Icon of two hearts. Miraculous power of the Mother of God icons. The text of the prayer "Softening hearts"

Among the numerous icons, one of the most necessary in every home is the icon "Softening evil hearts". By praying before this image, you protect yourself from your own anger and irritability, which are not the best. human qualities. In addition, in a prayer before the icon, they ask for a family truce or for there to be no enmity between neighbors, as well as for peace between entire states. In our culture, the image of the Mother of God, whose chest is pierced by arrows, is one of the most emotional and expressive in icon painting. It gives an opportunity to feel mercy and compassion.

Origin of the icon

The icon "Softener of Evil Hearts" is completely shrouded in mystery, so its exact origin is still unknown. According to one assumption, she came from the South-Western part of Russia, and according to another - from the West, since this image is also revered in Catholicism. In addition to this name, the image has another - "Simeon's prophecy." According to the story of the Evangelist Luke, the revered elder Simeon the God-Receiver was visited by the Holy Spirit, who predicted that he would not be able to leave this world until he saw the Messiah. When Jesus was brought to the temple on his fortieth birthday, Simeon hurried there. Taking the Baby in his arms, he uttered the words that we now know as the prayer that sounds at every vespers. It is in these words that he indicates that the soul of the Most Pure One will be pierced by suffering and pain, the fullness of which is symbolized by the number seven.

image meaning

This one shows one. She is pierced by seven swords, symbolizing the fullness of heart disease and sorrow experienced by the Blessed Virgin Mary on earth. These seven swords convey the prophecy of Simeon, since this number in Holy Scripture characterizes the fullness of something. There is also another icon that has a similar meaning - "Seven-shooter". Many do not recognize the differences between these images, but they are, albeit minor. So, on the icon described in the article, three swords pierce the Virgin Mary on the right, three on the left, and one on the bottom. As for the icon "Seven-strelnaya", it depicts mother of god, which is pierced by three swords on the left, and four on the right. In prayer practice, no distinction is made between these icons, since they have the same iconographic type.

The icon "Softener of Evil Hearts" has another interpretation regarding the seven swords, according to which they convey the fullness of the sorrow of the Mother of God, but not because of the torment of the Son crucified on the cross, but because of our sins. symbolizes the number of the main sinful passions of a person, reflected by pain in her chest. But She is ready to ask her Son for everyone who asks for Her holy intercession.

Honored lists icons

The miraculous icon "Softener of Evil Hearts" is located in the temple of the same name, which rises in the small village of Bachurino in the Moscow region. Until recently, this image was the private property of the Moscow Vorobyov family. In 1998, the Vorobyovs took their icon to the Intercession Convent, as they wanted to attach it to the relics of the Blessed Eldress. Immediately after this, the icon began to stream myrrh. Pilgrims began to come to this family from all over. They could not receive such a number of people at home, so the icon "Softener of Evil Hearts" was given to the temple. A similar image is in the one-shift church in the village of Kamenka. There is also a myrrh-streaming list of this icon in Venice.

Since the birth of iconography, the great creators of artistic and graphic art have managed to depict the main characters in different ways. holy bible. However, the artistic image of the icon "Softener of Evil Hearts" has a special graphic design, the details of which have an eye-catching originality.

In contrast to the traditional image of the Mother of God with a child, which is widely known to the Russian Orthodox community, on the sacred canvas Tenderness of Evil Hearts, the mother of Jesus Christ, revered by all, is depicted along with sharp daggers piercing her body.

History of the icon

At present, little is known about the origin of the shrine, and many scientists put forward a variety of points of view on this matter. Among them there is one very common, according to which myrrh-streaming icon"Softener of Evil Hearts" was created by foreign Catholic believers, who subsequently decided to voluntarily transfer it to the ancient Russian state.

Giving says that once, one serf had a chance to go through very difficult times, accompanying his life with a manifestation of incessant pain. And one night, while in a deep dream, the old man heard a strange voice, which ceaselessly came from different sides of the room. He spoke about the ancient church of St. John the Evangelist and its bell tower. It was there that the icon of the Virgin "Softener of Evil Hearts" was located, which could help the peasant eliminate an unpleasant and terrorizing ailment. However, her canvas had to be found among the numerous shrines that were kept from prying eyes in a specially designated place. Finding the icon of Softening right inside the bell tower, the peasant prayed and was immediately healed.

