the northeast of modern Syria, between the Tigris and Euphrates, from 137 BC by 242 AD there was a small state higlighted that first declared Christianity the official state religion.Here for the first time referred to the icon of Our Saviour.
legend about the icon
According to numerous legends, osroensky King Abgar V, whose residence was in the capital of Edessa, fell ill with an incurable disease - black leprosy.In the dream, it was a revelation that would help him only the face of the Savior.The court painter sent to Christ, could not capture it because of the divine light emanating from Jesus, who, having gone to meet the king's entreaties, he washed his face with water and wiped with a towel (to pay).It remained etched bright image, called "ubrus" or Mandylion, or the icon of Our Saviour.That is, in the classic version, it is the face of Christ, executed on the canvas, which was put on the edges of the canvas, and the upper ends tied in knots.
After the miraculous healing Avgar mention of this icon missing until 545, when Edessa took blockade the Persian forces.As often happens, in a difficult moment comes to help Providence.In the nave of the gates of the city were found not only the well-preserved icon of the Savior, but its imprint on the ceramic wall of the storage or Keramidione.The blockade was lifted the city the most wonderful way.
Features icon
This miraculous image in both its forms (made on canvas, and on ceramics) has a number of features and customs associated with it.So, it is recommended for beginners icon painters as the first of their independent work.
Icon Savior - the only way in which the halo around the head of Jesus is the correct form of a closed circle located inside the cross.All these details, like hair color of the Savior, the general background of the icon (on the most ancient icons background was always clean), carry their meaning.
been speculated created without brush and paints the portrait, which is, in essence, an icon of "Holy Face" - Christ's image, depicting his face.
In Orthodoxy this icon ever since brought her to the list of Constantinople in 1355, played a special role.Although the most ancient icons of this kind appeared in Russia in the XI century, only in the second half of the XIV century, everything connected with the "Holy Face" is positioned at the level of public worship and implemented everywhere.Under his temples are built, this face is depicted on the banners of Russian troops in the most decisive battles for the country - from the Kulikov to the battlefields of the First World War.The word "banner" is gradually replaced by the word "flag" (from "signs").Banners with the image of "Savior" has become an integral part of the Russian victories.
Icon "Holy Face" today
Arrival of the miracle-working icon, the fame of which spread throughout Russia, from the Novospassky Monastery in Vyatka in the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin, has become a national scale and significance.Thousands of Muscovites and visitors came out to meet an icon, and fell at her knees.Frolovskaya gate through which carried the icon became known Spassky.Go through them it could only be uncovered as a sign of the divine countenance.
«The Holy Face" - an icon, the value of which can not be overestimated.It is perceived as one of the main symbols of Orthodoxy, on semantic value, it is equivalent to the cross and the crucifixion.
In recent years, sometimes rightly called second baptism of Russia, built an unprecedented number of churches, monasteries and temples.In Sochi, the opening of the Olympics in record time was built and consecrated on January 5, 2014 Church of Our Saviour.
