The Image of Our Lord Jesus Christ Not Made by Hands

Life

In those times when our Lord was preaching the Gospel and healing every sickness and every infirmity among men, there lived in the city of Edessa, on the bank of the river Euphrates, a certain prince named Abgar, who was entirely leprous. He heard of Christ, the Healer of every affliction and disease, and sent a certain painter named Ananias to Palestine with a letter to Christ, in which Abgar besought the Lord to come to Edessa and heal him of leprosy. In case the Lord could not come, the prince ordered Ananias to paint His likeness and bring it, believing that that image would restore his health. The Lord replied that He could not come, since the time of His Passion was drawing near. He took a cloth, wiped His face, and on the cloth His most pure countenance was perfectly imprinted. The Lord gave this cloth to Ananias with a message that the prince would be healed by it, though not entirely, for which reason He would later send him an envoy who would wipe away the remainder of his disease. Having received the cloth, Prince Abgar kissed it, and the leprosy fell from his whole body, though a little of it remained on his face. Later the Apostle Thaddeus, while preaching the Gospel, came to Abgar, healed him secretly and baptized him. Then the prince smashed the idols which stood before the gates of the city, and over the gates he placed that cloth with the image of Christ, glued to a board, framed in gold, and adorned with pearls. The prince also inscribed beneath the icon on the gate: "Christ God, no one shall be put to shame who hopes in Thee." Later, one of Abgar's great-grandsons restored idolatry. And the bishop of that city came by night and walled up that icon above the gate. Centuries passed from that time. In the time of Emperor Justinian, the Persian king Chosroes attacked Edessa, and the city was in great distress. It happened then that the Bishop of Edessa, Eulabius, had a vision of the Most Holy Theotokos, who revealed to him the secret of the walled-up and forgotten icon. The icon was found, and by its power the Persian army was defeated.

From the Hymn of Praise

O gracious God, who dost reveal mysteries,Wondrous mysteries, never before imagined,Thou didst once declare beside a lakeThat many pagan peoples