The Image of the Savior Not Made by Hands - the first icon of Jesus Christ in history
Sacred Tradition tells us the story of this first icon, which was created by Christ Himself. Read about the history of the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands - one of the most important in Christianity.
The image of the “Savior Not Made by Hands” is the first icon of Jesus Christ in the history of mankind
When praying in front of icons, people rarely think about where the icons came from, when and by whom the tradition of icon veneration was established. Prayer before an image is so familiar to us that it seems eternal. Meanwhile, in the Gospel Christ never spoke about icons. But the Holy Tradition tells us the story of the first icon that Christ created - it was not made by human hands, but has a miraculous origin, which is why it is called the Savior Not Made by Hands (the word Savior is an abbreviation for “Savior”, the title of Christ as having saved all people from the slavery of sin) . This image for a long time preserved by humanity, it has a long history and deep theological significance.
The icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands is one of the most important in Christianity. In the article you will learn how the first icon was made, what miracles were created from it, what its significance is for the art of icon painting, and what is the difference between the versions of the “Savior Not Made by Hands” “on the ubrus” (Mandylion) and “on the skull” (Keramidion).
The history of the creation and veneration of the Savior Not Made by Hands
In the Gospel and the Apostolic Epistles there is absolutely no description of the appearance of Christ. Nevertheless, all icons of the Lord show us the same image of the God-Man (even the icons of the Mother of God in Her image are more different from each other). This is explained precisely by the miraculous creation of Christ’s own icon. The history of this amazing event was recorded by the Roman historian Eusebius from Palestine, a Christian, as well as by the Monk Ephraim the Syrian, a holy ascetic of the Syrian Desert. The document is real historical source, thanks to the descriptions of Eusebius, many everyday details of the life of the Roman Empire of that period have reached us.
Eusebius wrote that during the life of Christ, the fame of Him and His miracles even spread to other countries. The ruler of the city of Edessa (now located in Turkey) named Abgar sent a servant and a skilled artist to Christ. Avgar was an elderly man and suffered seriously from disease in the joints of his legs. He asked to pray for him and heal his illness, and in order to see Christ himself (due to illness he could not do this, and there were no images of the Lord yet) - he instructed the artist to sketch Christ from life. It was common practice in the Roman Empire to create portraits and sculpt busts from life. Art at the time of Christ’s earthly life was sufficiently developed to depict using chiaroscuro: many believe that the schematic features of icon painting were a consequence of the creators’ insufficient understanding of painting images, but this is not so; Icon painting has its own drawing language, which consists of reverse perspective techniques and symbolism.
When the king's envoys conveyed to Christ a request for healing, the Lord promised that one of His apostles would visit Edessa and enlighten its people with the light of New Testament teaching. At this time, the king’s artist tried and could not sketch Christ. Then the Lord Himself took a towel (handkerchief, “ubrus” in Church Slavonic) and wiped his face with it - the Face of the Lord was imprinted on the handkerchief. That is why this image is called Not Made by Hands: human hands could not depict Him with the help of paints, but the grace of the Lord, His own energy and strength created the image. This image was probably similar to the Shroud of Turin, where the Face of Jesus Christ is visible, as in the photograph.
Thus, even during the life of the Savior, the first icon appeared. The royal ambassadors delivered a wonderful image on fabric to Edessa. The Miraculous Image-Mandylion (in Greek - on fabric) began to be revered as a great shrine by the king. And when, after the Ascension of Christ, the holy Apostle Thaddeus visited the city, according to another historian, Procopius of Caesarea, he healed King Abgar, preached Christianity and performed many miracles. Then the image of the Savior Not Made by Hands became a city shrine that protected the Edessians, and was placed above the city gates as the banner of Edessa. Over the course of several centuries, many miracles were performed through prayers before him, and the chronicler Evagrius of Antioch recorded evidence of the miraculous deliverance of Edessa from the siege of enemies thanks to him.
Alas, one of Abgar’s descendants became a pagan and iconoclast. To protect the revered image from destruction, the Christians of Edessa buried the icon with stones in the wall. The image was hidden for so long that the generation of Christians who survived persecution no longer remembered the location of the shrine. Only during a new war, in the 6th century, after the townspeople prayed for salvation, the bishop of the city saw in a dream the place where the image was hidden. When the stonework was removed, it turned out that the Face of Christ was also imprinted on the stones (“on the skull”, in Church Slavonic). The small lamp, installed in previous centuries, also continued to burn miraculously.
Both images became objects of worship. The icon imprinted on the stones was called Keramidion and placed in an icon case, and the Mandalion was transferred to the altar of the city cathedral, from where it was taken out for worship by believers only twice a year.
At the end of the 11th century, the Byzantine army besieged the city and demanded to surrender to the rule of the emperor. In exchange for peace, the Constantinople people offered to give them a wonderful Miraculous image- Mandalion. The residents of Edessa agreed, and the icon was transferred to Constantinople. And this day - August 29 according to the new style - is now church holiday. This is the Third, Bread or Nut Spas, the day of remembrance of the transfer from Edessa to Constantinople of the Image of Christ Not Made by Hands. On this day in Rus', the harvest of grain was completed and nuts were ripened, for the collection of which the peasants took a blessing. After the Liturgy they consecrated homebaked bread and pies baked from new harvest flour.
In 1011, an artist of the Western Church made a copy on fabric from the Image Not Made by Hands. It was transferred to Rome under the name "vero eikon" - the true image and became known with the name "Plate of Veronica". Miracles also occurred from this list, and it provided the basis for the extensive iconography of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Catholic Church.
