What does the Eusebius of Caesarea version of the Lengend of Abgar say?
We learn
from Eusebius (263 - 339) of a document that had been in Edessa’s archives. If it ever
existed, it is now lost to history. It was a letter, we are told,
written by an ailing King Abgar V and hand delivered to Jesus of
Nazareth by an envoy named Ananias. The king had heard of Jesus and
asked him to come to Edessa to cure him.
In Eusebius’ history we learn that the Jesus’ apostle, Thomas, sent a disciple named Thaddeus sometime after Jesus’ death and that he founded a church in Edessa.
Eusebius became the Bishop of Caesarea around A. D. 313. He quickly gained favor with the Emperor Constantine and consequently he played an important role in the Council of Nicaea in 325.
As a historian, Biblical exegete, and tireless opponent of heresies throughout the early church, he is considered among the most important of the Church fathers.
His most important scholarly writings include: Ecclesiastical History, Chronicle of Universal History, On the Martyrs, Demonstrations of the Gospel, Preparations for the Gospel, and On Discrepancies between the Gospels. Of all of these and many other works, Ecclesiastical History is best known and most important. It is in this work that we learn about the Legend of Abgar.
Is there an explanation for how the Legend of Abgar evolved?