The icon was saved by someone not made by hands. Miraculous icon “Savior Not Made by Hands”

30.09.2019

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First Christian icon is the “Savior Not Made by Hands”, it is the basis of all Orthodox icon veneration.

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, if the Savior could not come, to 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 went to Edessa. Preaching the Good News, he baptized the king and most of the population. Coming out of the baptismal font, Abgar discovered that he was completely healed and gave thanks to the Lord. By order of Avgar, the holy obrus (plate) was glued onto a board of rotting wood, decorated and placed above the city gates instead of the idol that had previously been there. And everyone had to worship the “miraculous” image of Christ, as the new heavenly patron of the city.

However, the grandson of Abgar, having ascended the throne, planned to return the people to the worship of idols and, for this purpose, destroy the Image Not Made by Hands. The Bishop of Edessa, warned in a vision about this plan, ordered to wall up the niche where the Image was located, placing a lit lamp in front of it.
Over time, this place was forgotten.

In 544, during the siege of Edessa by the troops of the Persian king Chozroes, the Bishop of Edessa, Eulalis, was given a revelation about the whereabouts of the Icon Not Made by Hands. Having disassembled in the indicated place brickwork, the residents saw not only a perfectly preserved image and a lamp that had not gone out for so many years, but also an imprint of the Most Holy Face on the ceramics - a clay board that covered the holy fresco.

After a religious procession with the Image Not Made by Hands along the city walls, the Persian army retreated.

Linen cloth with the image of Christ for a long time was kept in Edessa as the most important treasure of the city. During the period of iconoclasm, John of Damascus referred to the Image Not Made by Hands, and in 787 the Seventh Ecumenical Council, citing it as the most important evidence in favor of icon veneration. In 944, the Byzantine emperors Constantine Porphyrogenitus and Roman I bought the Image Not Made by Hands from Edessa. Crowds of people surrounded and brought up the rear of the procession as the Image Miraculous was transferred from the city to the bank of the Euphrates, where galleys awaited the procession to cross the river. Christians began to grumble, refusing to give up the holy Image unless there was a sign from God. And a sign was given to them. Suddenly the galley, onto which the Image Not Made by Hands had already been brought, swam without any action and landed on the opposite shore.

The hushed Edessians returned to the city, and the procession with the Icon moved further along the dry route. Throughout the journey to Constantinople, miracles of healing were performed continuously. The monks and saints accompanying the Image Not Made by Hands traveled around the entire capital by sea with a magnificent ceremony and installed the holy Image in the Pharos Church. In honor of this event, August 16 was established religious holiday Transfer from Edessa to Constantinople of the Image Not Made by Hands (Ubrus) of the Lord Jesus Christ.

For exactly 260 years the Image Not Made by Hands was preserved in Constantinople (Constantinople). In 1204, the Crusaders turned their weapons against the Greeks and captured Constantinople. Along with a lot of gold, jewelry and sacred objects, they captured and transported to the ship the Image Not Made by Hands. But, according to the inscrutable fate of the Lord, the Miraculous Image did not remain in their hands. As they sailed across the Sea of Marmara, a terrible storm suddenly arose and the ship quickly sank. The greatest Christian shrine has disappeared. This ends the story of the true Image of the Savior Not Made by Hands.

There is a legend that the Image Not Made by Hands was transferred around 1362 to Genoa, where it is kept in a monastery in honor of the Apostle Bartholomew.
In the Orthodox icon painting tradition there are two main types of images of the Holy Face: “Savior on the Ubrus”, or “Ubrus” and “Savior on the Chrepiya”, or “Chrepiya”.

On icons of the “Spas on the Ubrus” type, the image of the Savior’s face is placed against the background of a cloth, the fabric of which is gathered into folds, and its upper ends are tied with knots. Around the head is a halo, a symbol of holiness. The color of the halo is usually golden. Unlike the haloes of saints, the halo of the Savior has an inscribed cross. This element is found only in the iconography of Jesus Christ. In Byzantine images it was decorated precious stones. Later, the cross in halos began to be depicted as consisting of nine lines according to the number nine angelic ranks and write three Greek letters (I am Jehovah), and on the sides of the halo in the background place the abbreviated name of the Savior - IC and HS. Such icons in Byzantium were called “Holy Mandylion” (Άγιον Μανδύλιον from the Greek μανδύας - “ubrus, cloak”).

