Seven Arrows Virgin Mary Icon

Seven Arrows Virgin Mary Icon is a hand-painted Orthodox icon of the Mother of God in the canonical Seven Arrows type. The Theotokos is shown alone, without the Christ Child, with seven swords piercing her heart as a sign of Simeon’s prophecy and the fullness of her maternal sorrow.

This version is written in a strict canonical manner rather than an academic realistic style. The face is restrained and prayerful, the maforion is enriched with gold assist, and the background and halo are covered with 960 gold leaf.

Available sizes: 17×21 cm (6.7×8.3 in), 20×24 cm (7.9×9.4 in), 27×31 cm (10.6×12.2 in), and 30×40 cm (11.8×15.7 in). The icon is painted in natural egg tempera on a linden board with kovcheg, linen, chalk gesso, and oak splines.

The Spiritual Meaning of the Seven Arrows Icon

The Seven Arrows icon occupies a deeply personal place among icons of the Mother of God. It does not show external action or narrative movement. Instead, it presents the inner suffering of the Theotokos with great spiritual concentration.

The Mother of God bears the sorrow of seeing the Passion and Crucifixion of her Son. Yet the icon also speaks about her compassion for fallen humanity. Every sin, every hatred, every cruelty of the human heart wounds her motherly love.

For this reason, Orthodox Christians turn to this image during conflict, resentment, anger, envy, and family division, asking the Mother of God to soften hearts and restore peace.

Simeon’s Prophecy

The icon is rooted in the Gospel event of the Meeting of the Lord. When the forty-day-old Christ Child was brought to the Jerusalem Temple, the righteous elder Simeon took Him in his arms and spoke prophetically.

He told the Mother of God that her Son would be a sign spoken against, and that a sword would pierce her own soul also, so that the thoughts of many hearts would be revealed.

The seven swords or arrows in this icon make that prophecy visible. They do not represent physical injury, but the complete spiritual sorrow that passed through the heart of the Theotokos.

The number seven in Scripture often expresses fullness. Here it points to the fullness of her grief and to the many wounds caused by human sin.

The Seven Sins and the Wounded Heart

In Orthodox interpretation, the seven arrows may also be understood as signs of the principal passions that wound the human soul: pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, anger, and despondency.

The Mother of God grieves not only because of the historical suffering of Christ, but also because of our continuing falls. Her sorrow is not accusation alone; it is the sorrow of a mother who longs for the healing of her children.

This makes the icon a strong image for repentance. When asking for the softening of someone else’s heart, the faithful also ask for the healing of their own anger and resentment.

Canonical Icon Painting

This icon is painted in the canonical, Byzantine-rooted style. It does not seek emotional realism in the same way as academic painting.

The face of the Mother of God is calm and restrained. Her sorrow is expressed through the dark base tone of the face, the large contemplative eyes, the strict lines, and the silence of the composition.

There are no dramatic tears or distorted expressions. The grief is spiritual, elevated, and prayerfully contained.

This restraint is one of the strengths of canonical iconography. It invites the viewer not only to feel emotion, but to enter prayer.

Arrangement of the Swords

In the classic Seven Arrows icon, the swords are arranged asymmetrically: four are directed from one side and three from the other.

This detail distinguishes the Seven Arrows icon from the closely related Softener of Evil Hearts, where the swords are commonly arranged symmetrically, with three on each side and one from below.

The two icons are very close in prayerful meaning, and both are used in prayers for reconciliation, peace, and protection from malice.

Prayer for Peace and Reconciliation

The Seven Arrows icon is especially loved as an icon for the reconciliation of enemies. People pray before it during quarrels between spouses, conflicts between parents and children, divisions among relatives, and hostility between neighbors or coworkers.

The Mother of God is asked to calm anger, return patience, restore understanding, and bring quiet joy back into the home.

The icon is also a prayer against envy, slander, unfair treatment, and hostility from people who wish harm.

