Orthodox Icon Virgin Mary of Sorrows

Orthodox Icon Virgin Mary of Sorrows

The Orthodox Icon of Virgin Mary of Sorrows is lovingly crafted in natural poplar wood. Its technique is lithography, while the wood is carved with a wavy outline that gives a modern touch to the icon.

Its embossed representation makes it a unique piece which requires high craftsmanship to be made. Its special design manages to combine traditional and modern elements, making it the most loved icon design in the customers preferences!

It is manufactured in Greece by experienced craftsmen and is produced in 4 dimensions in order to cover every need. Finally, it is worth noting that it has been specially treated and varnished to have maximum resistance to time and damage.

━━━━━━━━━▼━━━━━━━━━

Virgin Mary of Sorrows

In this icon the Virgin appears with her heart pierced by seven swords, four swords on the left and three on the right. The image is related to the prophecy of St. Simeon the Theodochus recorded by the evangelist Luke: "...and her soul is pierced by a sword..." (Luk. 2.35). Here it refers to the pain that the Virgin would feel against at the moment of separation from her beloved Son, when they crucified Him before her eyes. It is called "the Virgin of seven sorrows" or "the image that softens evil hearts".

But what are these seven sorrows of the Virgin Mary that tear her heart like daggers? The following:

1. Simeon's ominous prescient prophecy to the Virgin (Luke 2, 35)
And your own maternal heart will be pierced by the dagger of pain, when you see your son suffering for the salvation of people. All this will be done in order to reveal the secret meditations and secret desires of many hearts.
2. The hurried flight into Egypt at night (Matthew 2, 13 - 21)
And when they departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said to him: "get up immediately without delay and take the child and his mother and go to Egypt and stay there until I tell you again because Herod he will seek the child, to kill him."
3. The anxious search of the twelve-year-old Jesus for three days (Luke 2, 42 - 50)
And when the child was twelve years old, they went up with him to Jerusalem, according to the custom established by the law for the feast.
When the days of their stay there did not end, as they were returning to Nazareth, the child Jesus remained in Jerusalem and Joseph and his mother did not perceive him.
Because they did not think that he was in the company of pilgrims, they advanced a day's journey between relatives and acquaintances.
When they found him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for him on the way, in case he was among the pilgrims who were coming.
And when they returned to Jerusalem, they found him after three days sitting in the courtyard of the temple, in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them about great and high matters, unusual for his childhood.
And everyone who heard him admired his unique intelligence and answers.
And when Joseph and Mary saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, "My son, what is it that you have done to us and stayed behind?" Behold, your father and I have been looking for you with pain and great concern."
4. The separation of the Virgin from Jesus during his mission
According to the evangelists, the Mother of God meets Jesus, before his trial and crucifixion, explicitly only once, in Cana of Galilee (John 2, 1 - 10).
5. The ascent to Calvary (Luke 23, 27)
He was followed by a great multitude of people and women, who pressed their breasts and heads and mourned for him.

6. The Crucifixion (John 19, 25).
The soldiers did that. And his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene were standing near the cross of Jesus.
7. The burial of Jesus

The icon is also known as "The Prophecy of Simeon the Righteous" or "The Calm of Evil Souls".

Orthodox Church celebrates her memory on August 15

© The texts were edited exclusively for the website www.ekivotos.com and are legally protected. Any reproduction of them for commercial purposes is considered unfair competition and is criminally prosecuted.

Orthodox Icon Virgin Mary of Sorrows