The legend tells that Abgar, king of Edessa, afflicted with an incurable sickness, had heard the fame of the power and miracles of Jesus and wrote to him, acknowledging his divinity, craving his help, and offering him asylum in his own residence; the tradition states that Jesus wrote a letter declining to go, but promising that after his ascension, he would send one of his disciples, endowed with his power.

The 4th century church historian Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea, records a tradition[4] concerning a correspondence on this occasion, exchanged between Abgar of Edessa and Jesus. Eusebius was convinced that the original letters, written in Syriac, were kept in the archives of Edessa. Eusebius also states that in due course, after Christ’s ascension, Thaddeus, namely Addai (called Addaï), or one of the seventy-two Disciples, called Thaddeus of Edessa, was sent by Thomas the Apostle in AD 29. Eusebius copies the two letters into the text of his history.

The correspondence consisted of Abgar’s letter and the answer dictated by Jesus. As the legend later expanded, a portrait of Jesus painted from life began to be mentioned. This portrait, purportedly painted by the court archivist Hannan during his visit to Jesus, is first mentioned in the Syriac text called the “Doctrine of Addai” (or Doctrina Addai; the name Addaei or Addaeus = Thaddaeus or Thaddeus), from the second half of the 4th century. Here it is said that the reply of Jesus was given not in writing, but orally, and that the event took place in 32 AD. This Teaching of Addai is also the earliest account of an image of Jesus painted from life, enshrined by the ailing King Abgar V in one of his palaces. Greek forms of the legend are found in the Acta Thaddaei, the “Acts of Thaddaeus”.

The story of the “letter to Abgar”, including the portrait made by the court painter Hannan, is repeated, with some additions, in the mid-5th century History of the Armenians of Moses of Chorene, who remarked that the portrait was preserved in Edessa.

The story was later elaborated further by the church historian Evagrius, Bishop of Edessa (c. 536-600), who declared for the first time (as far as is known) that the image of Jesus was “divinely wrought,” and “not made by human hands.” In sum, the documented legend developed from no image in Eusebius, to an image painted by Hannan in “Addai” and Moses of Chorene, to a miraculously-appearing image not made by human hands in Evagrius.

This latter concept of an “image not made by hands” (acheiropoietos) formed the foundation on which the Eastern Orthodox doctrine of icons was later created in the 8th century. This doctrine held that Jesus made the first icon of himself by pressing a wet towel to his face, miraculously imprinting the cloth with his features — thus creating the prototype for all icons of Jesus, and an implied divine approval for their creation.

John of Damascus, the leading architect of the church dogma favoring icons, specifically mentioned that Jesus “is said to have taken a piece of cloth and pressed it to his face, impressing on it the image of his face, which it keeps to this day” (On the Divine Images I).

The Abgar legend enjoyed great popularity in the East, and also in the West, during the Middle Ages: Jesus’ letter was copied on parchment, inscribed in marble and metal, and used as a talisman or an amulet. Of this pseudepigraphical correspondence, there survive not only a Syriac text, but an Armenian translation as well, two independent Greek versions, shorter than the Syriac, and several inscriptions on stone.

A curious legendary growth has arisen from this supposed event, with scholars disputing whether Abgar suffered from gout or from leprosy, whether the correspondence was on parchment or papyrus, and so forth.

Many scholars considered the letters spurious.[5] Most testimony of the 5th century, for instance Augustine and Jerome, is to the effect that Jesus wrote nothing. The correspondence was rejected as apocryphal by Pope Gelasius I and a Roman synod (c. 495). Biblical scholars now generally believe that the letters were fabricated, probably in the 3rd century AD, and “planted” where Eusebius eventually found them. Another theory is that the story was fabricated by Abgar IX of Osroene, during whose reign the kingdom became Christianized, as a way of legitimizing its religious conversion.

The text of the letter varies. The less available variant, transcribed from the Doctrina Addaei, and printed in the Catholic Encyclopedia 1908, is:

“Abgar Ouchama to Jesus, the Good Physician Who has appeared in the country of Jerusalem, greeting:

“I have heard of Thee, and of Thy healing; that Thou dost not use medicines or roots, but by Thy word openest (the eyes) of the blind, makest the lame to walk, cleansest the lepers, makest the deaf to hear; how by Thy word (also) Thou healest (sick) spirits and those who are tormented with lunatic demons, and how, again, Thou raisest the dead to life. And, learning the wonders that Thou doest, it was borne in upon me that (of two things, one): either Thou hast come down from heaven, or else Thou art the Son of God, who bringest all these things to pass. Wherefore I write to Thee, and pray that thou wilt come to me, who adore Thee, and heal all the ill that I suffer, according to the faith I have in Thee. I also learn that the Jews murmur against Thee, and persecute Thee, that they seek to crucify Thee, and to destroy Thee. I possess but one small city, but it is beautiful, and large enough for us two to live in peace.”

The Doctrina then continues:

When Jesus had received the letter, in the house of the high priest of the Jews, He said to Hannan†, the secretary, “Go thou, and say to thy master, who hath sent thee to Me: ‘Happy art thou who hast believed in Me, not having seen Me, for it is written of Me that those who shall see Me shall not believe in Me, and that those who shall not see Me shall believe in Me. As to that which thou hast written, that I should come to thee, (behold) all that for which I was sent here below is finished, and I ascend again to My Father who sent Me, and when I shall have ascended to Him I will send thee one of My disciples, who shall heal all thy sufferings, and shall give (thee) health again, and shall convert all who are with thee unto life eternal. And thy city shall be blessed forever, and the enemy shall never overcome it.’”

(†According to Eusebius, Jesus himself wrote the letter; nothing is mentioned of his having dictated it to Hannan.)

