Akathist to the Image of the Savior Not Made by Hands

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29 In August, the Feast of the Miraculous Image (Ubrus) of the Lord Jesus Christ is celebrated. This holiday is popularly called the Third Savior or Nut Savior (because on this day, after the Liturgy, the nuts of the new harvest are blessed).

about the amazing history of the Image Not Made by Hands on the THIRD SPAS website page. Transfer of the Image of the Savior Not Made by Hands

Below we enclose the Akathist, read before the Image Not Made by Hands of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Akathist to the miraculous image of the SAVIOR

Kontakion 1

In the chosen Voivode and Creator of the world, hear us sinners praying to You - our Creator and Provider, look down from the height of Your holy dwelling upon us, offering praise and thanksgiving to You, our Lord, the Source of life and the Conqueror of death. For You, having become a Man, revealed Your bright Face to us and for the sake of our salvation You accepted Suffering, the Cross and Death. For this reason we pray to You: look upon us and abide with us forever, and with a voice of joy we will sing to You: Glory to You, Lord Jesus Christ, Our Merciful God and Savior!

Ikos 1

But the Creator of angels, our Great and Eternal God, who deigned to be incarnate from the Most Pure Virgin Mary for the sake of our salvation and to show us Your face, the heavenly ranks could not rise against the wickedness. We now glorify Your most pure Face, imprinted on the ubrus, Lord Jesus, we glorify Your saving Passion and confess the glorious Resurrection. For you are our God, revealing in yourself the glory of the Father and abide with us. Thus marveling at Your omnipotence, You, the Master of the world, we cry: Glory to You, the beginning of a new and eternal life. Glory to You, the unquenchable Light of the new day, shine in spiritual darkness. Glory to Thee, Dawn of our salvation. Glory to You, uncreated, unevening and humane Light. Glory to Thee, Vine, Wisdom and Power of God. Glory to You, Good Shepherd, who seeks the lost sheep. Glory to Thee, the wise Steward, who removes the lost drachma from the rubbish of sin. Glory to Thee, O Most Merciful One, Who with Thy love finds us and returns us to the Father’s house. Glory to You, who again gives us the Godlikeness lost in a sinful life. Glory to You, Who clothes us, Your prodigal children, in imperishable clothing. Glory to You, who prepares a festive meal for us and calls us to It. Glory to You, who takes us out of the darkness of sin and leads us to the light of Thy Truth and love. Glory to You, Lord Jesus Christ, Our Merciful God and Savior!

Kontakion 2

In the image of the most pure Face of Jesus shining with heavenly light, imprinted on the veneer with divine power and showing us the image of the glory of the Father and His greatness, we confess Thee, Sweetest Jesus, we give Thee praise for our life and for all the good deeds, of which Thou, Our Creator, all-generously I will take out what you poured out on us, and we cry out to You in gratitude: Hallelujah.

Ikos 2

We dedicate the mind given to us by You, Lord Jesus, to the praise of Your Most Pure Name, as You created us, and with the least of Your Angels You made us a little less. For You are our God, with the Father and the Spirit calling Your entire creation from non-existence to being. You have revealed Your Truth in the words of Holy Scripture, and strive to glorify Your Greatness and Mercy, Creator of Lights. Truly, what is man, since you remember him? Or son of man, how do you visit him with your great and ineffable goodness? For this reason, in the tenderness of our hearts, we cry out to Thee: Glory to Thee, the beginningless Word, co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit. Glory to You, the Word of God, surpassing all heights and depths. Glory to You, Word of God, who created the world and preserves it. Glory to Thee, the Word of God, who created Adam and saved him. Glory to You, who called creation from non-existence to existence. Glory to You, who created us in Your image and likeness. Glory to You, Who instills us in the Garden of Eden of eternal life. Glory to You, who bestows upon us everything out of Your divine love. Glory to You, the Leader, because we violated Your commandments and through this found ourselves under the power of death. Glory to You, who extends Your saving right hand to us, reviving and renewing our nature. Glory to You, Lord Jesus Christ, Our Merciful God and Savior!

Kontakion 3

With the strength of great and ineffable Love and the grace of Omnipotence, a quiet Light shone for us, like the Dawn of the coming redemption of all creation and a new Tree of life, giving great hope to all mortals, Your incarnation appeared to the world. You quenched Adam's thirst for forgiveness, in You is the consolation of Abel and Noah's hope of salvation, in You is the fulfillment of Abraham's expectation. You have shown us the Father, imprinted in You, as a sign of His eternal love. Having been God from eternity, You became Man in order to unite us with Yourself, thereby fulfilling and fulfilling the ancient prophecies. For this reason we gratefully cry out to You: Hallelujah.

