| Edessa was the capital city of Osroene, a Syriac kingdom (in Syria, now modern day Urfa, Turkey) who's ruler Abgar IX (AD 177 to 212) was the first to adopt Christianity as a state religion (Syriac Christianity) in a kingdom (which were otherwise secular, separate from religion). Later, in abt. 312 Constantine I 'the Great' would adopt Christianity as the state religion in an Empire, the Church of the Holy Roman Empire. It is thought by some that Abgar IX led to the story of letters and between his predecessor Abgar V (4 BC and AD 50) and Jesus of Nazareth, according to Armenian tradition, Abgar V was the first Christian king converted to the faith by the Apostle Thaddeus (Addai) of Edessa. it is said that the reply of Jesus was given not in writing, but orally, and that the event took place in 32 AD. The Teaching of Addai is also the earliest account of an image of Jesus painted from life, enshrined by the ailing Abgar V in one of his palaces. |
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