The Transfer from Edessa to Constantinople of the Holy Icon “Not Made with Hands” of Our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ, also Called the Holy Veil; The Holy Martyr Diomedes.
Post-feast of the Dormition.
Romans 15:30-33; Matthew 17:24-18:4.
Read Matthew 17:24-18:4
We commemorate today the Transfer of the Image of Christ “Not-Made-By-Hands,” from Edessa to Constantinople. This small feast of the Lord reveals the humble character of the Lord. Unlike human portraits that attempt to capture greatness, this icon was imprinted by Christ Himself and sent to Abgar—the Prince of Edessa—not to glorify earthly power, but to reveal His nearness and condescension to humanity.
In the Gospel reading, Jesus again shows this same humility. When asked about the temple tax, He reminds Peter that “the sons are free” (Mt 17:26), yet He chooses to pay, instructing Peter to find the coin in the fish’s mouth. Though Lord of heaven and earth, He accepts the ordinary obligations of men in order not to give offense; furthermore, to sanctify the ordinary through his presence.
We see another example of His humility when the disciples ask, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus calls a child to Himself and says, “Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 18:4). The Savior’s greatness is not in worldly triumph, but in self-emptying love and simplicity.
The image “Not-Made-By-Hands” and the Gospel together invite us to recognize Christ’s true glory. It is not a distant majesty, but a nearness that takes on weakness, pays taxes, and embraces the small. To venerate His image is to be reminded that He imprints His likeness upon each human being, calling us to emulate His humility and love. As the faithful of Constantinople rejoiced in receiving His icon, so too we are reminded that we bear the icon of Christ to the world. The image imbedded within us becomes most visible when we strive to live a Christ like humility and love.