Epiphany

Epiphany is the manifestation of God's Glory in human form, the revelation to the Gentiles of His redemptive power. It is the Gentiles in the form of the three Magi (sorcerers practicing the ancient occult practices) and the ceremonial unclean shepherds to whom this is revealed first, along with the Holy family. Traditionally, the prophet's revelation found in Isaiah is read at this time, a prophecy connected with the return to Jerusalem from Babylon, but which prophecy was never fully fulfilled at that time:

Lessons for the day: http://www.eskimo.com/~lhowell/bcp1662/info/cal_1871/january.html see also http://virginia.edu.anglican.org/logue/bcpframe.htm

In England in 1752 changes were made in the calculation of the calendar. The important changes were:

• The elimination of some days (dating from October 1582), to realign the Vernal Equinox with March 21st
• Change leap year selection so that not all years ending in "00" are leap years.
• Change the beginning of the year to January 1st from March 25th
• There were some errors in the 1582 calculation, which resulted in an additional day having to be dropped

Thus, as a result, September 3, 1752 did not happen in Georgia or the other British colonies. Whilethe day before was the 2nd, the next day in history officially became September 14, 1952. As part of switching Julian to the Gregorian calendar, 11 days had to be eliminated from the year 1752. September 3rd was the first casualty. Thus when the days were dropped from the year with the switch from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar by the Catholic Church in 1582, December 25 was effectively moved backwards; As a result, some Christian Church sects, technically called old calendarists, would still celebrate Christmas or the Feast of the Nativity on January 6th.

In the USA and other countries of English tradition, this stretch of time is referred to as The 12 Days of Christmas, ending in the traditional Anglican Feast of the Epiphany. Epiphany has its roots in a much older tradition based upon the announcement of Christ's birth: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05504c.htm; see also http://www.cresourcei.org/cyepiph.html

Epiphany is in Europe the Feast associated with the three Kings -- in Spanish-influenced cultures la Fiesta de Reyes or el Dia de los Reyes Magos. It is customary in France to eat from a Galette des Rois (gâteau des rois), which holds a miniature figurine inside and a crown on top. The person finding the figurine in the cake is ruler or king for the day (roi de la fève). So whenever one has an unexpected, pleasant discovery -- "trouver la fève au gâteau" -- a lucky find.

In Germany Epiphany is called the day of the Heilige Drei Könige (the "wise men," "Three Kings," the Magi). Traditionally too, the initials of the Three Kings (Kaspar, Melchior and Balthazar) -- K+M+B -- plus the year are inscribed in chalk over doorways in German-speaking countries on the eve of January 6 to protect house and home. In many parts of Europe, including Austria, Germany and Switzerland, the Christmas celebration does not end until this date -- now considered the arrival of the three "kings of the orient" in Bethlehem -- and the end of the "twelve days of Christmas" between Christmas and January 6th.

Une GALETTE: Sorte de pâtifferie fort fimple que l'on fait en étendant de la pâte dans une forme plate & approchant de celle du gâteau. On peut rendre les Galettes d'un bien meilleur goût, fi on y met du beurre à difcrétion avec du fel, & en repliant plufieurs fois la pâte ; il ne faut lui donner qu'un bon pouce d'épaiffeur, & la laiffer près d'une heure dans le four -- A kind of extremely simple pastry made from bread-like dough with a consistency approaching that of the cake. One can obtain cakes of a much better taste, if one puts more butter in it with salt (cook's discretion), & folding up several times in the dough -- one should make the cake only a good inch thick, & leave it nearly one hour in the furnace -- from an 18th century cookbook where some s's look like f 's (ie. pâtifferie would look like pâtisserie today).

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January 6, 1088 – Berengar of Tours: This theologian and scholar of in France, whose leadership of the cathedral school at Chartres, set an example of intellectual inquiry through the revived tools of dialectic and who disputed with the Church leadership over the doctrine of transubstantiation in the Eucharist. He paid more attention to the Bible and early Christian writers, especially Gregory of Tours and Augustine of Hippo, than others of his day; and, thus Berengar came to formal theology with a different perspective. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berengar_of_Tours His opposition to accepted Catholic practice was limited to the eucharistic doctrine of his time, but there were hints of the Reformation here in France at an early date.

Saw you never, in the twilight, When the sun had left the skies, Up in Heav’n the clear stars shining Through the gloom, like silver eyes? So of old the wise men, watching, Saw a little stranger star, And they knew the King was given, And they followed it from afar.

Heard you never of the story How they crossed the desert wild, Journeyed on by plain and mountain, Till they found the holy Child? How they opened all their treasure, Kneeling to that infant King; Gave the gold and fragrant incense, Gave the myrrh in offering?

Know ye not that lowly Baby Was the bright and morning Star? He Who came to light the Gentiles, And the darkened isles afar? And we, too, may seek His cradle; There our hearts’ best treasures bring; Love, and faith, and true devotion For our Savior, God and King.

[Tune Chartres; Words: trad. Beranger of Tours]

Jeanne d'Arc, Sainte, est née à Domrémy, entre Lorraine et Champagne, le 6 janvier 1412. François Villon, né en 1431, l'année même de sa mort, évoqua le souvenir de Jeanne dans la belle Ballade des Dames du temps jadis:

« ... Et Jeanne, la bonne Lorraine
Qu'Anglais brûlèrent à Rouen;
Où sont-ils, où, Vierge souveraine ?
Mais où sont les neiges d'antan ? »
http://www.herodote.net/histoire05301.htm

Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. -- Le Noël orthodoxe en Ukraine

"O SON thousane dy hengaghyn"

Ainsi parle l'Éternel: Placez-vous sur les chemins, regardez, Et demandez quels sont les anciens sentiers, Quelle est la bonne voie; marchez-y, Et vous trouverez le repos de vos âmes!

There is sprung up a light for the righteous: And joyful gladness for such as are true-hearted

I highly reccomend that you explore the following site; its huge and informative -- http://www.stpetersnottingham.org/hymns/persian.htm -- this link is to the Three Kings hymn

More than a Bede page -- a brief history of the Church in England -- You are listening to a hymn about Chartres

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