda to the summer church of Dmitry Prilutsky on Navoloka. Orthodox Vologda residents surrounded the icon procession around the city, and the epidemic stopped as suddenly as it began.

In memory of the miraculous end of the terrible epidemic, the inhabitants of Vologda ordered new list from the miraculous icon, which was placed in the Dmitrievskaya church, and miracles of healing also began to occur from it.

A century later, in 1930, for obvious reasons, services in the church ceased. When they resumed in 2001, the miraculous icon was no longer there. Perhaps the time will come when this icon will again appear to the world, which should remember that our intolerance, our eternal search for a reason for petty and major discord is nothing more than a quarrel between brothers and sisters in front of the bright face of a common Mother, eternally praying for us Her Son. …

Miracles of the Icon of the Mother of God "Softener of Evil Hearts" in Our Time

Currently, there is a myrrh-streaming icon of the Mother of God "Seven-strelnaya" in the Church of the Archangel Michael at the clinics on the Maiden's Field (Moscow, metro station "Sportivnaya", "Frunzenskaya").

In June 2008, the image of the Mother of God "Softener of Evil Hearts" was brought for some time from Moscow to Ryazan. The face of the Most Pure, witnesses said, was covered with fragrant streams of the world. Earlier, in 2004, the miraculous icon was brought to the Tolga monastery, and there, while serving prayers, it exuded fragrant myrrh, the fragrance of which also spread throughout the temple.

During the stay of the icon in the Tolga convent, there were also miraculous phenomena. For example: a certain parishioner with tears of joy in her eyes told about the miraculous conversion to God of her beloved daughter. “My daughter,” she said, “had been attending the New Generation sect for several years. She got angry when I told her about the Tolga Monastery and the miraculous icon. Still, I persuaded her to visit Tolgsky convent. When she first visited the monastery, she remained indifferent, and did not pay attention to icons and shrines at all. By the grace of the Queen of Heaven, I managed to persuade her to go to the Tolga Monastery, when the icon of the Mother of God "Softener of Evil Hearts" was in it. The miraculous myrrh-streaming image had an amazing effect on my daughter. She seemed to slowly come to her senses and suddenly said: “Mom, but I’m not baptized.” After that, she was baptized and began to go to the Orthodox Church. I am very grateful to the Mother of God for this great miracle, as She returned to me the love and understanding of my daughter. I would like to donate the most precious thing I have - a gold wedding ring to decorate this marvelous miraculous icon. With these words, she ended her story and gave the icon's keepers her treasure, which now adorns the image of "Softener of Evil Hearts"" 2 .

“An amazing story happened to me with the icon of the Mother of God “Softener of Evil Hearts,” says Kristina Kondratieva, author of the Icons of the 21st Century project. - It was written by Yuri Kuznetsov for one woman at the request of her daughter. The icon was commissioned for a certain date, but it was painted earlier. Icons have their own deadlines... By chance, the icon was very quickly handed over to me in Moscow. Since my schedule is quite tight, I didn’t have time for two days or forgot to look at her. And on the third day I remembered. And the mood was at that moment worse than ever. It happens ... I open the package, I see the icon and ... Tears will flow! And with them came a splinter, which was so aching in the heart. And it became so light and light in my soul that at the same moment I decided that I really needed this icon too. The image is written as if the Mother of God says: "Why are you so? No need." And it seems that he does not ask for anything, does not reproach, but the heart itself seems to soften. And most importantly - anger, anger, resentment - everything passes. It remains only ... but in fact nothing remains, peace is one. Everything is said in this image. Look at him, and you will feel everything, and words will be superfluous. This is truly the “softening of evil hearts” ... "

The meaning of the icon

Whichever of the icons that go back to the "Simeon's Prophecy" in terms of events, we would not speak, the great significance of this icon lies in the fact that it is the call of the Mother of God herself to mercy. Having experienced a great measure of maternal suffering on her earthly path, the Most Pure One suffers even today. She adopted the human race, and this race cannot be reconciled within itself. Moreover, he seeks and finds more and more reasons for wars, strife, unfriendliness, intolerance, forms of confrontation, sometimes completely absurd. This touching and tragic image of the suffering Mother of all is sent to people in the hope that they, having seen with their own eyes how She suffers, having given Her innocent Son for Crucifixion, who ascended to execution in order to atone for the sins of mankind, they will stop and think.