Unfortunately, the miraculous Mandylion has not survived to this day. During the Crusade of 1204, he was captured by the Crusaders and, according to legend, drowned along with the captors' ship.
The Mandylion was never brought to Rus', but there were lists glorified by miracles. The oldest Russian icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands belongs to XII century and was presumably written in Novgorod. There is no image of the fabric on it, so the image is attributed to Keramidion (this type of iconography of the Image Not Made by Hands is called “The Savior on the Skull”). According to art historians, this icon is close to the miraculous Edessa image. Perhaps his list was brought to Rus' in the first centuries after its Baptism by Prince Vladimir. The image was a revered shrine of the Moscow Kremlin, and now resides in the Tretyakov Gallery.
Features of the iconography of the Savior Not Made by Hands
The description of the icon created by Christ for King Abgar and preserved by the people of Edessa has come to us from historical evidence. It is known that ubrus - fabric with the imprint of the Face - was stretched on a wooden frame, just as today artists make canvas on a stretcher.
The icon is an image of only the Face of Christ with hair surrounding Him, without a neck - indeed, as if a person had washed himself and dried himself with a towel up to his chin.
Perhaps this is the only icon that specifically focuses attention on the Face of Christ, especially His eyes. The symmetry of the image of the Savior’s Face also creates recognition and a special impression of the icon. The eyes of Christ in the image often look to the side, indicating God’s providence for man. The slanted gaze makes the facial expression spiritual, filled with understanding of the Mystery of the Universe. Art critics evaluate the Novgorod list of the Savior Not Made by Hands as an embodiment perfect beauty V Ancient Rus' and antiquity, they find in it the proportions of the golden section and the ideal of symmetry - such an image indicates the Perfection of the Lord and what He created.
The expression of the Savior’s Face plays a big role in creating an impression and a prayerful mood when looking at an icon: fleeting emotions are absent on Him, the Face reflects only spiritual peace, purity, and sinlessness.
The Novgorod list is a rarity: more often the Mandalion or “Savior on the ubrus” is depicted on icons of the Savior Not Made by Hands. The face of Christ is revealed in a golden radiance against a background of white fabric (sometimes its purpose as a towel is even emphasized by stripes along the edges) with various folds, knots at the top and even Angels holding the ends of the fabric. Less often, the Face is depicted against the background of brickwork itself or simply against a golden background.
The meaning of the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands for the traditions of icon painting and theology
The miraculous appearance of the image of the Savior Not Made by Hands in the 6th century became a great impetus for icon painting. He appeared precisely during the period of iconoclasm (at this time Christians were even killed for venerating icons, and the icons themselves were mercilessly destroyed - that is why so few images have reached us from the first centuries of Christianity), when the memory of the establishment of the tradition of generation of icons by Christ Himself became the most important argument in disputes with heretics. An icon is a window into the spiritual world, an image of the Prototype (Christ, the Mother of God, the saints), through which we give honor and turn to Himself. That is why it is not entirely correct to say “Prayer to the Icon” or “Kazan Mother of God”: they pray in front of the icon, and the icons of the Mother of God are called, for example: Kazan Icon Mother of God.
In the first centuries, the icon, in addition to theological, also served as a “Bible for the illiterate” - not everyone could purchase the book; for many centuries they were very expensive. However, to this day, many images are illustrations of events from the life of the Lord, His saints or the Mother of God.
The miraculously remaining imprint of the Face of Christ on the fabric recalls the Divine beginning of icon painting. The image of the Savior’s Face edifies everyone Orthodox Christian: You need to have a personal relationship with God. Prayer, even in our own words, Communion with God in the Sacraments of the Orthodox Church, changing our lives according to the teachings of Christ - this is what brings us to the Kingdom of Heaven already on earth. No ceremonies and rituals, special words of prayers and spells help. To live with Christ in the Kingdom of Heaven, we need to get to know Him here, in our lives. The gaze of the Savior Not Made by Hands calls us to follow Him, to imitate the Lord in wisdom, kindness, self-sacrifice - this is the meaning of Christian life.
It is interesting that the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands, as the first Christian icon and as the most important expression of the teachings of Christ, is obligatory for student icon painters. In many schools this is the first independent work students.
What do people pray for to the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands?
The life of the Son of God on Earth and the mystery of the Incarnation are described in detail in the Gospel and interpreted in many books of the Fathers of the Church. The Lord gave himself as a sacrifice for human sins and defeated death itself, returning the entire human race to paradise in His Resurrection. That is why, despite the importance of our prayers to the saints - our holy helpers - and the Mother of God, turning to God Himself is necessary daily prayer. Let us remind you that the Church blesses the daily reading of the morning and evening prayers, turning to the Lord and the Heavenly Powers.
They pray to the Lord in all their needs:
- About recovery from illnesses;
- About God's mercy in the needs of you and your loved ones;
- About the health of yourself, your family and children;
- About help in business, well-being;
- About the right choice, making the right life decisions;
- About deliverance from sins and vices.
Conduct a prayerful dialogue with God, measure your actions with the example of Christ, more often - imagine what God Himself would say, seeing your deeds and hearing your thoughts - after all, He is Omniscient. Do not despair at any mistakes, rush to the temple for Confession and unite with God (with proper preparation, which is better to read about in Orthodox literature) in the Sacrament of Communion. Under no circumstances should icons be used in spells, divination, or rituals. Communication should only be with God and His saints, His Angels - psychics, “traditional healers” and sorcerers communicate only with evil spirits, No one can command angels.