Protection of the Home

There is a pious custom of placing the Seven Arrows icon near or opposite the entrance to the home. This custom expresses a prayer that the home be protected from evil intentions, envy, theft, and destructive conflict.

The icon is not a charm. It is a sacred image before which the family prays that the Mother of God will guard the household and that all who enter will be called to peace.

It can also be placed in the family icon corner together with icons of Christ, the Mother of God, and the saints.

Gold Assist and the Maforion

The maforion of the Mother of God is painted in a deep crimson tone and enriched with gold assist. Assist is fine gold line work placed over the garment.

In icon painting, these thin gold rays symbolize the presence of divine, uncreated light. They show that the Theotokos is filled with grace and belongs to the heavenly realm.

The three stars on her forehead and shoulders are the traditional signs of her ever-virginity: before, during, and after the Nativity of Christ.

Kovcheg, Gold, and Egg Tempera

The icon is painted on a linden board with a kovcheg, the recessed central space of the board. The raised margins frame the holy image and create the sense of a window into the spiritual world.

The background and halo are covered with 960 gold leaf, polished to a warm and deep shine. Gold in an icon signifies divine light and the heavenly world, not earthly luxury.

The painting is done with natural egg tempera. Mineral pigments are ground and mixed with egg medium, creating colors that are durable, matte, and spiritually restrained.

Available Sizes

Available sizes are 17×21 cm (6.7×8.3 in), 20×24 cm (7.9×9.4 in), 27×31 cm (10.6×12.2 in), and 30×40 cm (11.8×15.7 in).

The smaller sizes are suitable for a home icon corner or a personal prayer space. The 27×31 cm (10.6×12.2 in) format gives the image stronger presence, while 30×40 cm (11.8×15.7 in) is appropriate for a larger room, chapel, or church setting.

Icon Characteristics

Care and Preservation

Do not wipe the icon with wet cloths or use chemical cleaning products. Gold leaf and egg tempera should be protected from moisture, heat, direct sunlight, and sudden humidity changes.

Dust may be removed only with a very soft dry brush. A glazed wooden kiot is recommended for long-term preservation.

Ordering, Shipping, and Payment

Available sizes are 17×21 cm (6.7×8.3 in), 20×24 cm (7.9×9.4 in), 27×31 cm (10.6×12.2 in), and 30×40 cm (11.8×15.7 in). Free international shipping is included, with payment after delivery.

Questions and Answers

What does the Seven Arrows Virgin Mary Icon mean?

It shows the Mother of God pierced by seven swords, symbolizing Simeon’s prophecy, the fullness of her sorrow, and the wounds caused by human sin.

How is this icon different from the Softener of Evil Hearts?

Their prayerful meaning is close, but the Seven Arrows icon has the swords arranged asymmetrically: four on one side and three on the other.

Why is the Mother of God shown without Christ?

The icon focuses completely on her inner spiritual sorrow and motherly compassion as she suffers with Christ and grieves over human sin.

What is canonical icon painting?

Canonical icon painting uses symbolic forms, reverse perspective, restrained expression, and spiritual color rather than naturalistic emotion.

What is gold assist on the maforion?

Assist is fine gold line work on the garment, symbolizing divine light shining through the sanctified person.

What sizes are available?

Available sizes are 17×21 cm (6.7×8.3 in), 20×24 cm (7.9×9.4 in), 27×31 cm (10.6×12.2 in), and 30×40 cm (11.8×15.7 in).

What do people pray for before this icon?

They pray for reconciliation, softening of angry hearts, protection from ill will, peace in the family, and deliverance from anger and resentment.

What materials are used?

The icon is painted in natural egg tempera on a linden board with kovcheg, linen, chalk gesso, oak splines, 960 gold leaf, and gold assist.

Where can this icon be placed?

It may be placed in the family icon corner or, by pious custom, near the entrance as a prayer for protection of the home.

How are shipping and payment arranged?

Free international shipping is included, with payment after delivery.