Even during the life of the Savior, Abgar V Ukamma ruled in the southern city of Edessa. He had leprosy, a disease for which there was no cure. Hearing of the miracles Christ performed, Abgar wrote him a letter and sent him with the court painter, Annania. The artist’s task was either to persuade Jesus to come to Edessa or to paint his portrait. Christ, according to legend, not only greeted Ananias, but even wrote a response letter to Abgar. But the portrait of the artist did not work. He could not convey the features of Jesus’ face or grasp his expression. It wasn’t like that.
Seeing how the artist suffered, Jesus asked for water and a towel. He washed and wet his face with a canvas. Immediately the image of Christ was imprinted on him. The image to which no one put their hands is not hand-made.
Ananias arrived in Edessa and presented the Unmade Image to the ruler. He felt better, but he was not cured. After a while, one of the 70 apostles, Thaddeus, arrived in the city. He baptized the ruler (and he was immediately healed), his household and most of the inhabitants of the city.
The image was placed above the gate to the fortress. He was honored by all who used the gate.
But after a few generations, the heirs of Abgar decided to get rid of the image.
The Bishop of Edesa had a vision that the relic must be saved. He covered the image with a board and laid bricks.
A few centuries later, another bishop had a vision again. He was commanded to open the image. This happened in the year of trials, when Edessa was taken into the blockade by external enemies. In the presence of the clergy, with prayers and the singing of psalms, the bishop became convinced that the image was perfectly preserved. Moreover, the same image appeared on the board. The enemy retreated, the city was saved. The icon and its copy were placed in local temples.
But there was little peace in Edessa. The Arabs soon conquered it. Although they did not prevent the worship of the image, it was not easy for the Orthodox to reach the Muslim city and stay there.
Then, the emperor Constantine (Portuguese), bought the shrine from the Emir of Edessa and transferred it to Constantinople. On August 29, the relic was taken to the capital of Orthodoxy and placed in the Faro Church.
He disappeared during the Crusades. No reliable information has been preserved. Some sources claim that the ship, which was carrying the image, drowned.
Others say it was stored for some time in France (or Italy).
In 1355, the first icon of the Savior was brought to Russia by Metropolitan Alexy of Moscow. He gave the order to build the first Savior Church. Now there are many temples dedicated to the Passion Not Made by Hands. Icons with the image were placed on the city walls, on banners and in houses. Dmitry Donskoy prayed before the decisive battle with the Tatars.
The history of the Spasskaya Tower of the Kremlin is also connected with the way not made by hands. Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich was informed that the Vyatka peasant Peter Palkin, blind from an accident, saw his sight, praying to the image of the Savior. By order of the tsar, the icon was solemnly delivered to Moscow. To meet the train with the image came the tsar with the whole family and the patriarch with the clergy. The icon was brought to the city through the Frolov gate, which since then became known as the Spassky. The same name was given to the tower.
In the people, the holiday is called the Orekhov (third) Savior. At this time, the nut harvest began. And on the feast consecrated homespun fabric and bread of a new harvest.
Celebration
29 August
Charity foundHoly Land.
Soul investment!