On icons such as “The Savior on the Chripe”, or “Chrepiya”, according to legend, the image of the Savior’s face after miraculous acquisition ubrus, was also imprinted on the ceramide tiles with which the Miraculous Image was covered. Such icons in Byzantium were called “Saint Keramidion”. There is no image of the board on them, the background is smooth, and in some cases imitates the texture of tiles or masonry.

The most ancient images were made on a clean background, without any hint of material or tiles. The earliest surviving icon of the “Savior Not Made by Hands” - a Novgorod double-sided image of the 12th century - is located in the Tretyakov Gallery.

Ubrus with folds begins to spread on Russian icons from the 14th century.
Images of the Savior with a wedge-shaped beard (converging to one or two narrow ends) are also known in Byzantine sources, however, only on Russian soil they took shape into a separate iconographic type and received the name “Savior of Wet Brad”.

In the Cathedral of the Assumption Mother of God in the Kremlin there is one of the revered and rare icons - “The Ardent Eye of Savior”. It was written in 1344 for the old Assumption Cathedral. It depicts the stern face of Christ looking piercingly and sternly at the enemies of Orthodoxy - Rus' during this period was under the yoke of the Tatar-Mongols.

“The Savior Not Made by Hands” is an icon especially revered by Orthodox Christians in Rus'. It has always been present on Russian military flags since the time of the Mamaev Massacre.

A.G. Namerovsky. Sergius of Radonezh blesses Dmitry Donskoy for a feat of arms

Through many of His icons the Lord manifested Himself, revealing wondrous miracles. So, for example, in the village of Spassky, near the city of Tomsk, in 1666, one Tomsk painter, to whom the village residents ordered an icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker for their chapel, set to work according to all rules. He called on the residents to fast and pray, and on the prepared board he painted the face of the saint of God so that he could work with paints the next day. But the next day, instead of Saint Nicholas, I saw on the board the outlines of the Miraculous Image of Christ the Savior! Twice he restored the features of St. Nicholas the Pleasant, and twice the face of the Savior was miraculously restored on the board. The same thing happened a third time. This is how the icon of the Miraculous Image was written on the board. The rumor about the sign that had taken place spread far beyond Spassky, and pilgrims began to flock here from everywhere. Quite a lot of time passed; due to dampness and dust, the constantly open icon became dilapidated and required restoration. Then, on March 13, 1788, the icon painter Daniil Petrov, with the blessing of Abbot Palladius, the abbot of the monastery in Tomsk, began to remove the previous face of the Savior from the icon with a knife in order to paint a new one. I already took a full handful of paints from the board, but the holy face of the Savior remained unchanged. Fear fell on everyone who saw this miracle, and since then no one has dared to update the image. In 1930, like most churches, this temple was closed and the icon disappeared.

The miraculous image of Christ the Savior, erected by an unknown person and unknown when, in the city of Vyatka on the porch (porch in front of the church) of the Ascension Cathedral, became famous for the countless healings that took place before it, mainly from eye diseases. A distinctive feature of the Vyatka Savior Not Made by Hands is the image of angels standing on the sides, whose figures are not fully depicted. The list of the miraculous Vyatka icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands hung from inside over the Spassky Gate of the Moscow Kremlin. The icon itself was delivered from Khlynov (Vyatka) and left in the Moscow Novospassky Monastery in 1647. The exact list was sent to Khlynov, and the second one was installed above the gates of the Frolovskaya tower. In honor of the image of the Savior and the fresco of the Savior of Smolensk with outside, the gate through which the icon was delivered and the tower itself were called Spassky.

Another miraculous image of the Savior Not Made by Hands is located in the Transfiguration Cathedral in St. Petersburg. The icon was painted for Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich famous icon painter Simon Ushakov. It was handed over by the queen to her son, Peter I. He always took the icon with him on military campaigns, and he was with it at the foundation of St. Petersburg. This icon saved the life of the king more than once. The emperor carried a list of this miraculous icon with him. Alexander III. During the crash of the royal train on the Kursk-Kharkov-Azov railway On October 17, 1888, he emerged from the destroyed carriage along with his entire family unharmed. The icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands was also preserved intact, even the glass in the icon case remained intact.