Many Orthodox believers, in order to honor the memory and pray before the icon of the Mother of God "Softener of Evil Hearts", go to Moscow on Sundays. Since a beautiful temple of Michael the Archangel was erected on the territory of the capital, where this icon is now located. Other exact lists of her can be found by visiting the Church of St. Lazarus, located in Volgograd or in the Moscow region inside the Church of the Mother of God.

Characteristics of the image

The painted daggers digging into the flesh of the Virgin clearly symbolize the manifestation of topical, immoral and illegal acts that some people are accustomed to constantly commit, based on their own selfish goals. And all these sinful deeds, committed from time to time by different representatives of society, injure the innocent Virgin Mary, who continues to suffer from this more and more.

At the same time, the exact number of these weapons presented on the canvas Holy Mother of God"Softening of Evil Hearts" is a reflection of the most terrible deadly sins that continue to be committed at the present time. These include the following acts:

• anger and aggression;
• envy;
• gluttony (gluttony);
• treason;
• sadness or despondency;
• greed;
• pride.

The only way to save a living human soul from its unholy crime is repentance before the Lord God. It is to him that the sacred image of the Mother of God, which is depicted on the myrrh-streaming icon of the Softener of Evil Hearts, calls.

Orthodox believers need to remember that such biblical compositions as “Softener of Evil Hearts” and “Seven-shooter” differ from each other in the location of daggers in the image. In the first version, they can be seen digging into the heart of the Mother of God from three sides, including the bottom. And at the shrine of the Semistrelnaya, daggers are distributed only on the sides.

What helps the icon of the Mother of God "Softener of evil hearts"

Since ancient times, the icon of the Mother of God "Softener of Evil Hearts" has been extremely important for all religiously believing citizens. It helps people improve relationships between each other and prevent the most adverse consequences between spouses, children and loved ones.

This shrine is especially revered on the day of its annual celebration, which is usually celebrated on August 26, as well as on the Week of All Saints.

Prayer to the icon "Softener of evil hearts"

The text of the prayer for the icon "Pacification of Evil Hearts" is as follows:

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 till the end of time.

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 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 pray, O Gracious One, for 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 will 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!

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 Seven-shot Mother of God also helps to ease 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-shot” icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, therefore both of them are united by the name “Seven-shot”. 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 also endowed with symbolic meaning. Holy Scripture 7 is a sign of completeness, an excess of something. In the case of an icon, this is the fullness of grief and heartache that befell 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. Horrified 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”?

Reading strong prayer in front of the image of the Most Holy Mother of God “Softening of Evil Hearts”, it is possible to achieve an improvement in 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 other people'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.

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, uttered 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 for the uprising of many in Israel and for the subject of controversy, - and to you The weapon itself will pierce the soul - may the thoughts of many hearts be revealed.

"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 celebrated by her August 13 old style.

According to legend, the "Seven-shooter" is more than 500 years old, however, the peculiarities of 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 an 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 on the bell tower of the Theological Church, where the dilapidated icons were kept, the image of the Most Holy Theotokos 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 European Russia, including the Vologda province, suffered a terrible cholera epidemic, the inhabitants of Vologda surrounded the "Seven-shot" 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 a weapon 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 a 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 often happens on Sundays , one woman was noticed, 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 peace of mind.

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 a 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 Far East. 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 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.

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 many painful sighs and save us under the shelter of Your mercy, otherwise, refuge and warm intercession, unless we know You, but, as you have boldness to the One who was born from You, help and save us with Your prayers, may we reach the Kingdom of Heaven without stumble, 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 adversity 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.

Celebration on the Week of All Saints (on the first Sunday after Trinity)

If you are offended at work or at home, if you are tired of being attacked by your boss or colleagues, pray to this image for those who cause you trouble, and they will retreat. You will be surprised how conflicts will subside by themselves and good relations will improve.

Nadezhda Dmitrieva

From the book "Rejoices in You!"

“Softening of evil hearts” ... There is so much hope in one name of this icon - the hope that truth will someday triumph on earth, that people will become kind and merciful, will begin to love each other. And how difficult it is in our hardened world, and sometimes only the sight of someone else's suffering can soften our own evil heart...

This icon is also called "Simeon's Prophecy". As Evangelist Luke tells, it was foretold by the Holy Spirit to the righteous elder Simeon the God-Receiver that he would not die until he saw the Messiah. And when Joseph and Mary, on the fortieth day after the birth of the Child, brought Him to the Jerusalem Temple, Simeon came there "by inspiration" and took the Child in his arms (hence the nickname of the God-Receiver) and uttered the famous words with which every vespers service has ended since then. and which are known as the Prayer of St. Simeon the God-Receiver: “Now you release your servant, Master, according to your word, in peace ...”

