Translation of the Image “Not-Made-By-Hands” of our Lord Jesus Christ from Edessa to Constantinople; †) New Martyrs Prince Constantine Brancoveanu of Wallachia and his four sons Constantine, Stephen, Radu, and Matthew, and his counsellor Ianache; Holy Lady Maria Brancoveanu; †) Ven. Joseph of Varatec; Martyr Diomedes; 11th Sunday after Pentecost

Orthodox Calendar, August 16 Translation of the Image “Not-Made-By-Hands” of our Lord Jesus Christ The Transfer from Edessa to Constantinople of  the Icon of our Lord Jesus Christ Not-Made-by-Hands  occurred in the year 944. Eusebius, in his HISTORY OF THE CHURCH (I:13), relates that when the Savior was preaching, Abgar ruled in Edessa. He was stricken all over his body with leprosy. Reports of the great miracles worked by the Lord spread throughout Syria (Mt.4:24) and reached even Abgar.

Without having seen the Savior, Abgar believed in Him as the Son of God. He wrote a letter requesting Him to come and heal him. He sent with this letter to Palestine his own portrait-painter Ananias, and commissioned him to paint a likeness of the Divine Teacher.

Ananias arrived in Jerusalem and saw the Lord surrounded by people. He was not able to get close to Him because of the large throng of people listening to the preaching of the Savior. Then he stood on a high rock and attempted to paint the portrait of the Lord Jesus Christ from afar, but this effort was not successful.

The Savior saw him, called to him by name and gave him a short letter for Abgar in which He praised the faith…