Thank God for His help in your life: He responded to your requests, expressed and unspoken - remember the many happy incidents in life. The Lord really controls our lives for the better, showing our capabilities, leading to gratitude to God for everything. And humility in the face of difficulties, turning to God with prayer and without anger at this time is the key to our salvation and education of the soul, personal growth. We must strive for a life pleasing to God, attend church, pray during divine services, help people, forgive the sins and mistakes of our neighbors, and behave calmly in conflicts.
The Lord is the great Power and great love, you just need to believe - which means trusting Him with your life and your soul. Christ, being the Almighty, voluntarily, in order to erase the past and future sins of mankind from the history of the universe, went to humiliation, torture and terrible suffering on the Cross. The teaching of the Lord Jesus is a call to repentance, to the love of all people for each other, compassion and pity even for terrible sinners.
You can pray to the Lord Jesus Christ in front of the image of the Savior Not Made by Hands both in your own words and in church prayers. It is worth reading more often before this image the Lord’s Prayer, recorded in the Gospel from the words of Christ Himself - “Our Father.” You can read it in the morning and before bed, before meals and before starting any task.
You can pray to Jesus Christ in front of the icon “Savior Not Made by Hands” in Russian online using the text below:
Our good Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God! Are you in ancient times, during Your earthly life, Your flesh, Your face was washed with holy water and wiped with rubble, Your Face was miraculously depicted on this towel, You blessed to send it to the King of Edessa Abgar to heal his illness.
So now we, Thy sinful servants, suffering from mental and physical illnesses, seek Your Face, Lord, and with the psalmist King David we pray with a humble soul: do not turn away from us, but take away Your anger from Your servants, be our Strong Helper, do not reject us and don't leave us alone. O All-Merciful Lord, our Savior! Dwell Your grace in our souls, so that living on earth in holiness and truth, we may become true sons and Your daughters, and the heirs of Your Kingdom, where You, all the mercies of our God who gives us, together with the Beginning Father and the Holy Spirit, we will not cease to glorify forever.
God! I am Your vessel: fill me with the gifts of Your Holy Spirit! Without Your help I am empty and without grace, often full of all kinds of sin. God! I am Your ship: fill me with a load of good deeds. God! I am Your ark: instead of passions, fill me with love for You and for Your image - my neighbor. Amen
May the Good and Merciful Lord protect you!
The Savior Not Made by Hands is an icon that appeared during the earthly life of Jesus Christ. The image of the Savior Not Made by Hands depicts only the face of Christ, the meaning and symbolism of the icon focuses on main goal Christian - establishing a personal relationship with God. This is an image that speaks specifically about the personality, and not about the activity of Christ. Unlike narrative icons, here Christ is in direct contact, “face to face.”
Why Not Made by Hands or the History of the Image
The image appeared on a towel (plate) with which Jesus Christ wiped his face, seeing that Ananias (Canaan), sent from Edessa, was going to paint His portrait. Ananias was sent by the ruler Abgar V Uchama, who was sick with leprosy, asking Jesus for healing. Ananias was also instructed to paint a portrait of Christ and bring it to Abgar if Jesus could not come.
Important! The Icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands has no author: its appearance is one of the most important miracles that occurred during the earthly life of Jesus Christ.
Finding Jesus in the crowd listening to His sermon, Ananias stood on a stone and prepared to write. Christ, who saw this, washed himself with water and wiped his face with a cloth on which His face was imprinted.
Miraculous Image (Ubrus) of the Lord Jesus Christ
Ananias took this handkerchief to his ruler, who was healed of leprosy in the image of Christ. But not completely - traces of illness remained on his face until he accepted Christianity and placed the image given to him by the Savior over the gates of the city, overthrowing the idol that had previously hung there.
A descendant of Abgar, who again fell into idolatry, tried to destroy miraculous image. The icon was preserved by the local bishop: he walled it up in the city wall. The place where it was preserved was forgotten by the inhabitants of Edessa.
Important events or celebrations in honor of an icon
The Church honors the image of the Savior Not Made by Hands annually on August 16 according to the new style. On this day, at the service, an akathist to this icon is read, prayers addressed to it are sung. The date was not chosen by chance: on August 16, 944, the image was transported to Constantinople. It was bought from Edessa by Constantine Porphyrogenitus and Roman I.
400 years earlier, during the siege of Edessa by the Persians, the image of the Savior Not Made by Hands was rediscovered. The place where the icon was hidden was indicated to the local bishop by the Mother of God. When opening a niche in the city wall, it turned out that the image was preserved intact on the board and imprinted on a clay board.
Wooden carved icon “Savior Not Made by Hands”
Residents of the city carried the image along the fortress wall with prayer. The enemy retreated. Edessa began to honor the holy image every year.
In Constantinople, the relic was in the Pharos Church of the Mother of God. The exact history of the first icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands is unknown: there are only legends. According to one of them, he was kidnapped by the crusaders in the 13th century, but the ship that took him away sank. Another legend says that the board was transported to Genoa in the 14th century.
Now no one knows where the relic is.
How the image of the Savior Not Made by Hands is depicted
After the events of 544, two canonical ways of depicting the Image Not Made by Hands were formed: ubrus and skull. The Savior on the ubrus is an icon where the face of Christ is placed against the background of light matter (ubrus). Sometimes angels are also depicted holding the edges of the board. The Savior on chrepiya (tiles, bricks) is depicted against a dark background or on brickwork.
Important! IN Orthodox tradition this image is considered as one of the evidence of the truth of the human incarnation of God and as the main proof of the need for icon veneration.
