Icon of Virgin Mary Seven Arrows

Icon of Virgin Mary Seven Arrows is a hand-painted Orthodox icon of the Mother of God with one of the most direct and moving meanings in Orthodox devotion. The Theotokos is shown without the Christ Child. Her hands are folded in prayer, her head is inclined in sorrow, and seven symbolic swords pierce her heart. The image speaks of maternal grief, repentance, mercy, and the prayer that hardened hearts may be softened.

This version is painted in the traditional Mstyora manner, with a deep green background, a shining gold halo, and rich gold floral ornament on the borders. This painted and gilded icon keeps the spiritual drama of the face, the folded hands, the seven swords, and the green field at the center of the image.

Icon of Virgin Mary Seven Arrows – Meaning

The icon is rooted in the Gospel prophecy of the righteous elder Simeon at the Meeting of the Lord. When the infant Christ was brought into the Temple, Simeon foretold to the Mother of God: ?and a sword will pierce through your own soul also? (Luke 2:35). Orthodox tradition sees this prophecy fulfilled in the suffering of the Theotokos at the Passion and Crucifixion of her Son.

The swords on the icon are therefore not physical weapons, but visible signs of invisible sorrow. They point to the fullness of the Mother of God’s grief and to her loving participation in the saving Passion of Christ. At the same time, the image speaks to every person who prays before it: anger, envy, slander, cruelty, and pride also wound the human heart and grieve the Mother of God.

History of the Seven Arrows Icon

The history of the Seven Arrows icon is traditionally connected with northern Russia, near Vologda. According to the old account, an icon of the Mother of God had been forgotten in the bell tower of the Church of Saint John the Theologian on the Toshna River. It had been used as part of a stairway, with the holy image facing downward, because no one recognized what it was.

A peasant from the Kadnikov district, who suffered from a severe illness and painful lameness, received a revelation in a dream telling him to find the icon and pray before it. At first he was not believed, and he was allowed into the bell tower only after repeated requests. When the board was turned over and cleaned, the image of the Mother of God pierced by arrows was revealed. After prayer before the icon, the sick man was healed.

The icon became widely known in 1830, during a cholera epidemic in Vologda. The faithful carried the Seven Arrows icon in procession around the city, and the epidemic was believed to have ceased through the prayers of the Mother of God. For this reason, the icon came to be loved as an image of protection, reconciliation, and deliverance from danger.

Seven Swords and Their Arrangement

In this icon, seven swords pierce the heart of the Mother of God. The number seven signifies fullness and completeness. The swords symbolize the fullness of her maternal sorrow, especially at Golgotha, where she saw the sufferings and death of her innocent Son.

The classic Seven Arrows icon has an asymmetrical arrangement: four swords are placed on one side and three on the other. This distinguishes it visually from the related icon called Softener of Evil Hearts or Simeon’s Prophecy, where the swords are usually placed three on each side and one from below. The two icons are very close in meaning and prayerful use.

The Mother of God is shown alone, without the Christ Child. Her folded hands and quiet, sorrowful face express obedience to the will of God and intercession for the human race. The icon is not a picture of despair. It is a call to repentance, forgiveness, and peace.

Green Background, Gold Halo, and Mstyora Ornament

A distinctive feature of this hand-painted icon is its deep green background. In Orthodox color symbolism, green is connected with life, renewal, spiritual spring, and the life-giving work of the Holy Spirit. The green field gives hope to an image of sorrow, reminding the faithful that suffering is not separated from the Resurrection.

The halo of the Mother of God is gilded with 23K gold leaf (960 purity), and the wide borders are richly decorated with gold floral ornament. The ornament emphasizes the royal dignity and ever-virgin purity of the Theotokos while preserving the strict and prayerful character of the image.

The face and garments are painted with careful tonal transitions in the Mstyora tradition. The result is a solemn Orthodox icon that is both emotionally direct and visually noble, suitable for a home prayer corner, a family shrine, or a meaningful Orthodox gift.