In the collection of the State Museum of Art of Georgia is encaustic icon 7th century, called the “Anchiskhat Savior”, representing Christ from the chest. Georgian folk tradition identifies this icon with the Image of the Savior Not Made by Hands from Edessa.
In the West, the legend of the Savior Not Made by Hands became widespread as the legend of the Payment of Saint Veronica. According to him, the pious Jewish Veronica, who accompanied Christ on His way of the cross to Calvary, gave Him a linen handkerchief so that Christ could wipe the blood and sweat from his face. The face of Jesus was imprinted on the handkerchief. The relic, called the “Veronica board”, is kept in the Cathedral of St. Peter's in Rome. Presumably, the name Veronica, when mentioning the Image Not Made by Hands, arose as a distortion of Lat. vera icon (true image). In Western iconography distinctive feature images of the “Plate of Veronica” - a crown of thorns on the head of the Savior.

According to Christian tradition, the miraculous Image of the Savior Jesus Christ is one of the proofs of the truth of the incarnation in human image of the second person of the Trinity. The ability to capture the image of God, according to teaching Orthodox Church, is associated with the Incarnation, that is, the birth of Jesus Christ, God the Son, or, as believers usually call Him, the Savior, the Savior. Before His birth, the appearance of icons was unreal - God the Father is invisible and incomprehensible, therefore, incomprehensible. Thus, the first icon painter was God himself, His Son - “the image of His hypostasis” (Heb. 1.3). God acquired a human face, the Word became flesh for the salvation of man.

Troparion, tone 2
We worship Your most pure image, O Good One, asking for forgiveness of our sins, O Christ our God: for by the will of Thou didst deign to ascend in the flesh to the cross, that Thou mightest deliver what Thou hast created from the work of the enemy. We also cry out to You with gratitude: You have filled all with joy, 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 and God-written image is victorious leading to Thy false incarnation, we honor him with kisses.

_______________________________________________________

Documentary film “The Savior Not Made by Hands”

An image left to us by the Savior himself. The very first detailed intravital description appearance Jesus Christ, was left to us by the proconsul of Palestine, Publius Lentulus. In Rome, in one of the libraries, an undeniably truthful manuscript was found, which has great historical value. This is a letter that Publius Lentulus, who ruled Judea before Pontius Pilate, wrote to the ruler of Rome, Caesar. It talked about Jesus Christ. Letter to Latin and written during the years when Jesus first taught the people.

Director: T. Malova, Russia, 2007

The first Christian icon is the “Savior Not Made by Hands”; it is the basis of all Orthodox icon veneration.

Story

Having received the portrait, Avgar was healed of his main illness, but his face remained damaged.

In 544, during the siege of Edessa by the troops of the Persian king Chozroes, the Bishop of Edessa, Eulalis, was given a revelation about the whereabouts of the Icon Not Made by Hands. Having dismantled the brickwork in the indicated place, the residents saw not only a perfectly preserved image and a lamp that had not gone out for so many years, but also the imprint of the Most Holy Face on the ceramics - a clay board that covered the holy lining.

After a religious procession with the Image Not Made by Hands along the city walls, the Persian army retreated.

A linen cloth with the image of Christ was kept in Edessa for a long time as the most important treasure of the city. During the period of iconoclasm, John of Damascus referred to the Image Not Made by Hands, and in 787, the Seventh Ecumenical Council, citing it as the most important evidence in favor of icon veneration. In 944, the Byzantine emperors Constantine Porphyrogenitus and Roman I bought the Image Not Made by Hands from Edessa. Crowds of people surrounded and brought up the rear of the procession as the Image Miraculous was transferred from the city to the bank of the Euphrates, where galleys awaited the procession to cross the river. Christians began to grumble, refusing to give up the holy Image unless there was a sign from God. And a sign was given to them. Suddenly the galley, onto which the Image Not Made by Hands had already been brought, swam without any action and landed on the opposite shore.

The hushed Edessians returned to the city, and the procession with the Icon moved further along the dry route. Throughout the journey to Constantinople, miracles of healing were performed continuously. The monks and saints accompanying the Image Not Made by Hands traveled around the entire capital by sea with a magnificent ceremony and installed the holy Image in the Pharos Church. In honor of this event, on August 16, the church holiday of the Transfer of the Image Not Made by Hands (Ubrus) of the Lord Jesus Christ from Edessa to Constantinople was established.

There is a legend that the Image Not Made by Hands was transferred around 1362 to Genoa, where it is kept in a monastery in honor of the Apostle Bartholomew.

