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The '''Softener of Evil Hearts''' [[icon]] is also called the '''Prophecy of Simon''' (or ''Simons Prophecy'')since St Symeon said to Mary, upon the presentation of Our Lord in the temple: ''"Behold, this child is set for the falling and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sin which shall be spoken against. Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."''<ref>Just as Christ would be pierced with nails and a spear, so the soul of Mary would be pierced by a certain weapon of sorrow and pain in the heart, when she saw her Son's suffering. After that, the heretofore hidden thoughts of the people regarding the Messiah would be revealed, and they would face a choice: to be with Christ, or against Him. Such an interpretation of Symeon's prophecy became the subject of a number of icons of the Theotokos. All those who turn to them in prayer sense that with the softening of evil hearts comes an easing of spiritual and physical suffering. People come to recognize that when they pray for their enemies before such icons, their feelings of enmity are softened, and that internecine strife and hatreds abate, giving way to kindness.</ref> The [[Theotokos]] is depicted in this icon with her heart pierced by seven swords; a symbolic number possibly indicating the the fullness and boundless sorrow, pain and "sickness of heart" that would have been experienced by the Mother of God at His crucifiction. Three of the swords enter her heart from the left, three swords enter from the right and one sword from underneath. This icon is very similar to the [[Seven Swords]] icon and they differ only in the arrangement of the swords. <ref>On the [[Seven Swords]] icon there are three swords on the right and four on the left. This icon is commemorated [[August 13]] with the Old Calendar. </ref> This icon is commemorated [[February 2]] / [[ February 15]].
== Prophecy of Simon ==
Finally, there is another miraculous icon of the same type in the cathedral in the town of Zhizdra, near Bryansk, in southwestern Kaluga Province. It was known as the "Strastnaya" (i.e., Passion) Icon or, as it was described in the Cathedral inventory, the "And a sword shall pierce through thy soul also" Icon. It is also commemorated on August 13, the same day as the "Seven Swords" Icon and the far better known "Passion" Icon, which is of an entirely different appearance (the original miracle-working icon is in the Monastery of the Passion in Moscow. On it, near the "Hodigitria" image are two Angels and the implements of the Lord's Passionthe Cross, the sponge, and the spear. Unlike in other "Passion" icons, in the Zhizdra Icon the Immaculate One is depicted in an attitude of prayer. With one hand she supports the Infant lying at her feet; with the other hand she guards her breast against the seven swords pointed toward it.
==See also==
* [[Seven Swords icon]]
* [[Mother of God Joy of All Who Sorrow]]
* [[Assuage My Sorrows]]
==Notes==
[[Category:Icons of the Theotokos]]
[[Category:Theotokonymia]]
[[Category:About Icons]]
