Stories & Legends
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The Mission of the Apostle St. Jude
to King Abgar
This is written in Historia Ecclesiastica by the 4th century historian Eusebius about the mission of the Apostle Judas Thaddeus, known as Jude to distinguish him from the traitor. He and the Apostle St. Simon the Canaanite were the sons of Mary Cleophas.
During the time of Jesus Christ, the pagan King Abgar V of Edessa, hearing of Our Lord’s miraculous feats, sent an envoy to Him with a letter asking Him to come and cure him of a terrible illness.
Eusebius quotes the King’s letter in full:
“Abgar, ruler of Edessa and son of Euchania, sends greetings to Jesus, the excellent Savior who has appeared in the country of Jerusalem. I have heard the reports of Thee and of Thy cures as performed without medicines and herbs. For it is said that, by Thy word alone, Thou dost make the blind to see and the lame to walk, cleanse lepers and cast out impure spirits and demons, heal those afflicted with lingering disease, and make dead bodies to live again.
“Having heard these things, I have concluded that one of two things must be true: Either Thou art God and hast descended from Heaven to do these things, or else Thou art the Son of God who does such things.
“Wherefore, I write this to ask that Thou would take the trouble to come to me and heal my disease, of which I have long been vexed. For I have heard that the Jews are murmuring against Thee and lie in wait to injure Thee. Come, then, to me, for I have a little city but it is honest, and is great enough for us both.”
Our Lord declined the invitation, but was so impressed by King Abgar’s faith that He promised him he would receive what he desired when His earthly mission was complete. He answered him by letter in these words:
“Blessed art thou who has believed in Me without seeing Me. For it is written of Me that they who have seen Me will not believe in Me, and they who have not seen Me will believe and be saved. But regarding what you hast written asking that I come to you, it behooves Me to fulfill all things here for which I have been sent, and after I have fulfilled them to be taken up again to Him who sent Me.
“But after I am ascended, I shall send you one of My disciples who will heal your disease and give life to you and yours.”
Eusebius then relates that he has examined both of the actual letters stored in the city’s archives.
Later accounts add that Our Lord pressed His Face onto a cloth, so that His face was miraculously imprinted upon it. Then Christ sent this linen to Abgar along with His reply. The cloth became known as the miraculous Image of Edessa, or the Holy Mandylion, which is purported to be the Lord’s first image, distinguished from Veronica’s Veil and the Shroud of Turin.
Jude is sent to Edessa
Then, after Our Lord ascended into Heaven, Thomas the Apostle send the Apostle Jude to King Abgar to fulfill the promise of Our Lord.
When King Abgar heard that the messenger of Jesus Christ had arrived in the city, he summoned him so that he might heal him. Jude Thaddeus replied: “I will go for I have been sent to him with power.”
Therefore early the following day Thaddeus went to King Abgar and stood before the King. And immediately upon his entrance, a great vision appeared to Abgar in the countenance of the Apostle Jude. When Abgar saw it, he prostrated himself before Jude, and all those present were astonished, for they did not see the vision, which appeared to Abgar alone.
The King then asked Thaddeus if he was disciple of Jesus, the Son of God who had told him He would send one of His disciples to heal him and give him life.
Thaddeus replied, “Because you have mightily believed in Him who sent me, I was sent to you. And further, if you believe in Him, the petitions of your heart shall be granted as you believe.”
Abgar said: “So much have I believed in Him that I wished to take an army and destroy those Jews who crucified Him, had I not been deterred from it because of the dominion of the Romans. For I have believed in Him and His Father.”
Then Thaddeus said, “Thus do I place my hand upon you in His name.” And when he did this, Abgar was immediately cured of his disease.
King Abgar marveled greatly. Also one of his court Abdus, who was afflicted with gout, came to Jude and fell at his feet, and, receiving a benediction by the imposition of his hands, was healed forthwith.
Jude also cured many other inhabitants of Edessa, performed wonders and marvelous works, and preached everywhere the word of God.
After completing his ministry in Edessa, St. Jude moved on to the neighboring regions of Phoenicia, Arabia, Syria and Mesopotamia, before suffering martyrdom.