Plat of Saint Veronica

In the West, the legend of the Savior Not Made by Hands became widespread as tales of the Plath of Saint Veronica. According to him, the pious Jewish Veronica, who accompanied Christ on His way of the cross to Calvary, gave Him a linen handkerchief so that Christ could wipe the blood and sweat from his face. The face of Jesus was imprinted on the handkerchief.

The relic called "Veronica's board" kept in the Cathedral of St. Peter's in Rome. Presumably, the name Veronica, when mentioning the Image Not Made by Hands, arose as a distortion of Lat. vera icon (true image). In Western iconography, a distinctive feature of the images of the “Plate of Veronica” is the crown of thorns on the head of the Savior.

Iconography

In the Orthodox icon painting tradition there are two main types of images of the Holy Face: "Spas on the ubrus", or "Ubrus" And "Spas on the Chrepii", or "Skull".

On icons of the “Spas on the Ubrus” type, the image of the Savior’s face is placed against the background of a cloth, the fabric of which is gathered into folds, and its upper ends are tied with knots. Around the head is a halo, a symbol of holiness. The color of the halo is usually golden. Unlike the haloes of saints, the halo of the Savior has an inscribed cross. This element is found only in the iconography of Jesus Christ. In Byzantine images it was decorated with precious stones. Later, the cross in halos began to be depicted as consisting of nine lines according to the number of nine angelic ranks and three Greek letters were inscribed (I am Jehovah), and on the sides of the halo in the background were placed the abbreviated name of the Savior - IC and HS. Such icons in Byzantium were called “Holy Mandylion” (Άγιον Μανδύλιον from the Greek μανδύας - “ubrus, cloak”).

On icons such as “The Savior on the Chrepiya”, or “Chrepiye”, according to legend, the image of the Savior’s face after the miraculous acquisition of the ubrus was also imprinted on the ceramide tiles with which the Image Not Made by Hands was covered. Such icons in Byzantium were called “Saint Keramidion”. There is no image of the board on them, the background is smooth, and in some cases imitates the texture of tiles or masonry.

The most ancient images were made on a clean background, without any hint of material or tiles.

Savior Not Made by Hands “Savior of Wet Brad”

In the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Mother of God in the Kremlin there is one of the revered and rare icons - "Spas the Ardent Eye". It was written in 1344 for the old Assumption Cathedral. It depicts the stern face of Christ looking piercingly and sternly at the enemies of Orthodoxy - Rus' during this period was under the yoke of the Tatar-Mongols.

Miraculous lists of the “Savior Not Made by Hands”

“The Savior Not Made by Hands” is an icon especially revered by Orthodox Christians in Rus'. It has always been present on Russian military flags since the time of the Mamaev Massacre.

A.G. Namerovsky. Sergius of Radonezh blesses Dmitry Donskoy for a feat of arms

The earliest surviving icon of the “Savior Not Made by Hands” - a Novgorod double-sided image of the 12th century - is located in the Tretyakov Gallery.

Savior Not Made by Hands. Third quarter of the 12th century. Novgorod

Glorification of the Cross (reverse side of the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands) XII century. Novgorod

The miraculous image of Christ the Savior, erected by an unknown person and unknown when, in the city of Vyatka on the porch (porch in front of the church) of the Ascension Cathedral, became famous for the countless healings that took place before it, mainly from eye diseases. A distinctive feature of the Vyatka Savior Not Made by Hands is the image of angels standing on the sides, whose figures are not fully depicted. Until 1917, the copy of the miraculous Vyatka icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands hung on the inside above the Spassky Gate of the Moscow Kremlin. The icon itself was delivered from Khlynov (Vyatka) and left in the Moscow Novospassky Monastery in 1647. The exact list was sent to Khlynov, and the second one was installed above the gates of the Frolovskaya tower. In honor of the image of the Savior and the fresco of the Savior of Smolensk on the outside, the gate through which the icon was delivered and the tower itself were named Spassky.

Another miraculous image of the Savior Not Made by Hands located in the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral in St. Petersburg.

Icon “Savior Not Made by Hands” in the Transfiguration Cathedral in St. Petersburg. Was the favorite image of Emperor Peter I.

