The Mother of God Softener of evil hearts | Large XLG Silver and Gold foiled icon on wood | Size: 15 7/8" x 13 1/8"

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.