At Epiphany, we remember the clever men who got here to seek out Jesus. This is the story…
Meaning of Epiphany
The word Epiphany will not be present in the Bible as such. It comes from the Greek word ἐπιφάνεια (epiphanea) which suggests manifestation or revelation, from the word intending to reveal. It is utilized in Greek in 3 Maccabees 2:9 which is translated into English as ‘manifestation’ within the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), which provides a footnote which reads ‘or epiphany’.
The word epiphany has come into general English usage to mean a moment of sudden realisation. We say ‘I had an epiphany’ once we come to suddenly understand something. It is usually a profound scientific breakthrough, or it might be a spiritual awareness, or it may well be a secular situation once we realise why someone did something strange, or we work out why something works in a certain way, or we crack a puzzle, or we solve a bugging mystery. Sometimes an epiphany can also be called a ‘Eureka moment’, from the story of Archimedes in the tub, when he realised a technique to find out the amount of an irregular object. A famous scientific epiphany was when Isaac Newtown realised that an apple falling, and the moon orbiting, were each subject to the identical force of gravity.
Religious epiphanies
Sometimes people have a spiritual epiphany after they discover faith. A famous epiphany happened to John Wesley when he suddenly understood faith, and his heart was strangely warmed. A more modern epiphany happened when C.S. Lewis realised he believed in God whilst pondering, when riding on the highest of a double-decker bus. In Christianity, the Christian Epiphany refers to a realisation that Christ is the Son of God.
Epiphany
Epiphany has been a part of traditional Christian worship since at the very least the fourth century. In the standard Western Church calendar, the approaching of the Magi is recalled as twelve days after Christmas, on sixth January which is named Epiphany. The day before is named the Twelfth Night, which is traditionally when Christmas decorations are taken down. This Epiphany is the concept the Gentiles first got here to know of the incarnation of God, through the Magi, when the infant Jesus was revealed for who he was. Epiphany is subsequently also sometimes unofficially often called “The Three Kings’ Day”.
Epiphany customs
Centuries ago Epiphany was once observed in Britain. However in Victorian Britain, Christmas became an even bigger festival, and Epiphany was forgotten in its wake. Today in lots of churches especially within the Protestant world, Epiphany passes by as an extraordinary day. For most individuals Epiphany is actually only a marker for when to take down the decorations. However, in other countries especially those with a living Catholic or Orthodox heritage, Epiphany may be very much celebrated and is related to different customs.
Latin countries
In some countries similar to Italy and Spain, and Latin America, Epiphany is when children receive their Christmas presents. Children may write letters to the Magi and leave their shoes out overnight to seek out presents within the morning. They may fill their shoes with straw or food for the three kings’ horses or camels to eat, and place them on their balcony or by the front door on “Reyes Magos” (Epiphany Eve). Many families will take Epiphany off and exchange presents. In Spanish, it is named “El Dia de los Reyes” (The Day of the Three Kings). In Spain, families line the streets to observe vibrant parades. Likewise, in Italy Italian children get up to seek out gifts and sweets.
Epiphany food
In some parts of the world they bake special Epiphany bread. In Mexico, people eating a special kind of sweetbread called “Rosca de Reyes”, which is ring-shaped and topped with candied fruit, with a small figure of baby Jesus hidden inside. Whoever finds the figurine is claimed to have good luck. In Switzerland, one other kind of bread is named “Dreikönigskuchen” (Three Kings’ Cake) which is eaten on Epiphany. In France “Le Jour des Rois” (the Day of Kings), also called the “Fête des Rois”, is marked with parties, when “galette des rois” (cake of the kings) is eaten. This cake is flat and round, and covered with a white napkin when it’s carried into the dining room.
Epiphany in Prague
In the Czech Republic, some people mark “Zjevení Páně” (Epiphany) by swimming within the normally very cold River Vltava which cuts through Prague. Later there may be a “Tři Králové” (Three Kings) Parade in Prague. People dress up because the Magi, and ride camels through Malostranské Square to the Staroměstské náměstí (Old Town Square). This is supposed to be a re-enactment of the clever men’s journey to Bethlehem, and the Magi arrive at church for “Půlnoční mše” (midnight mass). The Three Kings Collection annually raises numerous money for charity.
Orthodox Epiphany
In the Orthodox tradition, Epiphany falls on nineteenth January, but that typically is after they remember the baptism of Jesus, moderately than the arrival of the Magi. For Orthodox believers, Epiphany marks a celebration of Christ’s baptism by John the Baptist within the River Jordan (Matthew 3:16-17). This is typically accompanied by swimming within the local river, lake or sea. In some countries the Orthodox priests throw a cross into water and divers compete to bring it back first. In Ethiopia, Epiphany is named “Timket” and is a really vibrant event when people dress in vibrant liturgical robes, and persons are sprinkled in blessed water by the priests.
Public holiday
Epiphany is a public holiday on 6 January in some Catholic countries similar to Austria, Croatia, Italy, Poland, Slovakia and Spain, and on 19 January in some Orthodox countries like Cyprus, Greece and Ethiopia.
Chalking the door
In some countries, especially those in central Europe with a Catholic culture, there may be a practice called “chalking the doors”. This involves people, sometimes dressed as oriental kings, visiting houses at Epiphany who then chalk up the letters C, M and B with crosses between them, on the door lintels together with the 12 months. This is presupposed to bless the home and its occupants for the approaching 12 months. It echoes the story of marking door lintels on the Passover in Exodus 12:13. The letters C, M and B are short for the Latin phrase “Christus mansionem benedicat” (meaning may ‘Christ bless this house’). However many individuals also consider them standing for Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar, the standard names of the clever men. The tradition dates back to mediaeval times. C+M+B chalk letters will be seen on doorways in Catholic parts of Germany and across Austria, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia. However, within the Czech Republic it’s more more likely to be K+M+B where Caspar is named Kaspar, and in Hungary it’s more more likely to be G+M+B where Caspar is named Gáspár.
Lectionary readings
The Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) is utilized by many churches, but typically those within the Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran traditions which follow a set of commonly agreed readings, that are topically linked to the standard Church calendar. There is frequently an Old Testament reading, a reading from the Psalms, a reading from certainly one of the Gospels, and a reading from certainly one of the Epistles. The lectionary readings for Epiphany are Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14; Matthew 2:1-12; and Ephesians 3:1-12.
Old Testament readings for Epiphany
The verses in Isaiah 60:1-6, speak of kings coming to pay homage to the Lord. Notable is the verse which reads “Herds of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah. All from Sheba will come, bearing gold and frankincense and proclaiming the praise of the Lord” (Isaiah 60:6 NIV).
Psalm 72 is a psalm of King Solomon, which follows the identical idea of individuals paying honour to the royal son (Psalm 72:1). Notable is the verse which reads “The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores will bring tribute to him, the kings of Sheba and Seba will present him with gifts” (Psalm 72:10 NIV). For some people these are actual prophecies of the approaching of the Magi, although for others they’re poetic descriptions of a future Messiah.
New Testament readings for Epiphany
The reading from Matthew 2:1-12 is the actual story of the approaching of the Magi, which is just present in Matthew’s Gospel account. In the Bible the Magi are unnumbered and unnamed and from a land (or lands) unspecified. These details are added by tradition, however the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh are mentioned within the text (Matthew 2:11).
The reading from Ephesians 3:1-12 is about Paul explaining that he’s the preacher for the Gentiles. This pertains to the story, since the Magi are considered the primary Gentiles to satisfy Jesus, and after they returned to inform the story to their very own land (or lands), and as envoys of their king, they were the primary Gentiles to pass on the excellent news of Jesus.
