This icon has to do with the Towel of Veronica on which the face of Our Lord miraculously was preserved after she wiped His sweat on the way to the Golgotha. Hence, "not made by hands". Sometime, the towel itself is shown in the background.
10 posted on 02/15/2009 7:41:50 PM PST by annalex
(http://www.catecheticsonline.com/CatenaAurea.php)