The icon was painted, presumably, in 1676 for Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich by the famous Moscow icon painter Simon Ushakov. It was handed over by the queen to her son, Peter I. He always took the icon with him on military campaigns. It was in front of this icon that the emperor prayed at the founding of St. Petersburg, as well as on the eve of the fateful Poltava battle for Russia. This icon saved the life of the king more than once. Emperor Alexander III carried a list of this miraculous icon with him. During the crash of the Tsar's train on the Kursk-Kharkov-Azov Railway on October 17, 1888, he emerged from the destroyed carriage along with his entire family unharmed. The icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands was also preserved intact, even the glass in the icon case remained intact.

In the collection of the State Museum of Art of Georgia there is an encaustic icon from the 7th century called "Anchiskhatsky Savior", representing Christ from the chest. Georgian folk tradition identifies this icon with the Image of the Savior Not Made by Hands from Edessa.

“Anchiskhatsky Savior” is one of the most revered Georgian shrines. In ancient times, the icon was located in the Anchi Monastery in Southwestern Georgia; in 1664 it was moved to the Tbilisi church in honor of the Nativity Holy Mother of God, VI century, which after the transfer of the icon received the name Anchiskhati (currently kept in the State Museum of Arts of Georgia).

Miraculous icon"All-Merciful Savior" in Tutaev

The miraculous icon of the “All-Merciful Savior” is located in the Tutaevsky Resurrection Cathedral. The ancient image was painted in the middle of the 15th century famous icon painter Dionysius Glushitsky. The icon is huge - about 3 meters.

Initially, the icon was located in the dome (it was the “sky”) of a wooden church in honor of the holy princes Boris and Gleb, which explains its large size (three meters in height). When was it built stone temple, the icon of the Savior was transferred to the summer Church of the Resurrection.

In 1749, by decree of Saint Arseny (Matseevich), the image was taken to Rostov the Great. The icon remained in the Bishop's House for 44 years; only in 1793 were the residents of Borisoglebsk allowed to return it to the cathedral. With great joy they carried the shrine from Rostov in their arms and in front of the settlement they stopped at the Kovat River to wash away the road dust. Where they placed the icon, a spring of pure spring water flowed, which exists to this day and is revered as holy and healing.

From that time on, miracles of healing from physical and spiritual illnesses began to occur at the holy image. In 1850, at the expense of grateful parishioners and pilgrims, the icon was decorated with a silver-gilded crown and chasuble, confiscated by the Bolsheviks in 1923. The crown that is currently on the icon is its copy.

There is a long-standing tradition of crawling with prayer under the miraculous icon of the Savior on your knees. For this purpose, there is a special window in the icon case under the icon.

Every year, on July 2, on the cathedral holiday, the miraculous image is taken out of the temple on a special stretcher and performed procession with the icon of the Savior through the streets of the city with singing and prayers.

And then, if desired, believers climb into the hole under the icon - a healing hole, and crawl on their knees or on their haunches under the “All-Merciful Savior” with a prayer for healing.

According to Christian tradition, the miraculous Image of the Savior Jesus Christ is one of the proofs of the truth of the incarnation in human image of the second person of the Trinity. The ability to capture the image of God, according to the teachings of the Orthodox Church, is associated with the Incarnation, that is, the birth of Jesus Christ, God the Son, or, as believers usually call Him, the Savior, the Savior. Before His birth, the appearance of icons was unreal - God the Father is invisible and incomprehensible, therefore, incomprehensible. Thus, the first icon painter was God himself, His Son - “the image of His hypostasis” (Heb. 1.3). God acquired a human face, the Word became flesh for the salvation of man.

Documentary film “SPAS NOT MADE BY HANDS” (2007)

An image left to us by the Savior himself. The very first detailed lifetime description of the appearance of Jesus Christ was left to us by the proconsul of Palestine, Publius Lentulus. In Rome, in one of the libraries, an undeniably truthful manuscript was found, which has great historical value. This is a letter that Publius Lentulus, who ruled Judea before Pontius Pilate, wrote to the ruler of Rome.

Prayer to the Lord
Lord, Generous and Merciful, Long-suffering and Many-merciful, inspire our prayer and listen to the voice of our prayer, create a sign for good with us, guide us on Your path, to walk in Your truth, make our hearts glad, in fear of Your Holy Name. You are great and work miracles, You are the only God, and there is no one like You in God, Lord, strong in mercy and good in strength, to help and comfort and save all who trust in Your holy Name. Amen.