Ikos 3

And may we give praise to Thy mercy, O All-merciful Jesus, we ask Thee: accept our confession, that we may rejoice in Thy love, and may we be established in Thy righteousness. Who is the Lord besides You, Christ the Savior? You are the Life of our souls. For You are our God, born of the All-Immaculate Virgin Mary, You took on human flesh in order to save all of us who cry to You: Glory to You, who, out of love for us, was born of the Virgin Mary and took on human flesh. Glory to You, Who has renewed all human nature from above with Your Nativity. Glory to You, who became a slave for the salvation of Your creation. Glory to You, who appeared in the world as a partaker of the glory of the Heavenly Father. Glory to You, King of the Universe, humbled by Your creation. Glory to You, the Almighty, who came into the world as a helpless Baby. Glory to Thee, Word of the Father, who entered Jerusalem on the foal of a donkey. Glory to You, Creator of the worlds, who has no place on earth to lay his head. Glory to Thee, King of kings, who shared our poverty in the darkness of the Bethlehem cave. Glory to Thee, the Almighty, who humbled Himself in the manger of Bethlehem in order to magnify the human race. Glory to Thee, All-Merciful One, who grants forgiveness to all of us and commands us to forgive our debtors. Glory to You, Son of the Eternal Father, who showed the Light of salvation to the world. Glory to You, Lord Jesus Christ, Our Merciful God and Savior!

Kontakion 4

The storms of doubt and troubles of the sea of life will not be able to remove us from You, All-Merciful Jesus, who took flesh from the Most Pure Mary, by whose faith, by the will of the Heavenly Father, You were immaculately conceived and born. You, to Whom the seas and winds obey, lay in a cradle, in a stable. Eternal God, Hypostatic Logos, You appeared like a defenseless Baby wrapped in swaddling clothes in order to heal our fall from grace. You, the Creator of all creation, become a slave in order to free us from slavery to sin and lead us to eternal life. For this reason, in gratitude to You, Good Jesus, we cry: Hallelujah.

Ikos 4

Having heard the Gospel story about Your incarnation, O Almighty and Our Savior, we thank You, who for the sake of our salvation have unfused and inseparably united our nature with our nature, and we pray to You, our holy Joy, teach us to do Your will, for You are Our God, so that we may not faint testify of Thy mercy, which has turned us away from evil ways, and raised our nose to the height of Thy confession. For You are our God, who came into the world in humility and humiliation in order to save everyone who now praises You: Glory to You, Creator of the Universe, above all the heavens, before Whom the cherubim tremble. Glory to Thee, Emmanuel, who sat in humility on the foal of a donkey. Glory to Thee, Divine Word, praised by infants. Glory to You, the Most High, who with Your love forgave those who exclaimed: “Hosanna” and “Crucify Him.” Glory to You, the Almighty, as you ascend to Jerusalem to bring Your lost creation to the Father’s house. Glory to Thee, Lover of Mankind, who came “to His own,” who “did not recognize Him.” Glory to Thee, O Merciful One, who has chosen the unreasonable creature, the prototype of us, the unreasonable ones. Glory to Thee, O most philanthropic and meek King, mounted on the foal of a donkey. Glory to You, a reliable refuge for all living things, glorified by children's lips. Glory to You, who conquered with goodness, Who destroyed the dominion of sin with Your humility and self-abasement. Glory to You, extending Your saving right hand to those who were created by Her. Glory to You, King of the Universe, who gives Himself to death for a sinful world. Glory to You, Lord Jesus Christ, Our Merciful God and Savior!

Kontakion 5

Having thoughtfully hidden Your divine glory, O Jesus Almighty, You appeared in this world like a man - without power and might, and entered like a slave into Jerusalem in order to exalt our human nature. You are the Source of life-giving water, wash away our sins and heal our wounds. You are the Judge of the Universe, entering Jerusalem on a donkey, so that we, the lost, can return the lost Eden, met there by many people who shouted Hosanna to You, but fell silent when they delivered You into the hands of the lawless. We sing Your redemptive feat and cry out to You in gratitude: Hallelujah.