What is actually happening? Mankind received atonement for sins through His Crucifixion, but did not stop cherishing their vices. And every offense, every action that is provoked by an evil feeling, an unkind thought, turns in the chest of our very first Intercessor before God those very arrows, 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. And if deeper, longer think about it before Her icon "Softener of evil hearts", then you can believe that these thoughts will be reborn into feelings that can soften the toughest souls.

_______________________________
1 Chaplain - a Catholic priest who accompanies troops on military campaigns
2 The example is taken from the website of the newspaper “ royal doors", No. 4, 2005; http://bogolub.narod.ru

Editorial response

On August 26, the Orthodox Church glorifies the icon of the Mother of God "Softener of Evil Hearts" in its version of the "Seven Arrows".

This icon is also called "Simeon's Prophecy". The Mother of God is depicted with seven swords piercing her heart. On the "Seven Arrows" icon, they are arranged as follows: four on the left and three on the right, and on the "Simeon's Prophecy" the seventh sword is drawn from below. Currently in Russian Orthodox Church It is customary to consider these icons as varieties of the same iconographic type and, accordingly, to combine the days of their celebration.

Icons of the Mother of God "Softener of evil hearts". "Seven Arrows" and "Simeon's Prophecy". Source: Public Domain

The number "seven" in Holy Scripture usually means the fullness, redundancy of something, and in this case - the fullness and boundlessness of the grief that Mother of God during earthly life, when she happened to see the torment Jesus on the cross. Sometimes the baby Christ is also written on the lap of the Blessed Virgin.

The image also has another, allegorical meaning: swords that injure Blessed Virgin are the seven deadly sins. It is about these sins, about the softening of hearts hardened in them, that one should pray before the Face of the Mother of God pierced by swords (arrows).

Why is the icon called "Simeon's prophecy"?

As the Gospel of Luke says, Righteous Elder Simeon the God-Receiver it was foretold that he would see the Savior. When the Virgin Mary and Joseph They brought the baby Jesus to the temple 40 days after his birth, where they were met by Simeon. The elder took the child in his arms (hence his nickname, the God-bearer) and uttered the famous words with which every vespers service has ended since then: “Now, release Thy servant, Master, according to Thy word, in peace...”

After that, Simeon turned to Mary with a prophecy: “Behold, this lies for the fall and the uprising of many in Israel and for the subject of controversy, and a weapon will pierce the soul of You, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.”

Thus, the elder predicted to the Mother of God that she would be destined to endure much grief and sorrow at the sight of the suffering of her son.

Such an interpretation of Simeon's prophecy became the subject of the "symbolic" icon of the Mother of God "Softener of Evil Hearts".

Where did the icon "Softener of Evil Hearts" come from?

There is no exact historical information about where the icon "Simeon's Prophecy" came from. It is believed that the image came from southwestern Russia more than 500 years ago.

The veneration of this image in Catholicism is known.

According to legend, a peasant from Vologda suffered from incurable lameness for many years. Once in a dream, he heard a voice that told him to find the image of the Mother of God on the bell tower of the Church of St. John the Theologian. Climbing the bell tower, he stumbled and saw under his feet on an inverted step the image of the Virgin.

It turned out that once in a blasphemous way, one of the steps of the stairs was made from the board on which the icon was painted. From year to year, priests and ringers climbed along it, stepping on the image of the Most Pure One, turned face down.

The ministers of the church cleaned the icon of dirt and placed it in the church with prayers. The peasant also prayed heartily before her and received healing of his illness.

The icon became especially famous in 1830 during the cholera raging in Vologda. This disaster instilled fear in the inhabitants and prompted them to seek help from the Most Holy Theotokos. miraculous icon"Softener of Evil Hearts" was surrounded by a procession around the city, after which the diseases began to noticeably subside, and soon the epidemic stopped.

How does the icon protect?

It is believed that prayer before the icon "Softening Evil Hearts" helps to improve dysfunctional relationships in the family, between relatives, loved ones, between spouses, as well as parents and children.

