D'Eastern origin of this feast is in its own name: "epiphany," that revelation, manifestation, the Latins used the name "festivitas declarationis" or "apparitio", with the overriding significance of the revelation of the divinity of Christ the pagan world through the adoration of the Magi, to the Jews by baptism in the waters of the Jordan and the disciples with the miracle at the wedding at Cana. The episode of the Magi, beyond any possible reconstruction of history, we can consider, as did the Fathers of the Church, the symbol and manifestation of the call to salvation of the Gentiles: the magi were the explicit statement that was to preach the gospel to all nations.
For the Eastern Church has a great emphasis on the Baptism of Christ, the "Festival of Lights," as S. Gregory Nazianzen, as opposed to a pagan festival of "Sol Invictus". In reality, both in East and West Epiphany has assumed the character of a feast of ideology, transcending individual historical events: it celebrates the manifestation of God to men in His Son, the first stage of redemption. Christ is manifested to the Gentiles, to Jews, apostles: three successive stages of the relationship between God and man.
the pay is through the visible world that God speaks: the splendor the sun, the harmony of the stars, the light of stars in the boundless firmament (the sky the Magi have discovered the divine sign) are carriers of a certain presence of God
Starting from nature, the Gentiles can "do the works of the law "because, as said St. Paul to the people of Lystra, the "living God who made heaven and earth, the sea and all the things that they are ... in past generations he allowed all nations to go his own way, but has not ceased to show themselves doing good, granted from heaven rains and fruitful seasons, providing food and filling your hearts with joy "(Acts 14.15-17). Now "these days (God) has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things and through whom also he created the world "(Heb 1:2). The many mediators of the manifestation of divinity have their time in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, where shines the glory of God So we can now express "the humble, anxious, but joyful and full confession of our faith, our hope, our love" (Paul VI).
Martyrology: Solemnity of the Epiphany, in which to worship the triple manifestation of the great God and our Lord Jesus Christ in Bethlehem, the child Jesus was adored by the Magi, in the Jordan, baptized by John, was anointed by the Holy Spirit called the Son of God the Father; at Cana in Galilee, at the wedding feast, changing water into wine again, and manifested his glory.
The Magi, according to tradition, are from the East to bring their gifts to the Infant Jesus `` In this fresco - by the famous Italian painter Giotto - Our Lady of the neck while holding her Divine Son is sitting on a kind of ornate throne and surmounted by a canopy, and is dressed in a way that is also very rich. Should receive the king, and Giotto does the dress with the necessary pump. Angels appear next to Our Lady, St. Joseph, saints and other people, and one gets the impression that the author wants to be a sort of temple. Or perhaps Giotto thought to people of later ages, which in future would have contemplated the scene and in spiritual worship.
The element that attracts the most attention is this: one of the king's adoring the Infant Jesus and kissing his feet. The other two monarchs if they are quiet, as if absorbed in prayer before Our Lady and the Child-God, as they watch their traveling companion - and brother in royalty - worship the Divine Infant. They look like happy people of what is happening to them while they wait to be their turn. But wait without impatience with the peace and quiet medieval Giotto for expressing the presence of God, the Spirit and grace divine in the souls of these characters.
Still, after the two kings are known in man that is trying to keep a good or detention of two camels, which could create some problems. This man is not nice. Giotto has portrayed animalis homo: man in his purely material dimension, without anything supernatural or to quiet or calm. Man is the beast, restless and agitated, as revealed by the quivering nostril, eyed, arrogant air. One gets the impression that I just can not do more than the camel.
by www.santiebeati.it
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