Another prayer to the Lord
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 cover for Yourself and You deigned to send it to the Prince of Edessa Abgar to heal him from an 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 away Thy face, O Lord, from us, and do not turn aside in anger from Thy servants, O helper to us. wake up, do not reject us and do not leave us. Oh, All-Merciful Lord, our Savior, depict Yourself in our souls, so that living in holiness and truth, 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.

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 Abgar V, whose residence was in the capital of the state of Edessa, fell ill with an 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 canvas, along the edges of which there is an outline, and the upper ends are tied in knots.

After the miraculous healing of Abgar, there is no mention of this icon until 545, when Edessa was blockaded by Persian troops. How often does this happen in Hard time 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 ceramic wall vaults, or Ceramidione. 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 vicious 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, since the import of its copy from Constantinople in 1355, played a 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.

“The Son of Man has not come 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, on the eve solemnly transferred to Constantinople from the distant Syrian city of Edessa, was placed in the reliquary church 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 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 grief, 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 filled with bliss, then how much more blessed were the 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 bends 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 compunction, 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, 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, gripped 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 wonderful 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 with a pure heart sing to Thy mercy: Alleluia.

Ikos 6

Ascension in my sorrow, Thy comforting word, O my Savior, Thou didst say: “I will not leave you orphans, I will come to you.” For this sake, 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 Giver of Life, and like David I cry to You: My Lord, Lord, hear my prayer, heed 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, the one who is perishing, with boldness I 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 publican, so that I may sing to You, saying:

My Lord, Lord, you who have received our ailments and suffered illnesses, heal the diseases 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 Thy prayer to thee:

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 other sinners and do not turn Your face away from me, but look upon the fierce sorrow and sadness of my soul, heal and strengthen me 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 who am perishing and with Your grace sanctify my soul, cleanse my body and correct my life, but according to Your commandment, let me sing to You 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, and 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 cover for Yourself and You deigned to send it to the Prince of Edessa Abgar to heal him from an illness. Behold, now we are Your sinful servants, obsessed with our mental and physical ailments, we seek Your face, O Lord, and with David in the humility of our souls we call, do not turn away Your face, O Lord, from us, and do not turn aside in anger from Your 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, 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

By blessing His Holiness Patriarch 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 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 earlier versions 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 frame 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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Origin

There are two groups of legends about the origin of the relic, which served as the source of iconography, each of which reports its miraculous origin.

Reconstruction of the Constantinople Icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands

Eastern version of the legend

The eastern version of the legend about the Image Not Made by Hands can be traced in Syrian sources from the 4th century. The miraculous image of Christ was captured for the king of Edessa (Mesopotamia, modern city of Sanliurfa, Turkey) Abgar V Ukkama after the artist he sent failed to depict Christ: Christ washed his face, wiped it with a cloth (ubrus), on which an imprint remained, and handed it to the artist. Thus, according to legend, the Mandylion became the first icon in history.

A linen cloth with the image of Christ was kept in Edessa for a long time as the most important treasure of the city. During the period of iconoclasm, John of Damascus referred to the Image Not Made by Hands, and in 787 the Seventh Ecumenical Council, citing it as the most important evidence in favor of icon veneration. On August 29, 944, the image was bought from Edessa by Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus and solemnly transferred to Constantinople, this day became a church calendar as a general church holiday. The relic was stolen from Constantinople during the sack of the city by participants in the IV Crusade in 1204, after which it was lost (according to legend, the ship carrying the icon was wrecked).

The closest to the original image are considered to be the Mandylion from the Temple of San Silvestro in Capite, now located in the Santa Matilda Chapel of the Vatican, and the Mandylion, kept in the Church of St. Bartholomew in Genoa since 1384. Both icons are painted on canvas, mounted on wooden bases, have the same format (approximately 29x40 cm) and are covered with a flat silver frame, cut along the contours of the head, beard and hair. In addition, the wings of a triptych with the now lost centerpiece from the monastery of St. can testify to the appearance of the original relic. Catherine in Sinai. According to the most daring hypotheses, the “original” Savior Not Made by Hands, sent to Abgar, served as the mediator.

Western version of the legend

Holy Face of Manopello

Western version legends arose according to various sources from the 13th to the 15th centuries, most likely among Franciscan monks. According to it, the pious Jewish woman Veronica, who accompanied Christ on His way of the cross to Calvary, gave Him a linen handkerchief so that Christ could wipe the blood and sweat from his face. The face of Jesus was imprinted on the handkerchief. The relic called " Veronica's board"Kept in the Cathedral of St. Peter's in Rome. Presumably, the name Veronica, when mentioning the Image Not Made by Hands, arose as a distortion of Lat. vera icon (true image). In Western iconography, a distinctive feature of the images of the “Plate of Veronica” is the crown of thorns on the head of the Savior.

