Sunday, January 07, 2007

Happy Epiphany

Botticelli: Adoration of the Magi

The antiphons for todays office remind us that it is also about the Epiphany at the the Marriage feast of Cana and the Baptism, readings speak about the Epiphany of the Burning Bush.
It is about the "showing forth" of Christ rather than the coming of Magi. St John Chrysostom speaks of 40 Magi bearing gold, incense (frankincense, I presume means French incense) and myrrh. In scripture three gifts are mentioned not the number of gift bearers.

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The Lord’s descent into the underworld

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