Prayer Before the Seven Arrows Icon

The Seven Arrows icon is especially associated with prayer for the softening of hardened hearts. People pray before it for reconciliation between enemies, healing of family conflicts, peace between spouses, and the restoration of love where anger and pride have entered.

The icon is also traditionally connected with protection of the home from envy, slander, hatred, and ill will. By pious custom, it is often placed above the entrance or opposite the door, though it may also be kept in the family icon corner with other icons of Christ, the Mother of God, and the saints.

Just as importantly, the icon is a help in the struggle with one’s own passions. Before the Mother of God, a person may ask for deliverance from resentment, irritability, anger, pride, and the inability to forgive. The image quietly teaches that the first heart to be softened may be our own.

Materials and Technique

This icon is made on a seasoned linden board. Linen cloth is applied to the front surface, then covered with layers of natural chalk gesso and polished smooth for painting. The board is strengthened with oak braces to help protect it from warping.

The painting is made with mineral egg tempera. Natural pigments are ground into fine powder and mixed with an egg-based emulsion, giving the colors depth and durability. The gold halo and floral border ornament are made with 23K gold leaf (960 purity), giving the icon a warm sacred radiance.

Size and Ordering

Available size: 27×31 cm (10.6×12.2 in). Larger formats, including 30×40 cm and iconostasis sizes, may be discussed individually before the icon is made. Free international shipping is included, with payment due upon delivery.

Icon Characteristics

Name	Icon of Virgin Mary Seven Arrows
Icon type	Seven Arrows Mother of God
Composition	The Mother of God without the Christ Child, hands folded in prayer, heart pierced by seven swords
Distinctive details	Deep green background, gold halo, gold floral ornament on the borders
Board	Linden wood, linen cloth, natural gesso, oak braces
Painting	Mineral egg tempera
Gold	23K gold leaf (960 purity) for the halo and border ornament
Available size	27×31 cm (10.6×12.2 in); larger sizes by agreement
Main prayer themes	Softening of hardened hearts, reconciliation, family peace, protection from envy and slander, help in forgiving

Questions and Answers

What does the Seven Arrows icon mean?

The Seven Arrows icon shows the sorrow of the Mother of God and recalls Simeon’s prophecy that a sword would pierce her soul. It also reminds the faithful that human sin and hatred wound the heart.

Why are there seven swords on the icon?

The number seven signifies fullness. The swords represent the fullness of the Mother of God’s suffering at the Passion of Christ and are also understood as the sins and passions that wound the human soul.

How are the swords arranged on the Seven Arrows icon?

In the classic Seven Arrows type, the swords are arranged asymmetrically: four on one side and three on the other.

How is Seven Arrows different from Softener of Evil Hearts?

The meaning is very close, but the arrangement differs. Seven Arrows has four swords on one side and three on the other, while Softener of Evil Hearts usually has three on each side and one from below.

Why is the Mother of God shown without the Christ Child?

The absence of the Christ Child focuses attention on the personal sorrow and prayer of the Mother of God, who stands in obedience to God’s will and intercedes for humanity.

What does the green background symbolize?

In Orthodox color symbolism, green is associated with life, renewal, spiritual spring, and the life-giving work of the Holy Spirit. It balances the sorrow of the image with hope.

What do people pray for before this icon?

People pray for the softening of hardened hearts, reconciliation in families, peace between enemies, protection from envy and slander, and help in overcoming anger and resentment.

Where is this icon often placed in a home?

By pious tradition, the Seven Arrows icon is often placed near the entrance or opposite the door, as a prayerful sign of protection and peace. It may also be placed in the family icon corner.

What materials are used for this icon?

The icon is painted on a linden board prepared with linen cloth and natural gesso. The painting is made with mineral egg tempera, and the halo and border ornament use 23K gold leaf.

Can this icon be given as a gift?

Yes. It is a meaningful Orthodox gift for a family, for a new home, for people seeking reconciliation, or for anyone who needs prayerful support in conflict and hardship.