The Holy Napkin Handmade Orthodox Icon

The Story of the Holy Mandylion: The Miraculous Acheiropoietos Icon of Jesus Christ

According to Orthodox Christian tradition, the toparch of Edessa, King Abgar, suffered from leprosy. When he heard about the miracles performed by Jesus Christ, he sent his messenger Ananias to Jerusalem with a letter, asking the Lord for healing.

As Ananias listened to Christ’s teaching, he attempted to capture His likeness on paper. Seeing this, Jesus asked His disciples for water, washed His face, and wiped it with a linen cloth. At that moment, His Holy Image was miraculously imprinted on the fabric, creating one of the first Acheiropoietos Icons—an image “not made by human hands,” known as the Holy Mandylion or the Image of Edessa.

Ananias brought the sacred cloth back to King Abgar, who was instantly healed upon receiving it and embraced the Christian faith.

The Fate of the Holy Mandylion

The Holy Mandylion was preserved for centuries in Constantinople until it disappeared in 1204 AD, during the city’s conquest by the Crusaders. Since then, it has been regarded as one of the lost relics of the Orthodox Church.

Feast of the Translation of the Image of Christ

The Translation of the Image of Our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ is celebrated each year by the Orthodox Christian Church on August 16.