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Show i Three Wise Men Of Ancient Time; Relics at Cologne Biblically we know very little about the Wise Men who came from the East bearing gifts to the Christ Child and, having adorned Him as the King of the Jews, returned to their own country. It is generally accepted that there were three Wise Men because of the three specifically mentioned gifts: church tradition has identified these as Melchior, Caspar, and Balthasar: Melchior, king of Arabia, brought a casket of gold; Caspar, king of Tarsus, Tar-sus, brni' hi myrrh; and Balthasar, ing of P'.hinpia, brought frankin cense. These gifts are considered symbolic of what Jesus was to become be-come gold for a king, frankincense for a high priest, and myrrh for a great physician. Collectively, the Wise Men received the gifts of charity char-ity and spiritual wealth, perfect faith, truth and meekness. When they returned to their own country, the three Kings reputedly sold their possessions and went about preaching the Christ-King. Legend continues, that they were martyred in India for their faith. The bodies of the Wise Men, transferred trans-ferred to Constantinople in the fourth century by the Empress Helena, Hel-ena, mother of Constantine were enshrined at Milan for a while after aft-er the first Crusade. Frederick Bar-barossa Bar-barossa authorized removal of the relics to Cologne where they remain to this day deposited within the magnificent Cathedral of Cologne. |