In the account of King Abgar, when Jesus received the message he took a napkin and wiped his face with it, impressing his divine countenance on it, leaving a perfect image of His face on it. He sent it back to Prince Abgar with a message that this napkin would heal him mostly, but that Jesus would send one of his disciples later to complete the healing. Abgar kissed the napkin and his leprosy left him, except for a small spot on his face. Later he was healed completely by the apostle.

From that image came the famous Eastern icon, “The Holy Napkin,” or “Image not-made-by-hands,” based on the very first icon image ever made, by Christ himself with the napkin.

According to Orthodox tradition, the original image was preserved, and in 944 was moved to Constantinople, where a feast was established in its honor. It remained there until the Turks destroyed it in the 15th century. Some say it was lost at sea during one of Byzantium’s battles with the Huns.

I have a version of the image, a contemporary Russian icon that came from a village in Russia dedicated to producing icons since the fall of communism. It’s the most beautiful image of Christ I’ve ever seen. And his face is emerging out of a napkin.