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Church of the Seven Arrows Icon of the Mother of God in Alefriko

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The Church of the Mother of God of the Seven Arrows began construction in 2004 and opened to parishioners in June 2011. It is also known as the Church of the Softening of Hard Hearts. This is the first Russian church in Cyprus, built at the initiative of the Russian Boxing Federation and private benefactors. There is a story that in the family of one of the athletes, it was long difficult to have a child, but in Cyprus, this miracle happened, and in honor of this, the church was erected.

The church's frescoes were created by Palekh painters specially invited to Cyprus, while the iconostasis was painted in Russia. The bells for the church were cast in Greece. The icon of the Mother of God of the Seven Arrows, after which the church is named, depicts the Most Holy Theotokos pierced by seven arrows: four from the left side and three from the right. These arrows symbolize the fullness of sorrow that She experienced in earthly life. The number seven, a symbol of spiritual perfection, comes from the Hebrew word "savax," meaning "to be filled or satisfied, to have abundance," and symbolizes the fullness of something.

The icon is located to the left of the royal doors. People pray to her for the pacification of warring parties, for the softening of hardened hearts, and for the gift of patience. According to tradition, the miraculous image was painted over 600 years ago and conveys the Gospel narrative of the meeting of the righteous Simeon the God-receiver with the Mother of God and the Infant Christ.

The church is served by one clergyman, Father Sergey. Services are conducted in Russian according to the calendar of the Cypriot Orthodox Church, but some services are repeated according to the old style: Christmas, Epiphany, Annunciation, Transfiguration, Dormition, and the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul.

Geo point

Храм Семистрельной иконы Божией Матери в Алефрико

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