The most famous icons of the Savior Not Made by Hands
In the meeting Tretyakov Gallery there is a double-sided image of the work of Novgorod masters of the 12th century, on one side of which the Savior on the skull, and on the other - the Glorification of the Cross. The Savior Not Made by Hands in the version of the Novgorod icon of the 12th century is one of the most famous lists from the Edessa relic.
The Savior Not Made by Hands is the first work of every completed icon painter.
Another especially revered Russian Orthodox Church the list of the Miraculous Image comes from Vyatka land. It was transported to Moscow from the city of Khlynov by Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. This happened when a pestilence was raging in Rus', from which the city of Khlynov was protected by the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands. The list from the Vyatka image was recreated above the gates of the then Frolovskaya, and later the Spasskaya tower of the Moscow Kremlin.
Gate icon of the Savior on the Spasskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin
According to legend, during a train crash near Kharkov, Emperor Alexander III held the collapsing carriage on his shoulders, in which he was helped by the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands, which he had with him.
You can pray before the icon of our Lord Jesus Christ “Savior Not Made by Hands” about everything that is important for a believer. A full-fledged spiritual life is impossible without prayer, and the soul needs all four of its types: praise, petition, repentance and gratitude.
Advice! The simplest prayer, which any person can remember, is considered to be the Jesus Prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
Icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands
And Euphrates, from 137 BC to 242 AD there was a small state of Osroene, which was the first to declare Christianity the official state religion. Here the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands is mentioned for the first time.
Legend of the icon
According to numerous legends, the Ostroenian king Avgar V, whose residence was in the capital of the state of Edessa, fell ill incurable disease- black leprosy. In a dream, a revelation appeared to him that only the face of the Savior would help him. The court artist, sent to Christ, was unable to capture his image because of the divine radiance emanating from Jesus, who, meeting the royal pleas, himself washed his face with water and wiped it with a towel (scarf). A bright image remained imprinted on it, called “ubrus”, or Mandylion, or the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands. That is, in classic version it represents the face of Christ, made on a canvas, along the edges of which there is an outline, and the upper ends are tied in knots.
After miraculous healing Avgar, there is no mention of this icon until 545, when Edessa was blockaded by Persian troops. As often happens, in difficult times providence comes to the rescue. In the nave above the city gates, not only the perfectly preserved icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands itself was discovered, but also its imprint on the ceramic wall of the vault, or Keramidion. The blockade of the city was lifted in the most miraculous way.
Features of the icon
This miraculous image in both its manifestations (made both on canvas and on ceramics) has a number of features and customs associated with it. Thus, it is recommended for beginning icon painters as their first independent work.
The icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands is the only image in which the halo around the head of Jesus has the shape of a regular closed circle with a cross inside. All these details, like the color of the Savior’s hair, the general background of the icon (on the most ancient icons the background always remained clean), carry their own meaning.
There are opinions that a portrait created without a brush and paints, which is, in essence, the icon of the “Savior Not Made by Hands,” is a photo of Christ, capturing his face.
In Orthodoxy, this icon has always, from the moment its copy was brought from Constantinople in 1355, played special role. Although the most ancient icons of this type appeared in Rus' back in the 11th century, only from the second half of the 14th century everything connected with the “Savior Not Made by Hands” was positioned at the level of state cult and introduced everywhere. Temples are built under it, it is depicted on the banners of Russian troops in the most decisive battles for the country - from Kulikovo to the battles of the First World War. The word “banner” is gradually being replaced by the word “banner” (from “sign”). Banners with the image of the “Savior Not Made by Hands” became an integral part of the victories of Russian weapons.
Icon “Savior Not Made by Hands” today
The arrival of this miraculous icon, the fame of which spread throughout Rus', from the Novospassky city of Vyatka to the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin, acquired national scale and significance. Thousands of Muscovites and visitors came out to meet the icon and fell to their knees at the sight of it. The Frolovsky gate, through which the icon was carried, began to be called Spassky. It was possible to pass through them only with a bare head, as a sign of the divinity of the face.
“The Savior Not Made by Hands” is an icon whose significance cannot be overestimated. It is perceived as one of the main symbols of Orthodoxy; in its semantic meaning it is equated to the cross and crucifixion.
IN last years, which is sometimes rightly called the Second Baptism of Rus', an unprecedented number of churches, monasteries and temples are being built. In Sochi, for the opening of the Olympics, the Temple of the Savior Not Made by Hands was erected in record time and consecrated on January 5, 2014.
Osroena became the first state in whose territory Christianity was officially recognized as a religion. It occupied the northeast of present-day Syria. It existed in the period from 137 to 242 AD. It was a small state where the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands was first mentioned. This image is unique and has great significance for Orthodox Christians.
Legend of the icon
There are many legends that tell how the king of Osroene, Avgar, was sick terrible disease- black leprosy. This is where the story of the Savior Not Made by Hands begins; one day the king had an unusual dream, in which he was told that nothing could heal him except an icon on which the face of the Savior would be imprinted. After this, an artist from the court was sent to Christ, but he never managed to transfer his image to canvas and make an icon of Jesus Christ because of the divine radiance that emanated from Him.
Then the Savior took water, washed his face with it, and then wiped it with a towel, on which his bright image remained imprinted - the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands.
Formally, Jesus himself made the icon, but the image is classified as so-called not made by hands, that is, one where the face of the Savior appears by Divine grace and in a miraculous way.
The classic version of the icon is an image of Jesus, which is made on canvas. Along its edges there is a canvas, the upper ends of which are woven into knots. Hence the name of the icon of the Savior on the urbus, that is, on a canvas or scarf.
