Melchior (magus)

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travelling merchants, Cologne, Germany, Saxony

Melchior, or Melichior, was purportedly one of the

Balthazar) who visited the infant Jesus after he was born. Melchior was often referred to as the oldest member of the Magi. He was traditionally called the King of Persia and brought the gift of gold to Jesus. In the Western Christian
church, he is regarded as a saint (as are the other two Magi).

Tradition

The Adoration of the Three Kings by Girolamo da Santacroce

The Gospels in the

Child Jesus and report back to him. Upon arriving at the house,[3] the Magi worshipped him and opened their gifts, with Melchior giving the gift of gold to signify Jesus' kingship over the world.[4][5] According to a medieval saints calendar, following his return to Persia, Melchior met up with the other Magi again in 54 AD in the Kingdom of Armenia to celebrate Christmas before dying aged 116 on 1 January 55 AD.[6]

Commemoration

Melchior, along with the other Magi, is purported to be buried in the

Catholicism with his feast day, 6 January.[8]

References

  1. ISBN 9004061630
  2. ^ a b "Three Kings Balthazar, Gaspar, Melchior". CNN. 6 January 2013. Archived from the original on 8 January 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  3. ^ Matthew 2:11
  4. ^ "Why Did the Magi Bring Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh?". Biblical Archaeology Society. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  5. ISBN 9780870991806
    .
  6. ^ a b "The Magi". Catholic Education. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  7. ^ David Lowenthal, The Heritage Crusade and the Spoils of History (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998), xvi.
  8. ^ "Magi". Catholic Encyclopedia. 1 October 1910. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
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