Mount Athos weathered lithography (icon) of Virgin Mary of Seven Swords in pine wood with carved decoration.

According to Russian Orthodox tradition, this rare representation of the Virgin Mary symbolizes the fulfillment of the prophecy of the Righteous Elder Symeon. It depicts the Mother of our Christ with the seven swords, which symbolize sorrows, with three swords on each shoulder and one sword piercing her heart from below. In the Bible, the number seven usually indicates fullness and abundance. Here are seven swords to indicate the fullness of the infinite sorrows, the pain of the heart that the Virgin Mary felt during her earthly life.

The Virgin Mary was so sad when she saw her only son go through the Divine Passions and endure the death on the cross so that all our problems seem small and insignificant compared to her sufferings. That is why the Virgin Mary is always ready to help us in our daily problems and comfort us in our sorrows.

The Holy Icon is honored on the 2nd of February and the Sunday of All Saints.