Epipetalous

[Gr. epi, and petal on, a petal.] ( Bot.) Carried on the petals, as of a flower. Epiphanius, ( ep - i - faine-us,) a Greek father of the church, who was born in Palestine early in the 4th century, and educated among the Gnostics in Egypt; after which he returned to. Palestine and became the disciple of the monk Hilar i on. He was chosen bishop of Salamis, in the isle of Cyprus, 367, and died in 403. Epiphanius was a man of some learning but little judgment, and he was a vehement opponent of Origen. He wrote a book entiled Panarium against all heresies. Epiphany, (e-pif'a-ne,) n. [Gr. epiphaneia, a manifestation.] ( Eccl .) A festival of the Christian Church held on the 6th day of January, in order to celebrate the manifestation of Christ. In early times this festival probably commemorated the nativity of the Saviour, his manifestation in the flesh, and his manifestation to the Gentiles. As a household festival, the E. is better known by the name of king's festival, or of Twelfth - night (being the twelfth night from the Nativity). The practice of choosing a king and queen in family merriments upon that night has been traced back to a similar custom among the Romans during the Saturnalia.