At one time, the now canceled constellation was named in honor of the “Plate of Veronica”. On the scarf, when held up to the light, you can see the image of the face of Jesus Christ. Attempts to examine the image established that the image was not painted with paint or any known organic materials. IN given time scientists intend to continue research.

At least two “Veronica’s Fees” are known: 1. in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican and 2. “The Face from Manopello”, which is also called “Veil of Veronica”, but there is no crown of thorns on it, the drawing is positive, the proportions of the parts of the face are disturbed (the lower eyelid of the left eye is very different from the right, etc. ), which allows us to conclude that this is a list from the “Savior Not Made by Hands” sent to Avgar, and not “Veronica’s Plath”.

Version of the connection between the image and the Shroud of Turin

There are theories connecting the Image of the Savior Not Made by Hands with another famous common Christian relic - the Shroud of Turin. The Shroud is a life-size image of Christ on canvas. Exhibited in Edessa and Constantinople, the plate depicting the face of the Savior, according to theories, could be a shroud folded several times, thus the original icon could not have been lost in time crusades, and was taken to Europe and found in Turin. In addition, one of the excerpts of the Image Not Made by Hands is “ Savior Not Made by Hands - Don’t cry for Me, Mother» ( Christ in the tomb) researchers elevate the shroud to a historical prototype.

Icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands in Russian Letter

First samples. The beginning of the Russian tradition

Icons of the Savior Not Made by Hands come to Rus', according to some sources, already in the 9th century. The oldest surviving icon of this iconographic type is the Novgorod Savior Not Made by Hands (second half of the 12th century). The following iconographic types of the Miraculous Image can be distinguished: “ Spas on the ubrus" or simply " Ubrus", where the face of Christ is placed on the image of the board (ubrus) light shade And " Spas on the Chrepii" or simply " Chrepie"(in the meaning of "tile", "brick"), " Ceramide" According to legend, the image of Christ appeared on the tiles or bricks that hid a niche with the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands. Occasionally, on this type of icon the background is an image of brick or tile masonry, but more often the background is simply given in a darker color (compared to ubrus).

Of water

The most ancient images were made on a clean background, without any hint of material or tiles. The image of a smooth rectangular or slightly curved veneer as a background is already found on the fresco of the Church of the Savior on Nereditsa (Novgorod) from the end of the 12th century. Ubrus with folds began to spread from the second half of the 13th century, primarily in Byzantine and South Slavic icon painting, on Russian icons - from the 14th century. Since the 15th century, a draped cloth can be held by the upper ends by two angels. In addition, it is known various options icons " Savior Not Made by Hands with deeds", when the image of Christ in the middle of the icon is surrounded by stamps with the history of the image. From the end of the 17th century. in Russian icon painting, under the influence of Catholic painting, images of Christ with a crown of thorns appear on the board, that is, in iconography “ Veronica Plat" Images of the Savior with a wedge-shaped beard (converging to one or two narrow ends) are also known in Byzantine sources, however, only on Russian soil they took shape into a separate iconographic type and received the name “ Spas Wet Brad».

In the collection of the State Museum of Art of Georgia there is an encaustic icon from the 7th century called “ Anchiskhatsky Savior", representing Christ from the chest and considered the "original" Edessa icon.

The Christian tradition considers the miraculous image of Christ as one of the proofs of the truth of the incarnation of the second person of the Trinity in human form, and in a narrower sense - as the most important evidence in favor of icon veneration.

According to tradition, the icon of the “Savior Not Made by Hands” is the first independent image that is entrusted to be painted by an icon painter who has completed an apprenticeship.

Various images of the Savior

Vyatsky Savior Not Made by Hands

Until 1917, the copy of the miraculous Vyatka icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands hung on the inside above the Spassky Gate of the Moscow Kremlin. The icon itself was delivered from Khlynov (Vyatka) and left in the Moscow Novospassky Monastery in 1647. The exact list was sent to Khlynov, and the second one was installed above the gate of the Frolov Tower. In honor of the image of the Savior and the fresco of the Savior of Smolensk on the outside, the gate through which the icon was delivered and the tower itself were named Spassky.