After King Abgar was healed in a bright image, there were no more mentions of the icon until the year 545. It was that year that Edessa came under blockade by Persian troops. Just at that moment providence came to the aid of people. In one of the naves above the city gates, an icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands and its trace were found, imprinted on a ceramic wall in the Keramidion vault. Then, thanks to the miraculous power of the icon, the blockade of the city was lifted.
Until now, the image of the Savior Not Made by Hands helps to get rid of invaders and any encroachments by enemies, and is used in military affairs.
The meaning of the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands
This miraculous icon in all types of its execution (an image on canvas, a print on ceramics) it is distinguished by its own characteristics and has many customs that are associated with them. The image of the Savior Not Made by Hands is essential for iconography. It is with writing this image that they recommend starting your individual work icon painters who are just beginning to show themselves in this field.
Considering the description of the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands, you need to pay attention to the halo surrounding the head of the Savior, which is depicted in the form of a regular closed circle, inside of which there is a cross. Each feature: the hair of Jesus, its main background (on all old canvases the icon painters left the background blank), expresses its essence, gives it a special meaning. According to many, the image, which was created without the use of paints or brushes, is a real photograph of Christ and his face is depicted on it.
Since the arrival of the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands from Constantinople, it began to occupy an important role in the world of Orthodoxy. This happened in 1355. Icons of this type existed in Rus' already in the 11th century, but only starting from the second half of the 14th century, everything connected with the “Savior Not Made by Hands” was equated to the level of state cult and spread widely everywhere.
However, there is an icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands from the 12th century, which is also called Novgorod, but was created in Moscow in the Assumption Cathedral. This image is two-way. Separately, it should be noted the icon of Simon Ushakov, which was created in the 17th century and the Savior Not Made by Hands is painted here more artistically and less canonically.
Since the 14th century, the construction of temples began, the image was applied to Russian military banners during the most important battles for Rus', such as the Kulikovo and the First World War.
“Savior Not Made by Hands” is an icon that has great importance in the Orthodox world. It symbolizes Orthodoxy as a cross and crucifix, and carries the same meaning.
Prayer to the icon
It is believed that it was on this day that Christ put the cloth to his face.
Troparion, tone 2
We worship Your most pure image, O Good One, asking for forgiveness of our sins, O Christ our God, by the will of Your flesh you deigned to ascend to the Cross, so that You may deliver Him from the work of the enemy. Thus we cry out to You in gratitude: You have filled all with joy, our Savior, who came to save the world.
Prayer
O Most Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, our God!
You, from the ancient times of human nature, washed your face with holy water and wiped it with a rubbish, and you deigned to depict it miraculously on the same fringe and sent it to the Edessa prince Abgar for the healing of his illness.
Behold, now we, Thy sinful servants, possessed by our mental and physical ailments, seek Thy face, O Lord, and with David in the humility of our souls we call: do not turn Thy face away from us, and turn away in anger from Thy servants,
Be our helper, do not reject us and do not abandon us.
O All-Merciful Lord, our Savior!
Imagine for yourself in our souls, so that you may live in holiness and truth,
We will be Your sons and heirs of Your Kingdom,
and so to You, our Most Merciful God,
“The Son of Man has not come to souls
to destroy men, but to save them” (Luke 9:56)
- the image of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, miraculously imprinted on the cloth with which Christ wiped his face. According to the Tradition set forth in the Chetya Menaion, Abgar V Uchama, sick with leprosy, sent his archivist Hannan (Ananias) to Christ with a letter in which he asked Christ to come to Edessa and heal him.
Hannan was an artist, and Abgar instructed him that if the Savior could not come, then at least paint His image and bring it to him. Hannan found Christ surrounded by a dense crowd; he stood on a stone from which he could see better and tried to portray the Savior.
Seeing that Hannan wanted to make His portrait, Christ asked for water, washed himself, wiped His face with a cloth, and His image was imprinted on this cloth. The Savior handed this board to Hannan with the command to take it with a reply letter to the one who sent it.
In this letter, Christ refused to go to Edessa himself, saying that he must fulfill what he was sent to do. Upon completion of His work, He promised to send one of His disciples to Abgar. Having received the portrait, Avgar was healed of his main illness, but his face remained damaged.
After Pentecost, the holy Apostle Thaddeus, one of the 70, went to Edessa, completed the healing of Abgar and converted him to Christianity. Abgar attached the image to the board and placed it in a niche above the city gate, removing the idol that was there.
Day 16/29 August 944 became the most important in the history of the miraculous image of Christ on a board, called in Byzantium “Holy Mandylion” (TO AGION MANDYLION), and in Ancient Rus' “Holy Ubrus”. On this day, a precious relic, the day before solemnly transferred to Constantinople from the distant Syrian city of Edessa, was placed in the reliquary church of the Grand Palace among other most important shrines of the empire.
From this moment on, the general Christian glorification of the Mandylion begins, which becomes perhaps the main relic of the Byzantine world. In the lists of Constantinople shrines in pilgrimage descriptions, it consistently occupies one of the first places.
UNMADE IMAGE
Troparion, tone 2
We worship Your most pure image, O Good One, / asking forgiveness of our sins, O Christ our God: / by the will of Your flesh you deigned to ascend to the Cross, / so that You may deliver Him from the work of the enemy. / Thus we cry out to You in gratitude: / You filled all with joy, O our Savior, / who came to save the world.
Kontakion, tone 2
Thy ineffable and Divine sight of man, / the indescribable Word of the Father, / and the unwritten image, / and the divinely written one is victorious, / leading to Thy unfaithful incarnation, / we honor and kiss him.
Greatness
We magnify You, / Life-giving Christ, / and honor Your most pure face / glorious imagination.
