The Image of Edessa, also known as the Mandylion, is a holy relic consisting of a cloth bearing the image of Jesus' face, believed to be an acheiropoieta (image not made by human hands).
History
According to the earliest accounts, King Abgar V of Edessa sent a messenger to Jesus requesting healing. Jesus pressed a cloth to his face, leaving an imprint, and sent it to Abgar. The cloth was rediscovered in Edessa in 525 AD and transferred to Constantinople in 944. It disappeared during the Fourth Crusade in 1204. Some scholars identify it with the Shroud of Turin folded to show only the face.
Scientific Investigation
The original Mandylion's current location is unknown. Some researchers have proposed it is the same object as the Shroud of Turin, folded in quarters to display only the face. Historical descriptions of the Mandylion match the facial image on the Shroud.
Spiritual Significance
The Mandylion is considered the prototype of all icons of Christ. It established the tradition of the 'Holy Face' in Christian art and influenced the development of iconography throughout the Eastern and Western churches.
