''"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."''<refgroup="note">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 crucifictioncrucifixion. <ref group="note">In the [[Roman Catholic Church]], the [[w:Our Lady of Sorrows|Seven Sorrows]] of the [[Virgin Mary]] consist of:# The prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:25-35)# The flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15)# Loss of the Child Jesus for three days (Luke 2:41-50)# Mary meets Jesus on his way to Calvary (Luke 23:27-31; John 19:17)# Crucifixion and Death of Jesus (John 19:25-30)# The body of Jesus being taken from the Cross (Psalm 130; Luke 23:50-54; John 19:31-37)# The burial of Jesus (Isaiah 53:8; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42; Mark 15:40-47)</ref> 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. <refgroup="note">On the [[Seven Swords]] icon there are three swords on the right and four on the left. This icon is commemorated [[August 13]] with in the Old Calendar. </ref> The “Softener of Evil Hearts” icon is commemorated on the [[Sunday of All Saints]]<ref>http://www.antiochian.org/node/18648</ref>, although other references commemorate it [[February 2]] / [[ February 15]].

This icon appears to have its origins in the southwestern Russia, however, no supporting documentation exists for its origins and where it first appeared. This is one of the few Orthodox icons of the Theotokos which do not depict the infant Jesus.

<small><referencesgroup="note" /> ==References==<references/small>