EPIPHANY

The epiphany, or manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles, is commemorated in the Church on the 6th of January, and denotes the day on which the wise men came from the East to worship the infant Jesus . (Matt. ii. 2.) Let us be thankful for the light of the gospel, which on that day began to shine on those who sat in darkne . (Isa. ix. 2; Matt. iv. 16.) The word epiphany is derived from the compound verb ἐπιφαίνω , which signifies to manifest or declare . The Epiphany is observed as a scarlet day at the universities of Cambridge and Oxford. The feast of Epiphany was not, originally, a distinct festival, but made a part of that of the nativity of Christ ; which being celebrated twelve days, the first and last of which, according to the custom of the Jews in their feasts, were high or chief days of solemnity, either of these might fitly be called Epiphany, as that word signifies the appearance of Christ in the world. This festival was, in one respect, more taken notice of, in the Greek Church, than the Nativity itself, being allowed as one of the three solemn times of baptism, which the Nativity was not; a privilege which it wanted in the Latin Church. St. Chrysostom tells us, that, this being likewise the day of our Saviour’s baptism, it was usual to carry home water, at midnight, from the church, and that it would remain as fresh and uncorrupt for one, two, or three years, as if immediately drawn from the spring.— Homil. 24, de Bapt. Christ i. Theodosius the Younger gave this festival an honourable place among those days, on which the public games were not allowed; and Just in i an made it a day of vacation from all pleadings at law, as well as from popular pleasures. It is to be observed, likewise, that those to whom the care of the Paschal cycle, or rule for finding Easter, was committed, were obliged, on or about the time of Epiphany, to give public notice when Easter and Lent were to be kept the ensuing year.— Cod. Theod. lib. xv. tit. 5, leg. 5. Cod. Just. lib. iii. tit. 12, leg. 6.