Foreign greatness
We magnify You, / Life-giving Christ, / and honor Your holy image, / by which You saved us / from the work of the enemy.
Word on the Day of the Image of the Lord Not Made by Hands
This day, which we celebrate in honor of our Savior Jesus Christ, who left His face not made by hands on the canvas, encourages us, brothers, to talk about His ineffable love and mercy for the human race.
Being “the radiance of the glory of the Father” (Heb. 1:3) and “the image of the invisible God” (Col. 1:15), in whose bosom He dwelt from eternity, He became man and became visible, revealing to all the inexhaustible source of Divine mercy and love .
Constantly surrounded by people, He called everyone to Himself, promising to give peace, healed mental and physical ailments, and attracted everyone to Himself with the inexplicably sweet words of His teaching and the unusually meek appearance of His Divine face.
The hearts of the people of the pagan world who lived before the coming of Christ did not know love, since the whole life of their hearts was exhausted in serving passions and vices destructive to the soul and body.
Even the Jewish people, who were preparing for the coming of the Savior, understood little what the love of God is, so that even the chosen apostles of Christ during the earthly life of the Lord were still not freed from the desire for earthly glory, mutual envy, and lack of faith in relation to their Teacher .
And then the One appeared who made a quiet breeze perceptible to all people who lived on earth. Divine love in hearts melting from sorrow, he shed consolation to souls devoted to serving vices, made them feel the weight of the burden that this service placed on them, the joy and ease of fulfilling the Divine law. Everyone sought to listen to Him and be healed of their ailments, or simply to open their soul, exhausted from the passions and sorrows of life, to the breath of love that emanated from Him.
How beautiful and blessed was the life of these people, who constantly saw the Savior comforting, healing, edifying and irresistibly drawing to Himself with His love! Truly blessed were their eyes, which saw what they saw, what many prophets and kings desired to see or hear, although they did not see or hear (Luke 10:23-24)!
If human love makes people’s lives so joyful and blissful, then how many times have more blessed people who were in communion with Him Who, calling Himself the Son of Man out of love for the human race, was God Himself, hitherto unknown to the world in all His fullness Divine life and glory!
Hieromartyr Thaddeus (Uspensky)
Akathist to the image of our Lord Jesus Christ not made by hands
Kontakion 1
We worship Your Most Pure Image, O Good One, asking for forgiveness of our sins, O Christ our God, by the will of You you have deigned to ascend in the flesh to the Cross, so that You may deliver what You have created from the work of the enemy, so we cry out to You with hope: Lord God, my Savior, come to me to the one who is bending and heal from my incurable illness.
“Jesus, my Savior,” Abgar, the prince of Edessa humbly prayed, “come to me and heal my incurable illnesses, in which I have suffered for many years.
Imitating him, I, stricken by sinful leprosy, cry out in prayer to my face: My Lord, Lord, have mercy on me according to Your great mercy, and according to the multitude of Your mercies, cleanse my iniquity. Lord my Savior, with the dew of Your mercy wash me from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. Lord, turn Your face away from my sins and cleanse all my iniquities. Lord, create a pure heart in me and renew a right spirit in my womb. Lord, do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit away from me.
Kontakion 2
Seeing the love and faith of Abgar of Edessa, Lord, You wrote to him: “Blessed are you, Abgar, who has not seen Me, and I will send My disciple who believes in Me and He will heal you and give eternal life to you and those who are with you.” Send, O Lord, Thy mercy to me also who cry: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
The mind does not comprehend the mystery of how the Lord, by attaching a veil to His Divine face, depicting His likeness on it, sent it to Abgar, fulfilling his desire. Be filled with this great joy by bowing to the image of Christ. Today we worship Him with reverence, with prayer and faith calling: My Lord, Lord, open my mouth, and my mouth will proclaim Your praise, My Lord, Lord, restore to me the joy of salvation and strengthen me with the Sovereign Spirit. Lord, I have sinned against You alone and done evil before You, by Your mercy have mercy on me, My Lord, Lord my Savior, look upon the sorrow of my soul and hasten to help me. My Lord, Lord, hear me and deliver me from all sorrows.
Lord God, my Savior, come to me, who is perishing, and heal my incurable illnesses.
Kontakion 3
Abgar, filled with the power of love and joy, bowed to the Not Made by Hands image of the Savior of the world and, having received healing of his illnesses; crying out in faith, “Christ our God, whoever trusts in You will not be put to shame.” By this teaching we should always trust in the mercies of the Lord and sing to Him: Hallelujah!
Ikos 3
Having love for the fallen human race, You, Christ God, through one of Your disciples, called out to this Ashar from the darkness of sin and enlightened her soul with the light of Your truth. Call me also from the depths of sin, and I will cry out to You with tears:
My Lord, Lord, grant me tears of tenderness, and with them I will beg You - cleanse before the end all my sins, Lord, enlighten my soul with the light of Your Divine knowledge, and lead me by Your mercy into Your Kingdom My Lord, Lord, my enlightenment and my Savior , I came running to You, teach me to do Your will. My Lord, my Lord, my God, enlighten my heart, and drive away the temptation of the evil one from it, and guide me on the path of salvation. My Lord, Lord, do not reject my prayer and hear me, with Your Grace confirm my heart with Your fear. Lord God, my Savior, come to me, who is perishing, and heal my incurable illnesses.
THE SAVIOR NOT MADE BY HANDS, icon, 13th century*
Kontakion 4
The storm of passions and worries of everyday life drowns me, and my heart, overwhelmed by the horror of death, cries out to Ty: Lord, there is no one who helps me on earth, save me, like Abgar of old, and grant me to sing with him: Alleluia.
