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ALETTEKWKITTENinTIIE^VKMffi?
THE ENTIRE MANUSCRIPT
DISCOVERED BY FATHER
G A F F R E, CONTAINING
THE LETTERS AND THE
ILLUSTRATIONS.
THE Abbe GafTre, a French priest,
long note for his scholarly re
searches In the East, lias discovered
In Egypt an rnclent manuscript which
contains what appears to be an authentic
letter by the Saviour.
It will be recalled that the Inscriptions
recording the “logia” or new sayings of
Christ, which are now generally accepted
as authentic, were found in Egypt, and
there is reason to expect more discoveries
of a similar character In that country.
The new manuscript contains not only
this letter, but evidence which indicates
that an existing portrait of the Saviour,
known as the Image of Edessa, Is really
a likeness taken from life. A long discus
sion has been going oil in many countries
among artists and students of sacred arch
aeology as to how the Saviour really
looked. In these columns recently the
theory of Ludwig Fnhrenkrog. a distin
guished German artist, was explained and
Illustrated. lie believes that the Saviour
should be represented as a beardless man
because that was the custom of the race
and class In which He was brought up.
This view Is nt variance with many of
the most ancient poi traits of the Saviour,
found In the Cataeopibs aud elsewhere,
portraits which by many are believed to be
accurate likenesses. The Image of Edessa.
whose accuracy Is now strengthened,
shows a bearded face of the well known
ancient type and thus sustains the tradi
tional belief rather than the artist Fuhren
krog.
The history of the newly discovered let
ter Is an Intensely interesting one. Ac
cording to tradition aud history, there whs
a minor king or ~t oparch" named Abgar.
who ruled over the city of Edessa la Ar
menin, beyond the Elver Euphrates. His
name has been variously known In differ
ent languages as Ahgaf, Agbar, Abagnr
and Augar.
I'bltf King sent an embassy to Marinos,
a tribune of Caesar, and Governor of Fhoe
olrts. Palestine. Hyrln and Mesopotamia.
Tie ambassadors, during their journey,
••&*<! of Jesus Christ and the marvels He
had performed.
They sought and found an opportunity
of seeing Him themselves and saw lilts
Lea! the sick with their owu eyes. On
their return the* ambassadors related to
King Abgar the wonderful things they had
witnessed, and the Implacable hatred
against the Saviour of the Scribes and
Pharisee*, who out of envy wished to en
compass ills desth.
Now It hsppeud that Klnfr Abgar was
afflicted with an incurable malady. When
V 4
of the saviour, he believed In Him at once,
as If by a miracle. The King not unnat
urally expected that the Saviour would
cure him his disease.
letters were oChanged between King
Abgar a t| the Saviour. It is an ancient
manuscript of these letters which has Just
* «*n discovered by the‘Abbe Onffre In
Egypt. It is In Greek and dates from the
sixth century. or about 500 A. D. .This Is
not a very long time after the death of
Christ, aud as the manuscript has always
been preserred In the region where the
first Christians lived. It is reasonable «to
feci.eve that It Is a first copy of the original
actual ruts.
father (Mrc ftnOs an Undent Clfianu*
script of a letter from Christ to fttng
Jhgar anO also fltew Evidence Concern*
iufl the Saviour’s likness.
Cbc Itcwly Discovered Cetler Said to Be Written Bv the Saviour.
To Abgar, the Toparch of Edessa, Greeting:
BLESSED art thou, O Abgar, aud blessed is tby city which is called
Edessn. Thou art blessed, because thou hast believed in me, al
though thou hast never seen me, and thy health shall be restored
to thee for ever.
Concerning my coming to thee, it is needful that I accomplish the
mission for which I was sent here on earth, and that aftor I huve accom
plished it I return to my father, who sent me.
But I will send to thee one of my disciples, called Thaddeus, or
Thomas, who shall cure thy sickness and give thee eternal life aud do
what is necessary for thy city, so that none of thy enemies may triumph
over thee, even to the end of time. Amen.
For I have left heaven and have come ’down to save the human race,
and I have dwelt in a virgin’s womb in order to expiate the sin of Adam
in the lost Paradise, aud L have humbled myself in order that thou mayest
be exalted.
(The following is a postscript.)
This letter written by me, wherever it shall find thee, whether on the
road, in a house, before a tribunal, iu time of trouble or of sorrow, upou
the sea, in danger, in the midst of combat against enemies, or *on any
other occasion of a similar nature, this letter shall keep away all misfor
tunes, for it is invulnerable, sure and certain for every cure and every help.
Therefore, he who carries it, if he be pure and without reproach and
abstain from all wickedness, shall possess in this for the cure of his soul
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I H YjtWG A *■' ' . ? ■ • •*,
FfOJSTEAIT or <!?
and 'body a talisman of certain power, because
this is written with my own hand, and I linvc
sealed it with seven seals, in the following or
der: JESUS ('IIIUST, Son of God, known as of
two natures, perfect God and perfect man. * * *
The Saviour (Jlvlnir If In Portrnlt to tlio King* m,
and Two Soldiers Wulchlnv the Column of 1-lre ( .. .
lows (lie Fort mil. From the MunuNrrlot lliiint rVii *
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THE IMAGE OF EDESBA, AS IT APPEARS TODAY, IN THE GOLDEN CASKET IN THE.CHURCH OF SAN
BARTOLOMMEO, GENOA.