A distinctive feature of the Vyatka Savior Not Made by Hands is the image of angels standing on the sides, whose figures are not fully depicted. Angels do not stand on clouds, but seem to float in the air. One can also highlight the unique features of the face of Christ. On a vertically hanging panel of ubrus with wavy folds, a slightly elongated face with a high forehead is depicted frontally. It is inscribed in the plane of the icon board so that the center of the composition becomes large eyes, endowed with great expressiveness. Christ's gaze is directed directly at the viewer, his eyebrows raised high. Lush hair falls in long strands flying to the side, three on the left and on the right. The short beard is divided into two parts. Strands of hair and beard extend beyond the circumference of the halo. The eyes are painted lightly and transparently, their gaze has the attractiveness of a real look. The face of Christ expresses calmness, mercy and meekness.

After 1917, the original icon in the Novospassky Monastery and the list above the Spassky Gate were lost. Nowadays the monastery houses a list from the 19th century, which takes the place of the original in the iconostasis of the Transfiguration Cathedral. The list left in Vyatka was kept until 1929, after which it was also lost.

In June 2010, with the help research fellow The Vyatka Art Museum of Galina Alekseevna Mokhova established exactly what the miraculous Vyatka icon looked like, after which a new one was painted exact list The Savior Not Made by Hands and at the end of August was sent to Kirov (Vyatka) for installation in the Spassky Cathedral.

Kharkov Spas Not Made by Hands

Main article: Spas Renewed

Historical facts

All-Russian Emperor Alexander III had a copy of the ancient miraculous Vologda Icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands with him during the train crash near Borki station. Almost immediately after the miraculous salvation, by decree of the Ruling Synod, a special prayer service was compiled and published in honor of the miraculous image of the Savior Not Made by Hands.

Notes

Links

Hegumen Innocent (Erokhin). The miraculous image of the Savior as the basis of icon painting and icon veneration on the website of the Vladivostok diocese
Sharon Gerstel. Miraculous Mandylion. The image of the Savior Not Made by Hands in Byzantine iconographic programs
Irina Shalina. Icon “Christ in the tomb” and the image not made by hands on the Shroud of Constantinople
Military relics: Banners with the Image of the Savior Not Made by Hands

The most ancient Russian icons
Greek (Korsun)	Our Lady of Vladimir Our Lady of Smolensk 1 Savior Golden Robe Peter and Paul Saint George

The icon was saved by someone not made by hands. Miraculous icon “Savior Not Made by Hands”

Read also

A.G. Namerovsky. Sergius of Radonezh blesses Dmitry Donskoy for a feat of arms

Documentary film “The Savior Not Made by Hands”

Legend of the icon

Features of the icon

Icon “Savior Not Made by Hands” today

UNMADE IMAGE
Troparion, tone 2

Kontakion, tone 2

Greatness

Foreign greatness

Word on the Day of the Image of the Lord Not Made by Hands

Akathist to the image of our Lord Jesus Christ not made by hands

Origin

Eastern version of the legend

Western version of the legend

Version of the connection between the image and the Shroud of Turin

Icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands in Russian Letter

First samples. The beginning of the Russian tradition

Of water

Various images of the Savior

Vyatsky Savior Not Made by Hands

Kharkov Spas Not Made by Hands

Historical facts

see also

Notes

Links

The icon was saved by someone not made by hands. Miraculous icon “Savior Not Made by Hands”

Read also

A.G. Namerovsky. Sergius of Radonezh blesses Dmitry Donskoy for a feat of arms

Documentary film “The Savior Not Made by Hands”

Legend of the icon

Features of the icon

Icon “Savior Not Made by Hands” today

UNMADE IMAGE Troparion, tone 2

Kontakion, tone 2

Greatness

Foreign greatness

Word on the Day of the Image of the Lord Not Made by Hands

Akathist to the image of our Lord Jesus Christ not made by hands

Origin

Eastern version of the legend

Western version of the legend

Version of the connection between the image and the Shroud of Turin

Icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands in Russian Letter

First samples. The beginning of the Russian tradition

Of water

Various images of the Savior

Vyatsky Savior Not Made by Hands

Kharkov Spas Not Made by Hands

Historical facts

see also

Notes

Links

UNMADE IMAGE
Troparion, tone 2