Ikos 5

As we walk with spiritual gaze, as You, Our All-Good Savior, rejoice over us, warmed by Your holy love, we ask You: inflame us with love for You, our neighbors and all of Your creation, warm and sanctify our souls, so that we can accommodate You, the Inconceivable One, and bearing fruit, let us exalt Thee, the Incomprehensible One, for Thou art our King and our God, our honor and support, true life and true joy. Visit us with Your peace, embrace us with Your all-forgiving kindness, heal us from our sinful ulcers, may we not be deceived by the barrenness of our souls before Your Face, crying out to You: Glory to You, our Creator, bowing your head before Your creation. Glory to You, who humbled Yourself to deliver Adam from the shadow of the underworld. Glory to You, Perfect One, visiting our poverty in order to enrich it. Glory to You, who reveals to us the greatest secret of Your ministry. Glory to You, embodiment of love and forgiveness. Glory to You, who transforms bread and wine into Your Body and Blood. Glory to You, who gives Yourself as food to the faithful, in order to sanctify us. Glory to Thee, divine fire, burning our sins. Glory to You, who celebrated the last Old Testament Passover at the Last Supper. Glory to Thee, who prepares for us spiritual Food and divine Drink. Glory to You, Who gives the New Testament to Your Church. Glory to You, who offers Yourself as food for the faithful until You come to judge the living and the dead. Glory to You, Lord Jesus Christ, Our Merciful God and Savior!

Kontakion 6

preaches and sings today, O Christ, the greatest sacrament of Thy Mercy, for out of love for the human race, You celebrate a new Pascha at the Last Supper, in order to thereby fulfill ancient prophecies. You, the Divine Redeemer, call all of us, Your disciples, to this feast of faith, making us partakers of Your Mysteries - not to judgment or condemnation, but to the healing of soul and body. For this reason we gratefully cry out to You: Hallelujah.

Ikos 6

In Ossia there is a wealth of grace and an immeasurable breadth of happiness, for such boundless triumph to live in God and be called sons of God, to eternally draw near, to be sanctified and to be clothed in His divine splendor is the inheritance of immortality given to us by Your sacrificial love, Sweetest Jesus, for through You the ineffable the glory and incomprehensible greatness of the Trinitarian Godhead, who has made us participants in the triumph of His Divine Mind and joint heirs of His eternal Kingdom. Now, with hope, we praise Thee, for Thou art our God, Thou art the eternal Pascha and the new Pascha, and with tenderness of heart we cry out to Thee: Glory to Thee, for through Thee the Old Testament Law is renewed by grace. Glory to You, who imposes on us the commandment of love, giving us an example to follow in everything. Glory to You, Son of the Father, Lamb of God, and God born of man. Glory to You, who has become a saving Easter for us. Glory to You, the Easter of our salvation, who gave Himself to the slaughter for our sake. Glory to You, Baptism, Forgiveness and Salvation. Glory to You, who lies in the tomb, both mortal and immortal, who revealed Yourself in Your Resurrection. Glory to You, who has completed Your transitory earthly ministry, but is eternal in Your Divinity. Glory to You, our Resurrection and Life. Glory to Thee, our Light, eternal King and Lord. Glory to You, new Easter, opening the doors of heaven to us. Glory to Thee, Holy and Almighty, our Pascha is a new Pascha and an eternal Pascha. Glory to You, Lord Jesus Christ, Our Merciful God and Savior!

Kontakion 7

Although you reveal the secret of Your Divinity, hidden from time to time, O Christ, and deliver the human race from the fear of the vain and animal before the Eternal and Incomprehensible God, You have favored the status of man and have taught us in the love of God and neighbor, Our kindest Creator, we ask You: Come forth to seek and renew the dilapidated houses of our souls with Your visitation; and the joy of Zacchaeus will leap in our hearts, crying out to You with hope, O Sweetest Savior: Hallelujah.

