The Story Behind This Icon:
The Holy Mandylion is a piece of cloth with the imprinted face of Jesus Christ and remains one of the lost heirlooms of the Christian Orthodox Church.
It is said that King Abgar of Edessa, who was suffering from leprosy, sent an invitation to Jesus via his servant Ananias, asking Him to visit and preach. Jesus responded that one of his disciples will indeed visit in a future time, but the servant, not wanting to disappoint his master, sat aside to sketch the face of Jesus. Jesus understood that Ananias was troubled and asked his disciples for water to wash. He then dried His face on a piece of cloth on which His face was miraculously imprinted. He folded the piece of cloth in four and handed it to Ananias, asking him to deliver it to his master.
Once receiving the Holy Mandylion, King Abgar believed in Christ and was healed immediately. A small scar that was left from his disease was healed later by Thaddeus who visited and preached in the area.
The event is celebrated by our Church on August 16.
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This icon is made of solid, natural limewood (Tilia) that has been prepared by hand using traditional methods and organic materials. The background is comprised of 22 Karat gold leaves that were meticulously applied by hand, piece by piece.
All of our icons are reproduced according to museum print standards and are authentic replicas of Holy Icons from Mount Athos and elsewhere.
Learn more about how our Holy Icons are made here.
Our most popular dimensions are pictured, to scale.
Depending on the size and theme, Holy Icons are available in both Recessed and Level styles.
RECESSED
The groove in our recessed icons adds depth to the Iconography, making the icon even more dramatic and impressive. In order to keep the relative proportions, the depth of the groove changes with the size of the Holy Icon.
LEVEL
Level icons allow the Iconography to retain its boldness even in smaller sizes. As such most of our level icons have smaller dimensions.
Backside details vary with icon size and serve to ensure that your Holy Icon will stand the test of time.
Solid wooden icons of larger dimensions are prone to bending and damaging as time passes. Fortunately, our Holy Icons are supported by two additional, horizontal wooden protective panels on the backside. These panels bolster the icon and allow it to sustain its shape, ensuring that your Holy Icon will remain in its original, pristine condition as it is passed down from generation to generation.
Icons of smaller dimensions are naturally sustainable over time, and experience less structural stress. As such, you will find that the backside of smaller Holy Icons is flat and proportional to their shape.
