22 The Holy Face, Image Not Made by Human Hands

late 20th century, Artist: Nancy W. Oliphant, Size: 9 1⁄2”

The “Not Made by Human Hands Image” or “The Holy Face” icon depicts Jesus Christ’s face miraculously left on a cloth used to wipe his face by Veronica. In the story told in the West, the cloth is given to Christ by Veronica to wipe his face on the day of His crucifixion, and the image of His face remains on the cloth.We can tell this image is of the Western interpretation, as here Christ wears the crown of thorns.
A similar image exists in the East, but with a very different story. Alegend is told that King Abgar of Edessa fell very sick. Hearing of Jesus’s miracles Abgar sent his court artist Ananias to draw an image of Christ. Abgar believed that if he could only see an image of Christ he would be healed. When Ananias was unable to get close enough to Christ to draw the image, a miraculous event occurred, and Christ came to Ananias wiping his face on a cloth which retained the image of His face. Christ gave the cloth to Ananias who then took it to King Abgar. Upon seeing Christ’s face on the cloth Abgar was healed.