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In the Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar, a great feast has always been celebrated on January 6. However, it has taken on various meanings throughout the centuries and has been called by four different names.
According to the Golden Legend, a medieval document that compiled various stories that the Church has handed down over the years, the four names of January 6 are tied to four events that occurred on the same day, though years apart. Whether or not these events did happen on the same day is a matter of debate, but medieval Christians had a custom of assigning major events in the life of Christ to the same day in the calendar (March 25 is another example).
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Is March 25 the historical date of the crucifixion?
Below is an explanation of the four names as found in the Golden Legend.
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Why is the visit of the Magi called the “Epiphany”?
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What is the Theophany?
And today we celebrate...