Gold, Frankincense And Myrrh

Yes, I know Epiphany Sunday was last week, but since then I have been thinking a lot about the Wise Men - their names and their gifts

.Matthew chapter 2 tells us about the Magi but gives no names, and does not specify the number – just that there were three gifts. There are various traditions about their names The common Western tradition has identified them as Caspar, Melchior & Balthazar. One popular legend has portrayed Caspar as a king of India, Melchior as a king of Persia, and Balthazar as a king of Arabia.

In the East, however, other names appear. Many Syrian Christians call them Larvandad, Gushnasaph, & Hormisdas. Ethiopians name them Hor, Karsudan, & Basanater, Armenians call them Kagpha, Badadakharida, & Badalilma.

The Western tradition of their names seems to have derived from a Greek manuscript most likely composed about the year 500 in Alexandria, Egypt, and translated into Latin. A second Greek document [also translated into Latin but presumed to be of Irish origin - which is bizarre!] from the eighth century, continues that tradition.

Kirsten's December stitching for the Postcard project was this lovely curvy Christmas tree. She cleverly adapted it from this pattern. And below it added 
20+C+M+B+23

Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar in 2023.

but also a prayer

Christus

Mansionem

Benedicat

that is "May Christ bless this house"

And their gifts - well, I read this really sad story on the BBC website. It appears that there is currently a gold rush in Somalia - in the very place with the frankincense and myrrh trees grow. The gold rush which began around five years ago has led to the uprooting of frankincense and myrrh trees, some centuries old. "Gold-miners have swarmed into the mountains," says Hassan Ali Dirie who works for the Candlelight environmental organisation. "They cut down all the plants when they clear areas for mining. They damage the roots of the trees when they dig for gold. They block crucial waterways with their plastic bottles and other rubbish," he said. "Day by day, they are ensuring the slow death of these ancient trees. The first to go are the myrrh trees, which are uprooted when the diggers clear the land for surface mining, frankincense trees grow on rocks and last a little longer. Communities are being ruined by greed. Read it for yourself, and see how western greed has destroyed an ancient way of life. So very, very sad. Whatever their names were, I am sure those 'wise men' in Bethlehem would not have wanted this destruction. And neither would the Baby they came to worship.