Ikos 7

a new commandment, O Christ the Savior, Thy disciple: Serve one another, just as I now serve you, be united. Instruct us to do this too, so that together with the apostles and all Your faithful we may be worthy to glorify You more blessedly in eternity, our God, the first-born of the Father and clothed in human nature, in order to bestow new life on the whole world. Accept this praise offered to You: Glory to You, Lamb of Paschal, our Savior, in Whom all the ancient prophecies were fulfilled. Glory to You, who gave Yourself to the slaughter for our salvation. Glory to You, who suffered and died for us. Glory to You, sold like Joseph, bound like Isaac, and put to death like Abel. Glory to You, who heals the paralytic and the blind, and cleanses the lepers. Glory to You, the One who suffers, in order to ease the burdens of those who suffer, and the captive, in order to free the captives. Glory to You, spat upon in order to exalt the humiliated, and condemned instead of those worthy of condemnation. Glory to You, who accepted Suffering, Cross and Death for our sake. Glory to You, our Creator, who completed the creation of the world on the sixth day and created us. Glory to You, who says that we came from dust and must descend into dust. Glory to You, Source of peace and love, increase in the hearts of Your people the virtues of meekness and humility; Glory to Thee, Our Savior, eradicate in us the manifold deceit and hypocrisy; Glory to You, Lord Jesus Christ, Our Merciful God and Savior!

Kontakion 8

Since we are wandering in this world, and overwhelmed by a storm of sins and doubts, O All-merciful Savior, do not leave us and do not depart from us, Sweetest Jesus, lest we fall into the abyss of self-forgetfulness and despondency, and let us not diminish in ourselves Your image and likeness, for You , Lord Jesus, you strengthen our weakness from the Source of grace - Your Most Pure Mysteries, and thus revive the burning of our souls, saturated with love for You, so that nothing will separate us from Your goodness, crying out to You with hope: Hallelujah

Ikos 8

This is our desire and sweetness, Sweetest Lord Jesus, the hope of all the ends of the earth, for You are the salvation of all who turn to You. We pray to You to deprive us of power and to drive out all the power of the devil, its presence, its action and its influence, every atrocity, every evil glance, every evil action directed at us, as You trampled down death on the Cross by death and freed us from the power of demonism, with tenderness and faith calling Tisitsa: Glory to Thee, our Savior, nailed to the Cross and pierced by a spear. Glory to You, our Intercessor, who has endured countless blows and ridicule from evildoers. Glory to Thee, Almighty Love, who has transformed us into flowers of paradise and preserved them from the destroying thorns. Glory to Thee, Savior of the world, expelled from Jerusalem, who chose the path of the Passion. Glory to You, who stretches out your hands on the Cross and accepts everyone into Your arms, creating a new people of God from Jews and pagans. Glory to You, Great Peacemaker, exalting you on the Cross and reconciling Heaven and earth. Glory to Thee, pierced in the rib by a spear, Blood and Water flowed out of it, washing and reviving Thy Church. Glory to You, Who redeems human sins with Your wounds and heals us. Glory to You, Christ, with Your love revealed on the Cross, gathering together all the ends of the world. Glory to You, Source of peace and love, sending down a peaceful angel, a faithful mentor to Your people; Glory to Thee, Savior, who kindle with the fire of gracious love and peace our souls and hearts; Glory to You, God, establish peace and love in our hearts. Glory to You, Lord Jesus Christ, Our Merciful God and Savior!

Kontakion 9

All the powers of heaven trembled in that hour, when, while completing our atonement, you suffered crucifixion on the tree of the cross, O All-Merciful Jesus. In the two robbers crucified together with You, the Lord of the Universe, the whole world was reflected - the world of the faithful and the world of evil, shocked by how You, on Calvary, stretched out Your most pure hands in order to call everyone to You. The One crucified on the right hand personifies all those who believe and have placed their trust in You. Crucified on the left - those who slander Your Name, plunging themselves into the abyss of darkness. We cry out to You with love and gratitude: Hallelujah.

Ikos 9

In these things that speak of God, even if they say a lot, they will not be able to adequately glorify the great miracle of our Redemption, for you have freed us from the power of hell beyond all hell, Lord Jesus, and now to all who trust in your ineffable goodness, O Lord God, you have granted healing from passions and our illnesses. , we hereby pray to Thee: be merciful to us, created in Thy image, save us from every threat and adversity, from the evil spirit, protect us and grant us to rise in victory over all evil. For you are our God, who descended into hell and freed all captive souls. For this reason, with hope, we praise Thee: Glory to Thee, Who accepted death for our sake. Glory to You, who through the death of the Cross descended into hell and freed the souls of the captives. Glory to You, who chose death in order to snatch the sons of Adam from its embrace and ascend to Heaven. Glory to You, who freed the human race from sinful darkness and leads them to the eternal Light. Glory to You, who trampled death and destroyed its kingdom. Glory to You, who came from the tomb like Jonah from the belly of the whale. Glory to You, Heavenly Bridegroom, who rose from the dead and came to those who loved You. Glory to You, who rose from the grave and did not harm it, just as at His birth you did not violate the virginity of Your Mother. Glory to You, who opened the gates of salvation for us. Glory to You, who has granted forgiveness to the entire human race. Glory to You, who became everything to everyone, and who accomplished our salvation with Yourself. Glory to You, Giver of Life and our Lord. Glory to You, Lord Jesus Christ, Our Merciful God and Savior!