Ikos 4
Hearing that the Jews hate You and want to do something evil to You, Lord, Abgar writes: “I pray: come to me and dwell with me.” Imitating that love, and having risen from the depths of my fall, I boldly pray to Thee, O Christ God:
Lord my God, enter into the house of my soul and remain inseparable from me, a sinner. Lord, God of my heart, come and unite me with You forever. My Lord, Lord, my soul has clinged to You, come and fill my heart with joy.
Lord God, my Savior, come to me who is perishing and heal my incurable illnesses.
Kontakion 5
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord - the Jewish children sang of old when they met the Lord in Jerusalem. Today, we, opening the doors of our hearts to the Savior coming to us, call with tenderness: Alleluia.
Ikos 5
You have spoken wondrous words, O Lord, to all who are perishing: “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid; believe in God, believe in Me, and inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” I, thinking about my iniquity, I pray to You, O Good One, confirm my heart and enlighten my mind, crying to You: My Lord, Lord, look upon me and enlighten my eyes, so that I will not sleep into death, my Lord, Lord, the guide of Israel from land of Pharaoh, guide me in Your path, that I may walk in Your truth. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, I believe in You, help my unbelief, my Lord, Lord, do not reprove me with Your wrath, and do not depart from me for my iniquities.
Lord God, my Savior, come to me, who is perishing, and heal my incurable illnesses.
Kontakion 6
Look with my eyes at Your image, Lord, I do not dare, the accursed one, from my evil deeds, but, like a publican, groaning, I cry out to You God, cleanse me, a sinner, from the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and teach me to sing with a pure heart of Your mercy: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
Ascension in my sorrow, comforting Your word To my Savior, you said: “I will not leave you, orphans, I will come to you.” For this reason, I, having escaped the darkness of despair, with hope in Your love for mankind, came running to You, praying: My Lord, Lord, take refuge in my time of trouble and sorrow, do not leave me alone, my Lord, Lord, sinless, imputed with the lawless, take me away. from the hands of those who hate me. My Lord, Lord, save me from the desecration of visible and invisible enemies. My Lord, Lord, forgive me and accept me, like the prodigal of old, into Your arms.
Lord God, my Savior, come to me, who is perishing, and heal my incurable illnesses.
Kontakion 7
Thou hast shown Thy wondrous works, O Lord, in Thy most pure image, and hast given marvelous consolation to all earth-born, teaching them in the sorrowful circumstances of life to resort to Thy mercy and to sing to Thee with love: Alleluia.
Ikos 7
Wearing the temple and the entire body is desecrated, many of the cruel things I have done, I tremble at the terrible Day of Judgment and pray: open the doors of repentance to me, O Life-Giver, and like David I cry to You: My Lord, Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my prayer and have mercy on me. Lord my God, Your seventh, give me understanding and my soul will live. Lord my God, my shepherd, I have gone astray, like a lost sheep, seek your servant and save me. My Lord, Lord, have mercy on me, heal my soul for those who have sinned against You.
Lord God, my Savior, come to me, who is perishing, and heal my incurable illnesses.
Kontakion 8
On the terrible day of Your coming, I am terrified, O Christ, and I tremble, for I have many sins, but You, Merciful God, before the end, convert me, singing Tn: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
You were all love for fallen man, O Jesus, and You gave them Your Holy image, clearly saying to all who are in sorrow and sorrow, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” For this reason, perishing, I boldly pray to Thee, O Christ, saying:
My Lord, my Lord, my guardian, save me from the enemies who attack me. My Lord, Lord, who lives on high and looks down on the humble, look down on me, a sinner, and be my joy. My Lord, Lord, save me, drowning in the abyss of everyday temptations. My Lord, Lord, let not my heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid in confessing Your name. My Lord, Lord, receive me like a publican, like a Canaanite, have mercy, have mercy on me according to Your mercy.
Lord God, my Savior, come to me, who is perishing, and heal my incurable illnesses.
Kontakion 9
All pagans, come, with love and reverence let us worship the most pure image of the Savior of the world, who delivered us from the work of the enemy and cry out in gratitude to Him, the Conqueror of death and hell: Alleluia.
Ikos 9
All struck by sinful leprosy, I am perplexed as to how it is worthy to magnify Thee, O most merciful Master, but with heartfelt faith I confess Thee, the true Son of God, I humbly stand before Thy Holy image, praying: Lord Jesus, my Joy, grant to me that I may rejoice in mercy Yours. Lord, my Most Gracious Savior, save Your servant from unbelief and lawlessness. My Lord, Lord, Unspeakable Mercy, by Your grace consume my anger and my heart. My Lord, Lord, indescribable purity, give me purity of heart and mind. My Lord, Lord, clothe yourself with singing like a robe, sanctify me, darkened by the sorrows of life.
Lord God, my Savior, come to me, who is perishing, and heal my incurable illnesses.
Kontakion 10
My Lord, Lord, Merciful to my Savior, raise up my soul, weakened by cold deeds, by Your Divine mercy, like the one weakened in ancient times at the sheep’s font, and instruct me in the path of salvation, so that we sing: All-moon.
Ikos 10
Eternal King, Comforter, True Christ, cleanse me from all filth, as you cleansed the ten lepers, and heal me, as you healed the money-loving soul of Zacchaeus the tax collector, so that I may sing to You, saying:
My Lord, Lord, you who have received our illnesses and suffered illnesses, heal the illnesses of my heart. My Lord, Lord Jesus, my Helper, help me, as my soul faints from this sorrow. My Lord, Lord, who gave eyes to the blind to see, give me an eye that I may see Your meekness and patience. Lord, long-suffering, deliver my soul from the wicked and save me for the sake of Thy mercy.
