I've had an epiphany that it will be Epiphany tomorrow. One of my favourite names as well. I first heard it used as a woman's name in The movie Angel Heart with Mickey Rourke.
Epiphany doesn't seem to be much celebrated in the UK but it has a special significance to me and my friend Karen.
Even though it is a christian feast day we accept that and see instead the miracle of the revelation of god made man in Jesus Christ and the mysteries of the Magi.
Some scholars say that the Magi were added in medieval times. Who really cares. It is such a beautiful story and tradition.
On this day, mostly continental (generally Italian, Greek, Spanish and Eastern European) christians commemorate principally the visitation of the Magi to the infant Jesus.
The observance had its origins in the Eastern Christian Churches, and is a general celebration of the incarnation of Christ and the visit of the Magi. being commemorated.
Christians fixed the date of the feast on January 6 quite early in their history. Saint Chrysostom identified the significance of the meeting between the Magi and Herod's court: "The star had been hidden from them so that, on finding themselves without their guide, they would have no alternative but to consult the Jews.
In this way the birth of Jesus would be made known to all". The earliest reference to Epiphany as a Christian feast was in A.D. 361 were it was asserted that this day was the birth of Christ. Of course now we believe it to be Christmas day which the good old christian church nicked as it was a pagan festival (Winter Solstice).
The christian church didn't want Pagans roaming around thinking for themselves so the church enticed them in with candles, fires and then gradually took over their ceremonies (the worship of trees etc) and made it Christmas.
In 385, Silvia described a celebration in Jerusalem and Bethlehem which she called Epiphany that commemorated the birth of Christ. In a sermon delivered on December 25 (how strange!), 380, St Gregory of Nazianzus referred to 6 January as ta theophania ("the Theophany", an alternative name for Epiphany), saying expressly that it is a day commemorating he hagia tou Christou gennesis ("the holy nativity of Christ") and told his listeners that they would soon be celebrating the baptism of Christ.
Then, on January 6 and 7, he preached two more sermons , wherein he declared that the celebration of the birth of Christ and the visitation of the Magi had already taken place, and that they would now commemorate his Baptism.
St John Cassian stated even in his time (beginning of the 5th century), the Eqyptian Monastries celebrated the Nativity and Baptism together on January 6. The Armendian Apostolic Church continues to celebrate January 6 as the only commemoration of the Nativity.
Even before the year 354, the Western Church had separated the celebration of the Nativity of Christ as the feast of Christmas and set its date as December 25; it reserved January 6 as a commemoration of the manifestation of Christ, especially to the Magi, but also at his baptism and at the wedding feast of Cana.
On the Feast of the Epiphany, the priest, wearing white vestments, will bless the Epiphany water, frankinscence, gold, and chalk. Chalk is used to write the initials of the three Magi over the doors of churches and homes. The letters stand for the initials of the Magi (traditionally named Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar), and also the phrase Christus mansionem benedicat, which translates as 'may Christ bless the house'.
So Karen I'm ready with my water, frankinscence, gold and chalk....do you remember the Holy Shrine in my greenhouse?