Kontakion 10

For our sake, You, All-Merciful Lord, died and were buried, descended into hell as the Liberator, and brought the souls languishing there to heaven, You became the Light and Giver of Life for all the righteous who have died from time immemorial. You have acquired the Holy Church for us, and in it, through the font of Baptism and the Sacrament of Communion, you have deified us; from the immortal source you have tasted, and you have bowed the heavens to the earth, and we, who are still on earth, like the secret-forming Cherubim, sing to You the great song, in the highest, the most hymn-bearing: Hallelujah.

Ikos 10

King of strength, purity and chastity, Christ Jesus, extinguish the flame of our passions with dew from above, so that with a pure heart and undefiled lips we glorify Your most pure Face, imprinted on the ubrus, Lord Jesus, Your saving Passion and glorious Resurrection. For You are our God, for with You we accept death together, O Christ, and with You we rise to eternal life, crying out: Glory to You, Who through Your burial gave life again to “dry bones.” Glory to You, who brought Light to the dead with Your life-giving death. Glory to You, who through Your Resurrection forever destroyed the power of darkness. Glory to You, who has given us eternal life. Glory to You, for the whole world the hope of immortality. Glory to You, who lifts us from earth to Heaven. Glory to You, who transforms our fallen nature with Your love. Glory to You, our eternal joy, the whole earth glorifies Your Resurrection. Glory to You, rising, like the Sun of Truth, from the darkness of death. Glory to You, who rewards the righteous for their holiness and forgives sinners with love. Glory to Thee, God and Savior, who grants us to love Thee with all our hearts and souls; Glory to You, Christ, challenge us to live in love and piety all the days of our life; Glory to You, Lord Jesus Christ, Our Merciful God and Savior!

Kontakion 11

singing to Thee, Lord, Our Savior and Creator, for Thou art the Firstborn of life, reclining in the tomb. After the Sabbath, the darkness reigning on earth was defeated, and the life-giving tomb was filled with Light: the Lord is risen from the dead! You, having preserved the virginity of Mary at Your birth, rose from the tomb without damaging it, and appeared to Your Most Pure Mother. For this reason we cry out to You in gratitude: Hallelujah.

Ikos 11

with light, like a robe, Our Most Blessed Savior, and decorate us with bright clothes, chanting the ineffable beauty of Your Most Pure Face, O Lord, and with hope asking You: grant us boundless goodness, endurance and patience, victory and love. We pray to You, stretch out your mighty hands and send down your highest and omnipotent power and come to our aid. For You are our God, sitting at the right hand of the Father, You have prepared a place for us in Your Heavenly Kingdom, and trusting in this, we cry out to You: Glory to You, who nailed our sins to the Cross and thereby healed us. Glory to Thee, who through the Ascension in glory united those who were previously separated from each other, and blessed them. Glory to You, who ascended into Heaven from the Mount of Olives and exalted our human nature. Glory to Thee, Son of God, now seated at the right hand of God the Father. Glory to You, for in You all the hidden prophetic secrets were fulfilled. Glory to You, who united the Heavenly with the earthly. Glory to You, who restored the lost unity of the Creator with His creation. Glory to You, who ascended into Heaven and created an abode for us. Glory to You, who transforms the world mired in sin and returns it to the Father’s house. Glory to You, You will come to earth again to judge the living and the Dead and call them to Yourself. Glory to You, for if You are with us, then all our enemies are powerless against us. Glory to You, who never forgets us and is always with us. Glory to You, Lord Jesus Christ, Our Merciful God and Savior!

Kontakion 12

B Thy grace, Lord our God, merciful to sinners, knowledgeable, even unworthy life, is revealed, the Source of life, we magnify and glorify Thee, as You lead us together with Adam into eternal life and grant immortality to the whole world, and also us all on earth instruct those who exist to live by You and in You, and to show Your kindness, like the purple of the generously loving Father, that we may see and confess: Because You are good, Jesus our God, so that we too may live before Your Face in the beauty of Your righteousness. For this reason we cry out in gratitude: Hallelujah.

