The Vernicle Image of the Saviour

The imagery of this icon is from a Russian legend involving Christ. King Abgar of Edessa was very ill and believed only an image of Christ could heal him. The King sent his icon painter to paint a picture of Christ. When the icon painter approached Christ he was told he did not need to paint Christ’s picture. Christ continued by asking the icon painter for a cloth. Christ put the cloth to his face and when he took it away there was a perfect image of his face not made by hands. When he received the cloth, King Abgar was healed and then converted to Christianity. Icons of the image not made by hands usually show Christ’s face and a cloth behind it.