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Dec 29th, 2019
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Joined: Nov 2003
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Alex, +The LORD bless you always! Many thanks for your response! My Icon of the Mother of God of Sorrows has three swords on each side piercing downward from the shoulder area into the chest of the Theotokos and one sword at the bottom of the icon piercing upward into the chest area. It is most beautiful and resembles St. Seraphim's favorite icon of the Theotokos?
In His great love for us all,
+Father Archimandrite Gregory
+Father Archimandrite Gregory, who asks for your holy prayers!
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Joined: Nov 2001
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Bless, Father Archimandrite!
Yes, then you have the Icon "Softener of evil hearts" (same feast day).
While the East does not depict the heart in iconography, this is as close as it gets to focusing on the heart (another icon is that of the Sign).
St Seraphim's icon of Tender Feeling does indeed show the Mother of God looking down into her heart - and this icon aided St Seraphim in praying the prayer of the heart.
I have a religious medal from Sarov showing the icon on one side and St Seraphim on the other - and the Elder is praying with his lestovka and looking down into the middle of his chest . . .
Alex
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+May the LORD bless you always! I have the exact same medal here by my computer, a gift from the nuns at St. Euphrasynia's Monastery in Polotsk, BELARUS.
Now everytime I venerate this Icon of the Mother of God Softener of Evil Hearts, I will remember you in my poor prayers---and ask that she help us both to keep our hearts soft and pure like hers!
In His Holy Name,
+Father Archimandrite Gregory, who asks for your holy prayers!
+Father Archimandrite Gregory, who asks for your holy prayers!
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Joined: Nov 2001
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Bless, Father Archimandrite! Thank you - and I shall pray for you! My medal is also by the computer! I first read about that medal in the life of a physician who visited Sarov and performed the Rule of 150 Our Fathers and Hail Marys while walking around Diveyevo Monastery. The nuns there still perform this rule in procession daily - and more solemnly on eight feast days in the year. And I hope not to offend the Administrator in future again . . .  Perhaps this happens because I take such joy in humbly apologising afterwards! Alex
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Originally posted by Orthodox Catholic:
There are two variants of this icon: The Icon of the Seven Arrows or Swords and the Icon "Softener of evil hearts."
The former has three arrows on one side and four on the other of the Mother of God. The latter has three on either side and one below. And this relates to Simeon's Prophecy. Both of these are available on eBay.
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Dear Tammy,
I think these icons are the Eastern equivalent of the Western Immaculate Heart of Mary, pierced with a sword.
In fact, during the Kyivan Baroque period, the rosary of the five or seven Sorrows of the Virgin Mary was popular even among Orthodox!
There is an online site in Russian that lists all sorts of translated Western devotions popular among the Orthodox in the 17th and 18th centuries, including, among other things, the "15 Prayers of St Brigitte."
Believe it or not . . .
Alex
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