The Nuttall Encyclopaedia attributes the legend to a king Ab’gar XIV of Edessa.

After the ascension of God, Thomas the Apostle – the one of the ‘twelve ones’ sent from there the one of the ’seventy ones’- Thaddeus to Edessa to heal Abgar and praise the Word of God. Thaddeus,finding himself in Edessa, stepped in a house of some Tubiya- a jewish nobleman,they say from the kin of Bagratuni,who once skulked himself from Arsham and did not renounced from Jewdaism as the rest of them, but remained faithful to its laws until won’t believe in Jesus.The news about Thaddeus flew around the town at speed of light.Hearing that Abgar said – This is the one Jesus wrote about and called him to audience at once.Scaresely had he steppped in, a glorious vision came to Abgar to his face, and raising up from his throne he fell down to his knees and bowed to him. And all the presenting noblemen were astonished as they saw this glorious visions. And told him Abgar – Are you really the one of the disciples of the blessed Jesus whom He promised to send and can you heal me from my illness?. And Thaddeus answered him – The desire of your heart will come true if you come to believe in Jesus Christ Son of God. And Abgar told him then – I came to believe in Him and the Father of His.That is why I wished to come with my army and uproot the jews who crussified him but was stopped by roman authorities. After those words Thaddeus begun blessing him and his town and putting his hand on him cured him and the victim of gout Abdia, the ruler of the town respectful in the kings house. Also he cured all those needed and illed in town. And everyone came to believe and Abgar was baptized as well as all the town. They closed the doors to cathedrals of the idols and shut their images standing on an altar with reed. Although no one obliged anyone to accept the faith, the toll of the believers grew with every passing day. The apostle Thaddeus baptizes some master of silken hats and giving him the name Addai appoints him as a spiritual head of Edessa and lefts him there with a king instead of himself. He,in his turn, taking a deed in which it was told to everyone to hark to the Gospel of Christ, arrives to Sanatruk king’s sister’s son who ruled the country of Armenia and its army.

First and foremost, we need to build the spiritual Church within us and then, the edifice of the church. The Church’s solid foundation is not only structural but also draws from the strength of its parishioners. With the help and cooperation from all of you, we will be able to build a strong church…

My sincere appreciation to Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, the Parish Council of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Arizona, and to all of you, who have trusted me with this gem of a community, to guide and help flourish in every way possible. I would also like to thank everyone for the warm welcome to my wife and children.

I love you all,

—Der Zacharia Saribekyan

A lectionary is defined as a listing that contains a collection of scripture readings for Christian worship. It is the list that we refer to when we want to find out which bible passages are going to be read on any given Sunday in the Church. It is also thematic in that the passages reflect the feast days of the church, so readings that relate to the Birth of Jesus Christ will be listed near Chistmas time. Its important to note that in the Armenian Church, although we only attend church on Sundays, there are services held at many churches at different times in the day, every day of the year. Therefore, we have readings for everyday of the year. Following our lectionary inspires us to contemplate our faith through the messages of the Bible.

This Week’s Lections

Sunday – Aug 6

Monday – Aug 7

Tuesday – Aug 8

Wednesday – Aug 9

Thursday – Aug 10

Friday – Aug 11

Saturday – Aug 12

Lent is intended to commemorate the forty days of fasting of Our Lord (Matt. 4:2). In our Church, as well as in all Eastern Churches, the great fast of Lent begins with the Monday following the Sunday of “Poun Parekentan.” Lent is a period of forty days counting from the above-mentioned Monday to the evening of the Friday before Palm Sunday.

The whole Lenten period, including the Holy Week, is intended to be one of self discipline. In this period, particularly, we should consider our shortcomings, and make efforts to rectify them. It is a time set aside by the Church for self-examination and self-appraisal, to strengthen our character and to renew our purpose in life. None of us is so perfect that no room is left for further moral and spiritual improvement. We all have faults, weaknesses and sins, and Lent is the most appropriate time in which to make penance and to correct them. To achieve this goal, examination of conscience is the first necessary step, followed by a resolution to be more humble, and more gentle, and to exercise self control over our appetites, which is the main principle behind the practice of Lent.

How do I take part in Lent?

Prayer and Reflection

Prayer means speaking with God in spiritual communion. Reflection requires examining your life seriously and thoughtfully. Together, they help us learn more about God and ourselves. We receive spiritual strength by learning to rely on God as well as on our own inner resources.

Fasting During Lent

During Lent we are like athletes in training to “fight the good fight” and “finish the race” as St. Paul expressed it. What we do externally can affect our inner condition. So we take on an outward discipline that will balance the inward discipline of Lent. Part of that outward discipline is fasting. Like the strict regimen of athletes, it is meant to strengthen and firm our spiritual self.

The Church’s rules prescribe that for 40 days preceding Palm Sunday we abstain from all animal products: meat, poultry, eggs, and milk. We should also refrain from parties, movies, and frivolous entertainment. In our day, many find this difficult, but every faithful Christian can do the following to remain in the spirit of Lent:

1. Keep Wednesdays and Fridays as fast days.
2. Cut down on outside activities.
3. Put aside a regular and consistent amount of time daily for private prayer, and for reading the Bible and spiritual books.
4. Attend all Lenten church services faithfully.
5. Receive the sacrament of Penance by self-examination, confession, repentance, and positive decisions.

Remembering always that Lent is a time of solemn yet joyous preparation made so we may arrive spiritually strengthened and renewed to celebrate Easter.

Good Deeds and Alms giving

These consist of self-sacrifice to serve and benefit others. Christ and His Apostles spent their lives serving others. Christ instructed His followers to do good deeds for spiritual rewards, not for human recognition. By doing good, you can ease the emotional and physical pain of people in need. But you also encourage compassion and charity in your daily life and strengthen your Christian soul.