Christian Year

EPIPHANY

Epiphany is 6 January which is 12 days after Christmas Day and it celebrates the arrival of the Magi (Wise Men) who came to pay homage to Jesus after his birth [Matthew 2:1-12].

Note that the report in the Gospel according to Matthew does not say how many Magi there were. The idea that there were three of them arises from there being three gifts mentioned: gold, frankincense and myrrh.

The word “epiphany” derives from Greek words meaning “show” and “to” and at Epiphany Jesus was shown to people from a wider world than just Bethlehem or even Israel.