Ikos 12

Singing Thy incomprehensible things about people and about the world You created, providence, Jesus, our Lord, we glorify Thee, and we ask: do not forbid us to pour out at the foot of Thy sorrow and joy, and the shame of bitter contrition for our sins. We know, O All-Bountiful Master, that you do not demand our good things, for you yourself are good. Grant us, therefore, contrition of heart and a laborious heart, so that we may bring before Your Face tears of immaculate repentance and unfaithful confession. Deign, O All-Merciful One, that in Thy love we may be warmed and renewed, crying out to thee with tenderness: Glory to Thee, Lord of Heaven and earth, abiding together with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Glory to You, who creates the Universe with Your Word. Glory to You, who pours out the grace of the Holy Spirit on all living things. Glory to Thee, who gathers together the nations scattered throughout the face of the earth. Glory to You, who chose them as messengers of the immortal Word. Glory to You, who transformed fishermen into preachers of God’s Truth. Glory to You, who does not abandon Your friends and gives them comfort. Glory to You, who sends the Holy Spirit, comes through You and appears to us. Glory to You, who reveals the Triune God to the faithful. Glory to You, who bestows grace on those who confess You. Glory to Thee, All-merciful Christ, who instructs us in Thy love for virtuous living; Glory to Thee, our God, may we glorify Thee in unanimity, O Lover of Mankind; Glory to You, Lord Jesus Christ, Our Merciful God and Savior!

Kontakion 13 (read three times)

O Great and Incomprehensible God, All-merciful and Sweetest Jesus Christ the Savior, His Face imprinted on the ubrus, Alpha and Omega - the Beginning and End of all things, All-Merciful King, the same yesterday, today and forever, according to the multitude of Your bounties, cleanse our iniquities , and write our names in the Book of the Belly, so that we too may see the eternal Garden of Eden, and together with Your chosen sheep we will enter the holy city of Heavenly Jerusalem and there we will be satisfied with Your glory and we will sing face to face to You forever and ever: Alleluia.

Ikos 1 (read again)

Kontakion 1 (also read again)

Prayer before the Image of Our Lord Jesus Christ Not Made by Hands

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, Be our helper, do not reject us and do not abandon us. O 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. centuries. Amen.

History of the Image of Christ Not Made by Hands

Misha Romanov – About the Image of the Savior Not Made by Hands

A bit of iconography

The canonical iconography of Jesus Christ is not so diverse in comparison with the Mother of God or St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. This is due to the fact that for a long time theologians had heated debates about whether it was possible to depict God in the flesh - no one saw him and no one knows what he looked like.

But since the Savior was a real historical person (not only Christian, but also other sources speak about this), the controversy regarding his image has somewhat subsided. Christ began to be depicted as a middle-aged man, with long hair, a mustache and a beard. Usually there are also divine attributes, less often - symbols of martyrdom (crown of thorns, cross, and so on).

View all icons in the SUNLIGHT catalog

However, most canonical Orthodox icons of Jesus come down to two types: Pantocrator (or Pantocrator) and Mandylion (Savior Not Made by Hands).

In the Christological series, many images of the Savior stand out, but most of them are not recognized by the official Orthodox Church. From her point of view, these are simply paintings on religious themes that cannot serve as objects of worship.

The icon of the “Savior Not Made by Hands” fits completely into the Orthodox canon and is perhaps the most popular in the Christological series. Compared to the royal “Almighty,” this image is simpler and closer to the heart of a common man.

What does an icon help with?

The miraculous icon “Savior Not Made by Hands” helps from many misfortunes. Her main specialization, which appeared initially, is miraculous healings from various diseases.

In addition, the Savior Not Made by Hands protects from:

the machinations of enemies;
professional risks;
natural disasters and epidemics;
mental illnesses and addictions;
making wrong decisions;
grief for departed loved ones;
sinful thoughts.

The Savior meekly accepts all our sins, but grieves because we commit bad deeds. He is all-merciful, but He expects us to choose the path of righteousness.

The history of the acquisition of the icon

The exact year of creation of the miraculous image of the Savior is unknown, but religious sources date this event to the time when Jesus Christ lived on Earth. That is, to the first decades of our era.