During the time of Jesus Christ, the pagan King Abgar V of Edessa, hearing of Our Lord’s miraculous feats, sent an envoy to Him with a letter asking Him to come and cure him of a terrible illness.
King Abgar of Edessa affirms his belief in Christ in a letter
“Abgar, ruler of Edessa and son of Euchania, sends greetings to Jesus, the excellent Savior who has appeared in the country of Jerusalem. I have heard the reports of Thee and of Thy cures as performed without medicines and herbs. For it is said that, by Thy word alone, Thou dost make the blind to see and the lame to walk, cleanse lepers and cast out impure spirits and demons, heal those afflicted with lingering disease, and make dead bodies to live again.
“Having heard these things, I have concluded that one of two things must be true: Either Thou art God and hast descended from Heaven to do these things, or else Thou art the Son of God who does such things.
“Wherefore, I write this to ask that Thou would take the trouble to come to me and heal my disease, of which I have long been vexed. For I have heard that the Jews are murmuring against Thee and lie in wait to injure Thee. Come, then, to me, for I have a little city but it is honest, and is great enough for us both.”
Our Lord declined the invitation, but was so impressed by King Abgar’s faith that He promised him he would receive what he desired when His earthly mission was complete. He answered him by letter in these words:
“Blessed art thou who has believed in Me without seeing Me. For it is written of Me that they who have seen Me will not believe in Me, and they who have not seen Me will believe and be saved. But regarding what you hast written asking that I come to you, it behooves Me to fulfill all things here for which I have been sent, and after I have fulfilled them to be taken up again to Him who sent Me.
Our Lord sends the King an imprint of his Holy Face, the Mandylion of Edessa
Eusebius then relates that he has examined both of the actual letters stored in the city’s archives.
Later accounts add that Our Lord pressed His Face onto a cloth, so that His face was miraculously imprinted upon it. Then Christ sent this linen to Abgar along with His reply. The cloth became known as the miraculous Image of Edessa, or the Holy Mandylion, which is purported to be the Lord’s first image, distinguished from Veronica’s Veil and the Shroud of Turin.
Jude is sent to Edessa
Then, after Our Lord ascended into Heaven, Thomas the Apostle send the Apostle Jude to King Abgar to fulfill the promise of Our Lord.
When King Abgar heard that the messenger of Jesus Christ had arrived in the city, he summoned him so that he might heal him. Jude Thaddeus replied: “I will go for I have been sent to him with power.”
Therefore early the following day Thaddeus went to King Abgar and stood before the King. And immediately upon his entrance, a great vision appeared to Abgar in the countenance of the Apostle Jude. When Abgar saw it, he prostrated himself before Jude, and all those present were astonished, for they did not see the vision, which appeared to Abgar alone.
St. Jude glowed with a radiant light
as he stood before the King
Thaddeus replied, “Because you have mightily believed in Him who sent me, I was sent to you. And further, if you believe in Him, the petitions of your heart shall be granted as you believe.”
Abgar said: “So much have I believed in Him that I wished to take an army and destroy those Jews who crucified Him, had I not been deterred from it because of the dominion of the Romans. For I have believed in Him and His Father.”
Then Thaddeus said, “Thus do I place my hand upon you in His name.” And when he did this, Abgar was immediately cured of his disease.
King Abgar marveled greatly. Also one of his court Abdus, who was afflicted with gout, came to Jude and fell at his feet, and, receiving a benediction by the imposition of his hands, was healed forthwith.
Jude also cured many other inhabitants of Edessa, performed wonders and marvelous works, and preached everywhere the word of God.
After completing his ministry in Edessa, St. Jude moved on to the neighboring regions of Phoenicia, Arabia, Syria and Mesopotamia, before suffering martyrdom.
St. Jude was clubbed to death & his head
was then shattered with a broad ax
Adapted from Saint Jude Thaddeus,
by Fr. C. Martins, 2023, pp. 8-12.
Posted October 5, 2024
by Fr. C. Martins, 2023, pp. 8-12.
Posted October 5, 2024
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