Mandylion’ is a kind of an icon showing the head of the Christ without a thorny crown on the scarf being held by angels. The name of this icon derives from Greek language ‘mandilion’, which means a towel or a scarf.
Its origin is connected with an allegory about the King of Edessa Abgar, who having been very ill sent his servant to the Christ to ask him for help. In case the Christ could not come, the servant had to make the portrait of Jesus. The Christ touched his face with a scarf and in that way the portrait was made Later on it cured the King. It became the model for the written icons.