VIRGIN OF SEVEN SWORDS - VR OF SORROWS - MONASTIRIAKA
Theotokos
of the SEVEN SWORDS - Семистрельная
— Semistrel’naya, “Seven Arrows.” - Virgen
de los Dolores, the “Virgin of the Sorrows,” - Nuestra
Señora de los Dolores — “Our Lady of the Sorrows”
This
icon depicts the mournful Virgin Mary with her hands raised in a prayerful
position while seven “arrows” or “swords” pierce her heart. Four arrows from
her right side and three from her left side.
“Yes, a sword shall pierce through your own
soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
The
Seven Swords symbolize the Seven Sorrows of Mary:
1- The
Prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2: 25-35).
2- 2-The
Flight into Egypt (Matthew 2: 13-15).
3- 3-The
Child Jesus Lost in the Temple (Luke 2: 41-50).
4- 4-Mary
meets Jesus carrying the cross (Luke 23: 27-29).
5- 5-Mary
at the foot of the cross (John 19: 25-30).
6- 6-Mary
receives the body of Jesus (Psalm 130).
7- 7-Mary witnesses the burial of
Jesus (Luke 23: 50-56).
While
there are several versions of the origins of this miraculous icon, it was a
very popular icon in the 1800s in Russia. The history of the icon
describes how the icon was processed around the city Vologda in 1830 the plague
was stopped. The icon
probably was influenced by the Catholic devotion to and representation of the
same subject – the sorrows of the Virgin Mary.
The number seven to the Russian
Christian represents “fullness” and “completeness” like the seven days of the
week and the seven Holy Mysteries (Sacraments). The Virgin pieced
with the seven “arrows” or “swords” represents the fullness of
suffering. By this they look on Mary as taking on their sorrows as
well. It is is a Russian tradition to hang this icon above
the front door to ward off evil and absorb any sorrows coming to the house. In
modern Russia the Virgin of Sorrows is invoked to help in disputes involving
law suits and quarrels.
A very similar icon to this,
Virgin Softener of Evil Hearts has a different positioning of the swords.
Icon Measures 10 1/4 inch x 7 3/4 inch
Including Wooden Parts 8 3/4 inch wide
Including Hanger Part from top to bottom 14 inch tall