Lord God, my Savior, come to me, who is perishing, and heal my incurable illnesses.
Kontakion 11
Bringing all-conciliatory singing to You, and praying with a contrite heart, do not despise me, O Most Blessed Master! Turn away Your face from my sins! But do not turn Your face away from the servant who sings to You: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
O true Light Christ, who enlightens and sanctifies every person coming into the world, look upon me, Thy sinful and indecent servant, and correct my life according to Thy commandments, and sanctify my soul, that I may offer Thee this prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, You are the Light of the world, shine Your light on me My Lord, Lord, You are the source of life, grant my soul imperishable life and confirm me in Your commandments. Lord Jesus Christ, You are the Sun of righteousness, with Your righteousness warm my soul and illuminate my mind. My Lord, Lord, You are my mentor, teach me to do Your will and love You with all my heart My Lord, Lord, You have opened the eyes of the blind, open the doors of repentance for me and, as you are generous, cleanse all my sins.
Lord God, my Savior, come to me, who is perishing, and heal my incurable illnesses.
kontakion 12
By Your omnipotent grace, confirm my heart in faith, hope and love, grant me through repentance and unflagging fulfillment of Your commandments to reach the Kingdom of Heaven, where with the faces of the apostles I will sing: Ti Alleluia.
Ikos 12
You, Good Shepherd, proclaimed to everyone the sorrows and sorrows of those who exist: “My friends, I am going to My Father and your Father to prepare a place for you, but I will come again and take you to Myself, if you keep My commandments.” Hearing this reverently, I dare and, immersed in fierce sorrow, come to You, praying: My Lord, Lord, Merciful to my Savior, save me, who am perishing. My Lord, Lord, drive away from me the clouds of unbelief, evil and enmity, and by Your Good Spirit set me on the path of righteousness. My Lord, Lord, consolation of my soul, comfort me in this present sorrow. Lord my God, for the sake of Your name, revive me and through Your righteousness bring my soul out of sorrow. Lord, Most Mighty King, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom.
Lord God, my Savior, come to me, who is perishing, and heal my incurable illnesses.
kontakion 13
Oh, Most Merciful and Most Good Lord God, my Savior, who came into the world to save fallen man, do not disdain me more than all the sinners and do not turn Your face away from me, but look at the fierce sorrow and sadness of my soul, heal and establish in the Light of truth and love, let us sing to You: Alleluia!
O my Most Merciful Savior, who came into the world for the salvation of fallen man, seek me as I perish and with Thy grace sanctify my soul, cleanse my body and correct my life, but according to Thy commandment, let me sing to Thee with a pure heart: Alleluia.
O My Most Merciful Savior, look upon Thy servant, I am drowning in the sea of worldly temptations and troubles, and, like Peter of old, drowning, save by Thy grace, sanctify the soul and establish it on the path of Thy commandments, so that with a pure heart and lips I cry out to Thee with love: Alleluia , Alleluia, Alleluia
Prayer
Oh, Most Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, our God, You are more ancient than Your human nature, having washed off Your face with holy water and wiped it with a rubbish, so You miraculously depicted it on the same curb and You deigned to send it to the Prince of Edessa Abgar to heal him from an illness. Behold, now we, Thy sinful servants, are possessed by our mental and physical ailments, we seek Thy face, O Lord, and with David in the humility of our souls we call, do not turn away Thy face, O Lord, from us, and do not turn aside in anger from Thy servants, our helper. wake up, do not reject us and do not leave us. Oh, All-Merciful Lord, our Savior, depict Yourself in our souls, so that in holiness and truth, living in holiness, we will be Your sons and heirs of Your Kingdom, and so we will not cease to glorify You, Our Most Merciful God, together with Your Beginning Father and the Most Holy Spirit. forever and ever. Amen
With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II
Dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the gate church in the name of the Image of the Savior Not Made by Hands in the Conception Monastery
* SAVIOR NOT MADE BY HANDS, XIII century, Wood, gesso, tempera, Place of creation - Balkans, Place of storage - Sacristy of the Cathedral in Laon. Moved from Edessa to Constantinople in 944, the Mandylion disappeared when the city was captured by the Crusaders in 1204. Being common in the frescoes of the 12th century, this image also appears on icons by the end of the century. This icon is one of the earlier versions of the image. Bishop Jacques Pantaleon de Troyes (later Pope Urban IV, 1261 - 1264) received this icon in 1249 in Rome and gave it to his sister Sibylla, abbess of the Cistercian monastery of Montreux-en-Thieraches in France, where this image was definitely located in 1262. It was then moved in the 17th century, probably in 1658, to the monastery of Montreux-les-Dames, la Nouvelle, near Laon, and received a silver setting in 1679. In 1792, the ark was melted down and the image was sent to the parish church. In 1795, the icon came to the Laon Cathedral and was officially transferred to the cathedral sacristy in 1807.
** The day of August 16, 944 became the most important day in the history of the Miracle Image of Christ on a board, called in Byzantium “Holy Mandylion” (TO AGION MANDYLION), and in Ancient Rus' “Holy Ubrus”. On this day, the precious relic, which the day before had been solemnly transferred to Constantinople from the distant Syrian city of Edessa, was placed in the reliquary church of the Grand Palace among other most important shrines of the empire. From this moment on, the general Christian glorification of the Mandylion begins, which becomes perhaps the main relic of the Byzantine world. In lists of Constantinople shrines and pilgrimage descriptions, it consistently occupies one of the first places.
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