Melchior | |
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2.jpg) Detail of Melchior inAdoration of the Kings byGerard David, c. 1515 | |
| Three Magi, Three Kings, Three Wise Men | |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church Anglican Communion Lutheran Church |
| Canonized | Pre-Congregation |
| Majorshrine | Shrine of the Three Kings,Cologne Cathedral |
| Feast | 1 January (Date of his Death) 6 January (Epiphany) |
| Attributes | King bearinggifts, king on acamel, threecrowns |
| Patronage | Epilepsy,thunder,motorists,pilgrims,playing card manufacturers, sawmen,sawyers,travellers,travelling merchants,Cologne,Germany,Saxony |
Melchior, or Melichior, was purportedly one of theBiblical Magi (along withCaspar andBalthazar) who visited the infantJesus after he wasborn. 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 theWestern Christian church, he is regarded as a saint (as are the other two Magi).
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The Gospels in theNew Testament do not give the names of the Magi, or even their number; however, their traditional names are ascribed to a Greek manuscript from 500 AD translated into Latin and commonly accepted as the source of the names.[1] Melchior was described byBede in the 8th century as being "an old man, with white hair and long beard."[2] Melchior is also commonly referred to as the King of Persia.[2] Following theStar of Bethlehem, the Magi first travelled to the palace ofHerod the Great, who then asked for the Magi to find theChild 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 theKingdom of Armenia to celebrate Christmas before dying aged 116 on 1 January 55 AD.[6][failed verification]
Melchior, along with the other Magi, is purported to be buried in theShrine of the Three Kings inCologne Cathedral following his remains being moved fromConstantinople byEustorgius I in 314 AD toMilan. In 1164,Holy Roman EmperorFredrick Barbarossa moved them to Cologne.[7] Melchior is commemorated on the Feast ofEpiphany along with the other members of the Magi[6] but is also commemorated inCatholicism with his feast day, 6 January.[8]
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