The softening of evil hearts or the Simeon prophecy is the icon of the Virgin , which symbolically depicts the prophecy of St. Simeon the God-Receiver , uttered by him in the temple in Jerusalem on the day of the Presentation of the Lord :
| Icon of the Virgin "Softening Evil Hearts" | |
|---|---|
 Mother of God "Softening Evil Hearts" (fragment of the icon "Unexpected joy with 120 miraculous icons of the Mother of God", first half of the 19th century) | |
| Honored Lists | Church of the Archangel Michael at clinics on Maiden Field |
| Celebration date | February 2 (15) and the Week of All Saints |
- There are icons with a similar plot: the seven-shot icon of the Mother of God and the Passionate icon “And the weapon will pass to your soul”
 | And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, His Mother: Behold, This is lying on the fall and on the rebellion of many in Israel and in the subject of bickering, - and Your very weapon will pass through the soul - may the thoughts of many hearts be revealed. ( Luke 2: 34-35 ) |  |
On this icon, the Mother of God is depicted standing on a cloud with seven swords stuck in the heart : three on the right and on the left and one below. There are also half-length images of the Virgin. The number seven indicates the fullness of grief, sadness and heartache experienced by the Virgin in her earthly life. Sometimes the image is replenished with the image on the lap of the Mother of God of the deceased God-child.
The celebration of the icon takes place on February 15 ( February 2 according to the Julian calendar ), as well as on the week of All Saints (the first Sunday after the day of Pentecost ).
Gymnography
Prayer before the Icon of the Mother of God "Softening of Evil Hearts":
O Long-suffering Mother of God, Exceeding all the daughters of the earth in her purity and in the multitude of suffering that thee have brought to the earth! Take our much-pained sigh and save us under the shelter of Thy mercy. Inago more shelter and warmth of intercession, except for you, we do not have, but like possessing boldness to those of you who were born, help and save us with our prayers, let us reach the Kingdom of Heaven without rest, and with all the saints we will sing in the Trinity of the One God, always, now and forever and ever. Amen.
Before the icon they pray for healing from cholera, limp and relaxation, for pacifying the warring and for softening evil hearts, with enmity or persecution.
Literature
- Talberg N.D. Spacious month of the words of the Saints in the Russian Land shone. What needs should be worshiped what icons. - Reprint reproduction of the publication. - SPb. : Vera, 1997 .-- S. 578.