A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

757For the honor which is given her is referred to Him who wasincarnate of her. And similarly also the brave acts of holy menstir us to bravery and to emulation and imitation of their valor [693]and to the glory of God. For, as we said, the honor that is givento the best of fellow servants is a proof of good-will toward ourcommon lady, and the honor rendered the image passes over tothe prototype. But this is an unwritten tradition, just as is also toshow reverence toward the East and to the cross, and very manysimilar things. 332A certain tale is told also that when Augarus [i.e., Abgarus]was king over the city of the Edessenes, he sent a portrait-painterto paint a likeness of the Lord; and when the painter could notpaint because of the brightness that shone from His countenance,the Lord himself put a garment over His divine and life-givingface and impressed on it an image of Himself, and sent this toAugarus to satisfy in this way his desire.Moreover, that the Apostles handed down much that wasunwritten, Paul the Apostle of the Gentiles writes: Therefore,brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which ye have beentaught of us, whether by word or by epistles [II Thess. 2:14].And to the Corinthians he writes: Now I praise you, brethren,that ye remembered me in all things and keep the traditions as Ihave delivered them to you [I Cor. 2:2].(c) Basil the Great, De Spiritu Sancto, ch. 18. (MSG, 32:149.)Basil is speaking of the three persons of the Trinity, and saysthat although we speak of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, wemust not count up “by way of addition gradually increasingfrom unity to multitude,” but that number must be understoodotherwise in speaking of the three divine persons.332 Cf. Basil, De Spiritu, ch. 27; v. supra, § 87, for Basil on the force oftradition.