The icon protects from other people's intolerance and from our own anger and irritation. Also, before this image of the Virgin, you can ask for protection in case any hostility breaks out - in the family or in society. The icon is resorted to during the war with a request to the Mother of God to protect from attack.

When is the celebration of the icon?

The celebration of the icons "Simeon's Prophecy" and "Seven Arrows" takes place on August 13/26, as well as on February 2/15 (on the day of the Presentation of the Lord) and on the Week of All Saints - on the ninth Sunday after Easter, the first after the Holy Trinity.

In which temples is the icon located?

- Church of Michael the Archangel at the Clinics on the Maiden's Field - Moscow, st. Elansky, d. 2a.

- Temple of the Icon of the Mother of God "Softener of Evil Hearts" in the village. Bachurino - Moscow region, Leninsky district, Bachurino village.

- Temple in the name of the holy righteous Lazarus - Vologda, st. Burmaginykh, 50.

How to pray in front of an icon?

Before the icon "Softener of evil hearts" and "Seven-shot" prayers are read:

Troparion, tone 4

Soften our evil hearts, O Theotokos, 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 and kiss Your wounds, but our arrows, You torment, are horrified. Do not give us, Mother of Mercy, to perish in our hardness of heart and from the hardness of our neighbors, Thou art truly evil hearts Softening.

Prayer

O many-sided Mother of God, Exceeding all the daughters of the earth, according to Your purity and the multitude of sufferings You have transferred to the earth, accept our many painful sighs and save us under the shelter of Your mercy. Otherwise, for refuge and warm intercession, don’t you know, but, as if you have boldness to the One who is born of you, help and save us with your prayers, so that we unstoppably reach the Kingdom of Heaven, where with all the saints we will sing in the Trinity to the One God, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.

The icon "Softener of Evil Hearts" is one of the most revered in the Orthodox world. Her veneration is associated with a miraculous power that can heal bodily and spiritual ailments.

The famous icon has a second name - "Simeon's Prophecy" - and is similar to the "Seven Arrows". However, the last swords are written differently: three on the right and four on the left side of the heart of the Mother of God.

History of the icon

The image of the Virgin, according to some surviving data, came to us from Southwestern Russia. However, there is no exact historical data on this matter - only the guesses of scientists and icon painters, as well as popular rumor.

Where is the icon "Softener of evil hearts"

You can bow to the image in the church of Michael the Archangel, which is located in the city of Moscow, as well as in the city of Vologda, in the church of St. Lazarus. There is another image in the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God in the Moscow region, in the village of Bachurino.

Description of the icon

The icon depicts the Mother of God, whose heart is pierced by seven swords - 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, sorrow and pain that the Mother of God experienced during Her earthly life. Sometimes the Baby is depicted on the lap of the Blessed Virgin.

What does the icon help with?

Orthodox Christians pray before this icon of the Mother of God in the hope of improving relationships with others, between loved ones: children and relatives, spouses and parents. The icon is designed to protect everyone from someone else's manifestation of aggression, to soften the hearts of believers and give them the opportunity to atone for their sins. They also pray before the icon during periods of unfavorable conditions in the world, during illnesses, civil strife and wars.

Prayers before the icon of the Mother of God

“O most holy and grieving Mother of God, I appeal to you in my great grief. The servant of God (name) asks you, all-merciful protector of the human race! Do not reject my sincere prayers, protect me from human wrath, deliver me from persecution and turn your eyes on me, a sinner. Soften my heart, drive out of it the blackness that is not worthy of the true son of God, and guide me along the right path, freed from filth, and leading to God's kingdom. Amen".

“Soften, Mati, our evil hearts, extinguish the anger directed at us. Heal our ailments, and our loved ones, and those who hate us. As we forgive their sins, we do not take upon ourselves the sin for their repentance, so you pray for us sinners before the Lord Almighty. We are touched by your compassion and mercy, offer righteous prayers, but do not forget about your true destiny, which the human race protects. Amen".

honor days

The celebration of the icon takes place on February 15, and the main day of veneration is the first Sunday after Trinity. On this day, a divine service is performed, and every Orthodox can pray for himself and his loved ones, asking the Mother of God for protection and patronage.

Each icon has its own meaning, and each one can be worshiped in need and despair. We wish you true happiness, love, and do not forget to press the buttons and