The Feast of the Three Kings, Epiphany and Baptism is one of the oldest Catholic holidays, and according to the events described in the Gospel of Matthew, three kings or wise men "from the East", following the shooting star of Bethlehem, came to Bethlehem to worship the newborn Jesus.
In Croatian traditional culture, Epiphany marks the end of the Christmas season.
The wise men in the Gospel are referred to by the Greek word "magoi" which has various meanings: wise men, scholars, astrologers, magicians, etc., and most likely originate from Persia. These are people who were able to decipher the secrets of traditional human wisdom and see signs in nature. They were looking for the truth about themselves and the universe, so they set out on a journey and came from afar to Bethlehem.
In Christian tradition, the modern image of the "three kings" was created by the third-century theologians Origen and Tertullian. Origen is credited with interpreting the three gifts symbolically: the gold refers to Jesus' kingship, the frankincense to his divinity, and the myrrh to his death. Tertullian transformed the wise men into kings by referring to the biblical texts of the prophet Isaiah and the Psalms.
In the Middle Ages, an Italian artist created a mosaic of the Three Kings and placed the names of Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar above each figure. According to the artist, Gaspar means a man from the Caspian Sea region, Melchior means king of light, and Balthasar means "lord guards the king."
Representatives of the then known world - Asia, Africa and Europe
It is not known who saw the Three Kings as representing the three continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe. That is why one of the three kings is depicted in the paintings as a black man, which is usually interpreted as a message that all countries and the entire world should bow down to Jesus as the Christ.
Since the Middle Ages, the Three Kings have generally been depicted as one of them is an old man, the other is a middle-aged man, and the third is a young man, which is believed to be a motif intended to emphasize that all people, from children to the elderly, should recognize Jesus as their Lord and God.
According to the Gospel of Matthew, the wise men followed the star of Bethlehem and came from the east to worship Christ. They were received in Jerusalem by King Herod, who wanted to trick them into telling him where Jesus was born so he could kill him.
When they found Jesus, Gaspar, Melchior and Balthasar gave him three gifts: frankincense as for God, gold as for a king and precious ointment - myrrh as for a man. Then God commanded them not to return to Herod, so they returned to their own country by another route.
The Three Kings are representatives of the pagan nations, whom God called into his kingdom by announcing to them the birth of the Savior Lord. According to tradition, after the death of the Three Kings, their relics were taken to Constantinople, and after they were found by St. Helen of Troy, they were transferred to Milan, and then to the cathedral in the German city of Cologne, where they remain today.
Melchior is the patron saint of travelers and World Youth Day, and Balthazar is the patron saint of epilepsy. His memorial day is celebrated in the Catholic Church on January 6th, the feast of the Epiphany.
Epiphany, blessing of water and "cross"
Epiphany is a Christian holiday that celebrates the revelation of God to humanity in human form, in the person of Jesus Christ.
The first mention of the Epiphany is found in a text by Clement of Alexandria at the turn of the 2nd and 3rd centuries, and the first mention as an official church holiday is known from the mid-4th century.
At the end of the 4th century, the holiday of Christmas was introduced to the East from the West, so Epiphany lost its meaning as a holiday celebrating all the events related to Jesus' birth and hidden life until baptism, but it still remained a feast of God's revelation, which commemorates the visit of the Three Wise Men.
After the Second Vatican Council, the Christmas season ends on the first Sunday after the Epiphany, and on that Sunday the Baptism of the Lord is celebrated, so the holiday is also called Epiphany.
Jesus' baptism and the miracle at the wedding in Cana of Galilee, where Jesus, at the beginning of his public ministry, announces himself as the one who has the power to turn water into wine, indirectly foreshadow the institution of the Eucharist.
Among Croatian Catholics, the custom of blessing water on the feast of the Epiphany has developed, and houses and families are blessed with it.
In northwestern Croatia, the "cross" was widespread - this was the name given to the blessing of the house. For this occasion, the whole family would be together, and the house would be thoroughly cleaned in order to be ready to welcome the priest. After the priest blessed the house and all the household members, they would regularly be honored with food and drink and given gifts.
Photo: Hina