After that, he blessed Saint Joseph and the Most Pure Mother and turned to Mary with the same Simeon's prophecy: hearts."

Just as Christ is pierced with nails and a spear, so the soul of the Most Pure One will be struck by the “weapon” of sadness and heartache when She sees the suffering of the Son; after that, the hitherto hidden thoughts (about the Messiah) of people will be revealed, who will have to make a choice: they are with Christ or against Him. This interpretation of Simeon's prophecy became the subject of several "symbolic" icons of the Virgin. All those who resort to them with prayer feel that when the heart is softened, mental and bodily suffering is relieved, and they realize that when they pray before these images for their enemies, their hostile feelings are softened, giving way to mercy, internecine strife and enmity subside.

Origin of the icon

The image “Softener of Evil Hearts” apparently comes from Southwestern Russia, but, unfortunately, historical information about it has not been preserved; it is not even known where and when the icon appeared. The icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "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, sorrow 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 celebration of this image takes place on the Sunday of All Saints (on the first Sunday after Trinity).

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

Miracles

"Seven-strelnaya" - of Northern Russian origin: she stayed in the St. John the Theologian Church on the banks of the Toshnia River, which flows into the river of the same name not far from Vologda. A peasant from Kadnikovsky Uyezd suffered from lameness for many years, and no one could help him. But one day, in a thin dream, a certain voice ordered him to find on the bell tower of the Theological Church, where the dilapidated icons were kept, the image of the Most Pure One and pray before him for healing. The peasant several times asked to be let into the bell tower, but they did not believe his words. Only on the third time was he allowed to rise. It turned out that the icon, covered with rubbish and dirt, served as a step on the stairs, and the ringers walked along it, as if on a simple board. Horrified by the involuntary blasphemy, the clergy washed the icon and served a prayer service in front of it, after which the peasant was healed.

Many more years passed, generations changed, people began to forget about this miracle, but in 1830 the Vologda province, like most of European Russia, suffered a terrible cholera epidemic. During it, the shrines from Toshnia were transferred to Vologda and placed in the "cold" (summer) church of Dmitry Prilutsky on Navoloka. Then the Christ-loving inhabitants of Vologda turned to the "Seven-strelnaya" and, together with other shrines, surrounded it with a solemn procession around the city. The cholera receded as suddenly as it came.

In memory of the miraculous deliverance of Vologda from cholera, the townspeople ordered and placed in the Dmitrievskaya church a list with the "Seven-shooter", from which miracles also began to occur over time. Divine service here ceased in 1930, resumed on July 13, 2001, but there was no shrine left in the temple.

During the Great Patriotic War in the south of the Voronezh region, in the area known as Belogorye, there were Italian mountain rifle units that fought on the side of the Nazis. In the second half of December 1942, soldiers from the platoon of Lieutenant Giuseppe Perego found the icon "Softener of Evil Hearts" in the house destroyed by bombing, which they handed over to their military priest - chaplain, Father Policarpo from Valdaña. According to local residents, this icon came from the cave Resurrection Belogorsk Monastery near Pavlovsk. The Italians called her “Madonna del Don” (“Don Madonna”; this image should not be confused with Our Lady of the Don). After the Ostrogozh-Rossosh Offensive Soviet troops in January 1943, the remnants of the defeated Italian corps left our country. Chaplain Policarpo took the Madonna of the Don with him to Italy, where in Mestre (the mainland of Venice) a chapel was built especially for her, which still remains a place of mass pilgrimage for relatives and friends of Italian soldiers who died in Russia.

Finally, another miraculous icon of the same type was located in the cathedral of the city of Zhizdra in the south-west of the Kaluga province, near the Bryansk lands, and was known as “Passionate” or “And weapons will pass through your very soul,” as indicated in the cathedral inventory. She was also celebrated on August 13 - on the same day as the "Seven-shot" and with a much more common "Passion" icon of a completely different type (the original miraculous image was in the Moscow Passion Monastery; on it, near the face of the Hodegetria, two Angels with instruments of passions were depicted Lord's - with a cross, a sponge and a copy). Unlike such passionate ones, on the Zhizdra icon the Most Pure One is written in a prayer position; With one hand She supports the Infant lying at Her feet, while with the other she covers Her breast from seven swords directed at her.

Troparion, tone 5

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 till the end of time. Amen.