The manuscript wni purchased from »i
very old Coptic oi .{Egyptian fhrlsflsn fnm
»V. H l« (locoffitml with very beautiful
llluminnteil drawing* or miniatures, lllua
‘ rating the occurrence* referred to In the
letter*.
First come* the letter of King Abgar,
tvhlch Ik borne by the King’s cursor or
courier, immeil A turn la a. It Ih hardly noc
eeeary to explain that thin Ik not ttie
wicked man whose terrible fnto Ik described
Ir. Mio New Testament. Ananias was a
common name In AhWi Minor, find this one
wnK evidently a faithful servant of King
Ahgnr The Klng’w letter Ik hk follows:
"Abgar, Topafch of the f’lty of fSdessa,
to Jokur, good man and physician, who
ha* appeared at Jerusalem, greeting:
z KING'S MESSENGER ON HIS RETURN JOURNEY. 6HOWI
THE CLOTH WITH THE PICTURE OF THE SAVIOUR.
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“I have heard apeak of Thee and of Thy
enrea, that without medicaments or herbs
Thou makfst cures, and Hint by the power
of Thy word ulono Thou glveHt wight
(o the Itllml, the power of uralklng
to the lame, hearing to the deaf,
tlint Thou driven! out Impure demona aud
Thou hcNlcMt IhoMc who HiifTer from chronic
torincnlH and that u woman attacked by
a hemorrhage for years wiin healed by
touching Thee and that Thou ralsast the
dead.
'Having heard these things concerning
Thee, O Lord, 1 have coucelvfd In my
heart that Thou are either Hod hlmvelf
nr the Hon of God, who has come down
from heaven to accomplish these things;
and for tills reason I supplicate and pray
Thee, by these letters and these prayers*
not to disdain to come unto me, In order
that Thou mnyest henl the rlrkiicH* from
which I suffer, and dial Thou moyeft do
wlmt Is needful for my city, that my •*>•-
mle>« m»v not take It and destroy It.
"It on ; also itHMMi reported to mo that
tin* Jews nro angered ngslnst Thee
and wish to kill Tliec. N»>w I have n smnll
and iiiodcst city, which would suffice fo#
Thee and me.
"Cmmnand me. O li«>rd, my <lod.”
The innmiHcrlpt then give* the letter
whleh the Saviour sent In reply to Abgar,
H Is printed In full slsewharo on thta
page.
Whim Ahgnr received tho reply and found
that lie could not persuade the Saviour to
visit hitu be resolved at bstet to obtalft
the divine portrait.
"King A Incur," continue* the nm nuacript,
"then went tt courier, who wee aleo a poe
fruit painter, to the Havlmir. When tW»
rourl.-r arrived In the outelrlrta of Jernaa*
Ic.p be vi as received hy Jeeue, who said
to him:
" ‘Man. thou art « epy.*
"But the courier euewerodr
" *1 am not n spy, Lord, bet I nrn flia
uirss'-ngcr of Abgar, the toparcb of fha
t’lfy i»f f r .'|c*«Hi, nnd I am deelroua to con
template the vising* of Jesus of NAMNftfc
nnd to make Ilia portraH.' ,
"Jenna then commanded him to am tor
Into tho synagogue, where rie began to In
struct the people. Tbe cornier rnountad
on n high pine** mid studied the featneee
of Jt mi*, dci I ring to ro<*ord them on can
vas; but a divine power prevented him
from recording them. The Saviour thon
sent one of Ms disciples. Thaddeue 09
Tbomns, and luting poured out water 119
washed Ills face; then taking a cloth 9l
linen )l> ;»ed tl iwid the divine visage
was In pii op the cloth and He de
livered It to the courier and sent It to
Abgar."
Knsebl'r. of ( nos area end \foeo* of fihonr
• nr, historians of the fourth century, have
already recorded these occurrences In neerly
the same form.
The courier brought the miraculous pot
.•lt to King Abgar. nnd when touched
ll lie was Immediately cured of hi* terrible
disease The precious relic, the guardian of
the health of Edemi. remained In that city
fni many rent m !<*•«. The MuxNulmana found
If there vhoti th*-y took the place ,n »he
tenth rnltiry, nnd they preserved It redg
In Pit Itornfiu i L*-' ipentis. Emperor
Hv/ i(itlum. succeeded In otualning from • Imp
Emir of EdeKHa the transference of the holy
.tinge mid i lie fetter to Constantinople,
wlcr * Ihgy were received on April 111, ./40.
with honor* which the Greek filaturlu is
fully recorded
Tits Image was preserved first at the pit
s''. and then at the 'lemple of i’baroa,
u here It wa* •• 'o-<o| In a gold •■»*-, r
ri'd with THbeopi#** and small imsgcti*
u lib h only left the fact visible
I • » per I ii, i I'ulaeoi .giis, gave the
I clou*, relic to Leonardo Montaldo. a
• o . who had helped him grea’lf
• to. • the lurks In Hie fourteenth cen
i ml through him It passed Into the
I «.-«ton of ih» flog, of Genoa. There !c
\ i idi.eed In th«* Church of Han Hsrtoi*
' m here, aft* many udveutures, IK*
still remains.
It Is guarded hy sli locks In a secret
ei-usde, of which the six principal famlltee
,»f Genoa a <*p the key*. On the day of Pan-
I- odt and the two following days tbe tuner
hade I* opened and the Image of Kdesas to
exposed for tbs vsuurutlou of the faiUkfftt