Commenting on Luke 2:35, Theophylact, Archbishop of Ohrid offered an interpretation of the "sword" that parallels that of Origen:
Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own
soul also, O Virgin. In one respect, sword means
the anguish that was to result from the Lord's Passion; in another respect,
the sword may be the doubt and temptation that the Virgin
would experience, seeing the Lord crucified on the Cross. For she may have
thought, "He was born seedlessly, He worked miracles, He raised the dead -
how can He now be crucified, spat upon and killed?" That the
thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. . This means that the
thoughts of many who fell into doubt would be uncovered and revealed, and
having been rebuked, they would quickly find healing. The same will happen to
you, O Virgin: your doubt concerning Christ will be uncovered and revealed, and
then your faith in Him will be confirmed. In like manner, Peter's denial also
was revealed, followed by the power of God who brought back Peter by repentance.
(Explanation of the Gospel of Luke [Chrysostom Press, 2007], 36) (source)
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