Icon of The Gifts of the Magi - 21st c. - 00LJC009

The Gifts of the Magi:

In Orthodox Christian tradition, the Gifts of the Magi—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—were presented to the infant Jesus by the Three Wise Men, carrying deep symbolic meaning about Christ's identity and destiny.

These gifts represent distinct aspects of Jesus's nature: gold symbolizes His kingship, acknowledging His earthly reign. Frankincense, an aromatic incense, represents His divinity and priestly role. Lastly, myrrh, an embalming oil, foreshadows His suffering, death, and burial.

The visit of the Magi and their offerings are commemorated on the Feast of the Epiphany (January 6th). Some Orthodox traditions also interpret these gifts as an invitation for believers to offer their own talents, virtues, and even their challenges to Christ, reflecting a personal dedication akin to the Magi's devotion.

The Nativity of Jesus in Bethlehem, as recounted by Saint Matthew, was heralded by a celestial event: the appearance of a unique star that guided wise men, or Magi, from the East to Jerusalem. Six centuries prior, during the Babylonian Captivity, Jewish religious thinkers had already discovered the prophecy of the Star of Bethlehem in Balaam's prediction, and the Prophet Daniel had even foretold the Messiah's exact birth date. This ancient knowledge, combined with the star's appearance, prompted the Magi to seek the newborn King of the Jews. Their inquiry in Jerusalem deeply troubled King Herod, who, after consulting the chief priests and scribes, learned from the Prophet Micah that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem.

Herod, cunningly feigning a desire to worship the Infant King, secretly directed the Magi to Bethlehem. The Star reappeared, leading them directly to the house where the Theotokos, her Son, and Righteous Joseph resided. Upon finding the Child, the Magi fell down and worshipped Him, opening their treasures and presenting three symbolic gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These gifts carried profound meaning: gold for Christ as King, frankincense for Him as God, and myrrh, a substance used for embalming, signifying His foretold suffering and burial as the Son of Man. The New Testament positively portrays the Magi, contrasting them with the Jews who largely failed to recognize their Lord.

The identity of these Magi has been a subject of much commentary. The term "Magi" referred to either Zoroastrian priests from Persia or Babylonian astrologer priests. While their exact origin is uncertain, their knowledge of Jewish messianic expectations, likely through the Prophet Daniel, guided their journey. Early Christian literature often placed their homeland in the Arabian Peninsula, connecting them to Old Testament prophecies foretelling foreign kings bringing gifts and serving the Messiah. The historical significance of the Magi is further underscored by the Persian King Khosrow II Parvis sparing the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem during his seventh-century invasion, due to its frescoes depicting the Magi in Persian attire.

Although the Bible does not specify their number, tradition, based on the three gifts, identifies them as three: Balthazar, Melchior, and Caspar. Venerable Bede of Jarrow first recorded their names in the 8th century, with later narratives adding descriptions of their appearance. After their adoration, warned by God in a dream, the Magi bypassed Herod and returned to their own land, traditionally becoming Christians and Gospel preachers, some even consecrated as bishops by Saint Thomas. Empress Helena later discovered their relics in Persia, transferring them to Constantinople and then Milan, with the gilded shrine containing them now preserved in Köln Cathedral, Germany.

The Holy Gifts themselves were kept by the Theotokos throughout her life and later entrusted to the Church of Jerusalem, eventually making their way to Constantinople. In 1453, during the fall of Constantinople to Sultan Mehmed II, the Sultan's mother, Mara Brankovic, an Orthodox Serbian princess, played a crucial role in preserving many Christian relics, including the Gifts of the Magi, due to her son's respect for her faith. She later brought these precious relics to Mount Athos in 1470. Despite the monastic tradition forbidding women on the Holy Mountain, a miraculous voice prevented her from reaching the monastery, declaring it the "kingdom of another Sovereign—the Queen of Heaven." Mara then handed the reliquaries to the monks, and a cross now marks the spot of this divine encounter. To this day, the Gifts of the Magi are revered at St. Paul's Monastery on Mt. Athos, emanating a strong fragrance and reportedly possessing healing powers for the mentally ill and demonically possessed, with some pilgrims even claiming to hear whispers of Christ's miraculous birth from the golden pendants.

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