ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JANUARY
Saints celebrated on the 6th of January
THE THREE KINGS
The Three kings, the "wise men from the Orient" (Matthew 2:1 ff.), have their feast day since the 8th century. Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar, patron saints of motorists, are commemorated on the feast of Epiphany (January 6).
In Hebrew, the kings are called Galgalath, Magalath, and Tharath; in Greek Appelius, Amerius, and Damascus; in Latin Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar (Golden Legend).
THE RELICS
Their relics are said to have been brought to Constantinople and from there to Milan. Rainald von Dassel transferred them to Cologne in 1164.
ST CASPAR
St Caspar, King of Chaldea, is traditionally portrayed with a reddish beard in the middle of the three kings, younger than Melchior and older than Balthasar. He presented the frankincense to the Infant Saviour.
ST MELCHIOR
St Melchior, King of Persia, is often referred to as the oldest member of the Magi. He brought the gift of gold to Jesus.
ST BALTHASAR
St Balthasar, portrayed in art with a purple cloak, is a King from South India, according to John of Hildesheim's "Historia Trium Regum". Balthasar gifted the myrrh. The tradition is that he afterwards became a Christian Bishop and died while celebrating Mass.
📷 Three Kings Shrine, Cologne Cathedral
➡️ The Translation of the Three Kings
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