Description A unique handicraft by a monk from Mount Athos. The icon of the Saint is created with gold-colored sand from the shores of the Athonite State. **The Virgin Mary of Seven Swords: The Story of the Icon** In this unique depiction, the Virgin Mary is shown with her heart pierced by seven swords. In the most common iconographic type, four swords are placed to her left and three to her right. While the Catholics have adopted the veneration of the “Heart of the Mother of God,” many mistakenly believe that the Virgin Mary of Seven Swords is of Catholic origin. In reality, the icon is associated with the prophecy of Saint Simeon the God-Receiver, as recorded by the evangelist Luke: *”and a sword will pierce your own soul too…”* (Luke 2:35). This passage refers to the pain the Virgin Mary would feel at the moment of separation from her beloved Son, as He was led to His crucifixion before her eyes. The Virgin Mary of Seven Swords is also known as “The Prophecy of Righteous Simeon.” She is commemorated by the Church on August 13th. As the icon is handmade and the wood is processed by hand, there may be slight variations in the wood. The icon is available upon request. Origin: Mount Athos Dimensions: 17 x 14
