My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
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ON THE 16TH OF AUGUST, THE HOLY ORTHODOX CHURCH COMMEMORATES THE IMAGE NOT-MADE-BY-HANDS, WHICH IS ALSO CALLED THE MANDYLION, OF OUR LORD AND GOD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST THAT WAS TRANSLATED FROM EDESSA TO CONSTANTINOPLE.
When our Lord and Great God and Savior Jesus Christ was found upon earth, He wrought many mighty works. Myriads of sick people, even from countries remote from the land of Judaea, who was afflicted with infirmities and diseases of every kind, were coming to Him in the hope of being healed. At that time, the toparch of Edessa was king Abgar (Avgaros). He gained renown among the nations east of the Euphrates for his valor. Now his body had been wasting away with a grievous disease, such as there is no cure for among men. And when he heard and was informed of the name of Jesus, and about the mighty works which He did--for everyone alike bore witness concerning Jesus to come and heal him of his disease.
Abgar would have gone himself to Jerusalem that he might see the Lord with his own eyes, but the advanced state of his leprosy and arthritis prevented him from making such a journey and public appearance. Furthermore, his entry into Roman lands was not only difficult but bound to be misunderstood. His independent city-state of Edessa, totally outside of the Roman Empire and with allegiance to the kingdom of Parthia, had its capital at Ctesiphon on the Tigris River, far to the east.
The bitter pangs of these two diseases kept him from exiting his palace. He did not even wish to be seen by his subjects. Thus, in such dire straits, he was emboldened to send an epistle to Jesus the Christ. But our Savior, at the time, on the one hand, did not comply with the king's request, but also, on the other hand, did not disdain the man's evident faith. Jesus deigned to furnish Abgar a letter in reply: for He promised Abgar that He would send one of His disciples, and heal his sicknesses, and give salvation to him and to all who were connected with him. Nor did our Savior delay to fulfill His promise to Abgar. But after Jesus was risen from the place of the dead, and was received into the heavens, Thomas the Apostle, one of the Twelve, as by an impulse from God, sent Thaddaeus, who was himself also numbered among the Seventy Disciples of Christ, to Edessa. Thaddaeus would preach and proclaim the teaching of Christ.
Mar Jacob, Bishop of Nisibis (Mesopotamia, 350 A.D.) writes: "Edessa sent to Christ by an epistle (letter) to come to her and enlighten her. On behalf of all the people did she make intercession to Him that He would leave Sion, which hated Him, and come to the peoples, who loved Him."
Ananias went to deliver the letter, with further instructions to bring back a description of Jesus. Ananias arrived safely in Jerusalem. Now he was among those listening to a sermon on the Mount of Olives. After our Lord preached, Ananias went to one of the Holy Apostles. He asked for an audience with Jesus. Ananias presented the letter of his ailing master, King Abgar, to Jesus. The artist gazed at the Holy face, studying the features with great care. But on account of the press of the multitude, he was unable to stay very long before Him. Ananias then drew back a little, perching himself upon a higher ground that he might better see Jesus over the throngs milling about Him. Ananias attempted to draw the likeness of our Lord. He had a slate and chalk to make the required sketch. But he did not succeed, though he was an artist of some repute. The Savior's grace-filled countenance could not be captured exactly by him. The artist observed that Jesus' face appeared to change as he viewed Him. The Lord, the Knower of hearts and secret intentions, knew the desire of Ananias. Jesus then asked for some water that He might wash. Jesus washed His face and sponged it dry with a piece of linen that was folded in four. After He pressed the towel to His face--behold the wonder!--the imprint of His theandric countenance was transferred to the linen towel. With that ready impression of His Divine features, Not-Made-By-Hands (Acheiropoietos), the Lord said to Ananias, "Remember this to the one who sent thee." The Lord Jesus then answered the epistle (letter) to the king, supplying the following response.
"Blessed is he that has believed in Me, not having seen Me." For it is written concerning Me, that those who see Me will not believe Me, and that those will believe who have not seen Me, and will be saved. But touching that which thou has written to Me, that I should come to thee--it is meet that I should finish here all that for the sake of which I have been sent into the world and after I have finished it, then I shall be taken up into the heavens to Him that sent Me; and, when I have been taken up, I will send to one of My disciples. His name is Thaddaeus, and He will heal thy disease. He will also bring salvation to thee and to those who are with thee. Moreover, to Thy city of Edessa, there shall be rendered sufficient help lest she should be conquered by her enemy.
The epistle (letter) above received seven seals that were imprinted with Hebrew letters. The translation of those Hebrew words into four Greek words beginning with the letter Theta, read: Θεού θέα θείον θαύμα, that is, "Vision of God, Divine Wonder." King Abgar received the Holy Napkin and the letter. We chant today that "when he saw Thy face upon the Napkin, he cried out: 'My Lord and my God art Thou!' With much faith and longing, he made obeisance before the Sacred and Immaculate Image (icon) of Christ. Instantly, he was healed of his diseases. Only on his forehead there remained a small patch of his leprous condition. Then, after the Saving Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension of the Lord into the heavens, the holy Apostle Thaddaeus went to Edessa.
Now a considerable amount of time had passed. Many years later no one remembered that a Sacred Icon had been hidden away over the gateway. The existence of the Mandylion or Holy Napkin is first mentioned in a 6th-century account.
The Holy Napkin is Transferred to Tenth-Century Constantinople
The Mandylion was removed to Constantinople that same year. With solemn ceremony, the holy relic had been liberated from the power of the Hagarene infidel by the grace of God and the strength of Byzantine arms and diplomacy. It was received in the capital that August of 944 when Saint Theophylact was Patriarch of Constantinople (933-956 A.D.). The Holy Napkin was escorted with honor and triumph. This holy victory, more than all of Lourkouas' hard-won battle, made him the hero the moment and at the center of attention for many--along with the Mandylion. It would not be an exaggeration to say that his popularity alarmed the government...Moreover, as the image passed through the streets, a possessed man cried out suddenly, 'Constantinople, take the glory and the blessing, and thou, O Constantine, thy throne.' After the image had been escorted to the middle of the city, it was then put on display on the throne of mercy in the inner sanctuary of Hagia Sophia. It was finally enshrined in the Theotokos Pharos (Lighthouse) Chapel of the Great Palace. This is the translation that is celebrated today, the 6th of August.
The recovery of the Mandylion was the last triumph of the Emperor Romanos I. The Mandylion, on the 15th of August, was brought to the Theotokos Church of Vlachernai. It was placed on the throne of the worldly ruler in the Vlachernai Palace and crowned. The imperial family venerated the Sacred Image with extreme reverence and joy. They were followed by the nobility and the laypeople. The following day, which was the 16th of August, the Holy Icon was placed upon the shoulders of Patriarch Theophylactos. Then, in the company of all the priests and ecclesiastical orders, the Holy Icon was borne aloft to the Golden Gate. The Sacred Image was accompanied by both psalms and hymns, surrounded by tens of thousands of lamps. The procession wended its way toward the Church of the Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sophia) of God.
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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" -- Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry)
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+Father George