Translation of Mandylion

Translation of the Not-Made-by-Hands Icon (Mandylion) to Constantinople.

This feast commemorates the translation of the Holy Mandylion, the Icon of Christ Not-Made-by-Hands, from Edessa to Constantinople in the tenth century. According to tradition, King Abgar of Edessa, suffering from illness, sent to the Lord asking for healing, and received a cloth upon which the face of Christ had been imprinted without human hands; through it he was healed and believed.

The Mandylion was treasured in Edessa for centuries and brought with great honor to Constantinople on August 16. The feast celebrates Christ as the true image of God made visible in the flesh, and stands at the foundation of the Orthodox veneration of icons.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Translation of Mandylion is commemorated on August 16. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on August 29 of the civil calendar.

Also commemorated on August 16

• Diomedes the Physician

  Martyr, Διομήδης

  Holy Martyr Diomedes the Unmercenary Physician of Tarsus.

  Name days: Diomidis, Diomedes, Diomedis, Diomedi

• Stamatios of Volos

  Martyr, Σταμάτιος

  Holy New Martyr Stamatios of Volos, beheaded at Constantinople.

  Name days: Stamatis, Stamatios, Stamos, Stamatia, Stamatina, Matina

• Apostolos the New

  Martyr, Απόστολος ο Νέος

  Holy New Martyr Apostolos of Agios Lavrentios on Mount Pelion.

  Name days: Apostolos, Apostolis, Tolis, Apostolia

• Joseph the Hesychast

  Venerable, Ιωσήφ ο Ησυχαστής

  Venerable Joseph the Hesychast, the Cave-Dweller of Mount Athos.

• Gerasimos of Cephalonia (Repose)

  Venerable, Γεράσιμος Κεφαλληνίας

  Venerable Gerasimos the New Ascetic, protector of Cephalonia, remembered on the day of his repose.

  Name days: Gerasimos, Makis, Gerasim, Gerasimoula

• Alkiviades the Martyr

  Martyr, Αλκιβιάδης

  Holy Martyr Alkiviades, who was burned for Christ.

  Name days: Alkiviadis, Alkiviades, Alkis

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.