The history of the icon, accepted in Orthodoxy, connects the appearance of the Savior Not Made by Hands with the name of the king of Edessa, Abgar. The monarch fell ill with a serious illness - black leprosy. This disease is difficult to cure even now, but in those days it was a guaranteed death sentence. Many considered it God's most terrible punishment for sins.

Mortally ill Avgar sought with all his might salvation from a terrible illness. Having heard about the miracles performed by the Son of God, he sent an artist to him so that he would capture the image of the Savior.

However, the painter was unable to fulfill the king’s order, since a Divine radiance emanated from Jesus, which a living person cannot convey. But Jesus, having washed himself, dried himself with a handkerchief (his face was imprinted on it) and sent it to the ailing monarch. Avgar soon recovered.

It is not very clear how Abgar was healed: either by praying to a towel with his face, or by the apostle Thaddeus sent by Jesus. However, the king really recovered, and the linen scarf (ubrus) became the main spiritual property of Edessa.

Avgar ordered the sacred lining to be richly stolen and hung over the gates of the city. So the prototype protected all of Edessa and its inhabitants.

However, one of the descendants of the grateful monarch renounced the Christian faith and ordered the destruction of all its shrines. The wonderful image was bricked up to protect it from vandals.

When the hard times were over, they decided to reveal the image. Imagine the surprise of those present when it turned out that the face of the Savior was imprinted on the clay of the brick!

At the end of the 10th century, Constantinople troops besieged Edessa, which was already weakened by that time. Residents of the city were forced to give the shrine to the conquerors in exchange for the safety of their own lives and property.

Thus, the plate with the face of Christ ended up in Constantinople, where it was worshiped until 1204. Then, during one of the Crusades, the capital of Byzantium was plundered, and the Savior Not Made by Hands went to Central Europe. Most likely, he died along with the ship that sank at sea.

Some associate the image of the Savior Not Made by Hands with another Christian shrine, the Shroud of Turin. Allegedly, it was the Shroud, folded several times, that was the very lining that protected Edessa.

Famous icon lists

If we talk about Russia, then the oldest image of the Savior, made in this iconographic type and surviving to our times, dates back to the 12th century. This is the famous Novgorod Spas, now kept in special conditions in the Tretyakov Gallery. This is a double-sided icon: the glorification of the cross is depicted on the reverse.

The so-called Spas Yaroe Oko is interesting, which, albeit with a stretch, can be attributed to the same iconographic type. This icon was painted in the middle of the 14th century, when Rus' was groaning under the Mongol-Tatar yoke. In this image, Christ looks stern and reproachful, as if he was going to punish the enemies of Holy Rus'. It is located in the Assumption Church of the Moscow Kremlin.

Silver pendant “Lord Almighty” with cubic zirconia and enamel (go to the SUNLIGHT catalog)

The list from the village of Spasskoye, near Tomsk, is also glorified. Once upon a time, back in 1666, a certain painter set about creating the image of St. Nicholas the Pleasant. Imagine his surprise when the image of Christ appeared from under the features of the Pleasant! The icon painter tried to fix everything, but the wonderful face appeared again and again! Unfortunately, this image was lost during the years of godlessness.

And the famous Vyatka Spas at one time protected the entire city (Khlynov, later Vyatka and Kirov) from the plague that raged throughout Rus'. Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich was impressed by this miracle and ordered the miraculous icon to be delivered to Moscow. The image was delivered and placed in the Novospassky Monastery, and a copy of it was painted above the gate, which later became known as Spassky. In Khlynov they left an exact list of the image.

Unfortunately, this image also died during the years of Soviet power. Now a later list hangs in the Novospassky Monastery. And the image was delivered to Vyatka (Kirov), recreated with miraculously preserved photographs of the prototype.

The image kept in the Transfiguration Monastery in St. Petersburg became famous for its numerous miracles. It was painted by the brilliant icon painter Simon Ushakov in the 17th century by order of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. In this icon, Jesus really looks like he’s alive!

Later, Ushakov’s Spas became the favorite icon of Peter the Great. The autocrat took him on military campaigns, prayed before him before the greatest deeds, including before the founding of St. Petersburg and the great Battle of Poltava. Even later, the copy from this icon saved the lives of the royal family, led by Alexander III, during a railroad accident.

If you happen to visit Georgia, be sure to check out the National Museum. The so-called Anchiskhatsky Savior is kept there in a chest-to-chest image. Georgians consider this image one of the most important spiritual shrines and believe that it traces its ancestry to Edessa itself.