Abgar legend

Abgar legend

▪ Christian legend
      in early Christian times, a popular myth that Jesus had an exchange of letters with King Abgar V Ukkama of Osroene, whose capital was Edessa, a Mesopotamian city on the northern fringe of the Syrian plateau. According to the legend, the king, afflicted with leprosy, had heard of Jesus' miracles and wrote to Jesus acknowledging his divine mission, asking to be cured, and inviting him to come to Edessa as a safe refuge from persecution. In his reply, Jesus allegedly commended the king for his faith, expressed regret that his mission in life precluded a visit, but promised that after his Ascension into heaven a disciple would visit Edessa and heal the king.

      A developed form of the legend exists in the Doctrine of Addai, a Syriac document containing suggestions of primitive Christianity in Edessa. In any event, the letters, probably composed early in the 4th century, have been considered spurious since the 5th century. They were translated from Syriac into Greek, Armenian, Latin, Arabic, and other ancient languages, clear evidence of the popularity of the legend.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Abgar V of Edessa — For the other historical kings Abgar of Osroene, see Osroene .Abgar V or Abgarus V of Edessa (4 BC AD 7 and AD 13 50) was a Syriac historical ruler of the kingdom of Osroene, holding his capital at Edessa. (Compare the Syrian region that was… …   Wikipedia

  • Abgar, The Legend of — • Concerns a correspondence that took place between God and the local potentate at Edessa Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006 …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • The Legend of Abgar —     The Legend of Abgar     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► The Legend of Abgar     The historian Eusebius records a tradition (H.E., I, xii), which he himself firmly believes, concerning a correspondence that took place between Our Lord and the local… …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Doctrine of Addai — • Syriac document which relates the conversion of Edessa Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Doctrine of Addai     Doctrine of Addai      …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • АВГАРЬ — Авгарь. Икона Ап. Фаддей и царь Авгарь с избранными святыми . Х в. (мон рь вмц. Екатерины на Синае). Фрагмент Авгарь. Икона Ап. Фаддей и царь Авгарь с избранными святыми . Х в. (мон рь вмц. Екатерины на Синае). Фрагмент [Авгар; сир. , букв.… …   Православная энциклопедия

  • Image of Edessa — Mandylion redirects here. For the album of the band The Gathering, see Mandylion (album). According to the legend, King Abgar received the Image of Edessa, a likeness of Jesus. According to Christian legend, the Image of Edessa was a holy relic… …   Wikipedia

  • Apocrypha — • A long article with a comments on each Apocryphal book. Classified according to origin Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Apocrypha     Apocrypha      …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Addai — Infobox Saint name=Saint Addai birth date=first century AD death date=early 2nd century AD feast day=August 5 venerated in=Assyrian Church of the East, Chaldean Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic Church, Oriental Orthodox… …   Wikipedia

  • Edessa — • A titular archiepiscopal see in that part of Mesopotamia formerly known as Osrhoene Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Edessa     Edessa      …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Edessa, Mesopotamia — Edessa (Greek: Polytonic|Eδεσσα) is the historical name of a Syriac [ [http://www.urhoy.info/3.html Urhoy the mother of all cities in Mesopotamia ] ] town in northern Mesopotamia, refounded on an ancient site by Seleucus I Nicator. For the modern …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”