Who Were the Three Kings?

And the mystery of Christianity...

Each January, Christians around the world celebrate the Feast of Epiphany, which commemorates the visit of the Magi (the “Three Wise Men”) to Baby Jesus. Epiphany, derived from the Greek epiphaneia, means “appearance” or “manifestation” — a fitting term for a celebration of divine revelation.

The Magi’s story is rich with symbolism and meaning. As figures from distant lands following a star, they represent humanity’s search for truth, and the recognition of Christ’s Incarnation as both the start and end point of that quest.

But who exactly were these mysterious travelers, and what do they reveal about the nature of religious searching — and Christianity itself?

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The Biblical Magi

The Magi’s story is rooted in the Gospel of Matthew, which describes the travelers as wise men from the East bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Catholic tradition builds on this biblical account with details passed down by the faithful through centuries.

The oldest known depiction of the Magi, Catacomb of Priscilla, Rome (c.250 AD)

Sacred tradition holds that the Magi were named Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, names which represent their provenance from diverse regions of the ancient world: specifically Europe, Asia, and Africa. Their backgrounds underscore the universality of Christ’s message — a kingdom meant for all nations and peoples.

Historical and cultural accounts enrich their story with further intrigue. Marco Polo, the famed Venetian explorer, wrote of encountering people in Persia who claimed descent from the Magi. According to Polo’s accounts, they preserved stories of their ancestors’ journey to Bethlehem.

Comically, however, the people he encountered didn’t quite make the connection between the wise men of their tradition, and the wise men of his. When Polo asked “Do you know the three wise men who travelled to Bethlehem?” he was often met with the following response: “No, we don’t know them — but you should hear about our three wise men who travelled to Bethlehem, they’re pretty neat!” Alas, poor Marco Polo’s quest ended in frustration.

Today, the “chalking of the door” is a Catholic practice associated with the Magi. On Epiphany, Catholic households mark their doors with the letters C, M, and B, flanked by the numbers of the year.

These letters represent both the initials of the Magi and the Latin phrase Christus mansionem benedicat (“May Christ bless this house”). The act of chalking the door is a reminder to invite Christ into one’s home and life — it connects the Magi’s journey to Christ’s blessing, and to each family’s daily pursuit of faith.

Seekers of Truth, Beauty, and Goodness

But what do the Magi reveal about the nature of religious searching? Bishop Robert Barron reflects:

“The feast of Epiphany gives us the occasion to reflect on a distinction that is much in vogue today between spirituality on the one hand and faith on the other. The Magi represent all that is good and true and beautiful in religious seeking. But they come to the tradition of Israel to find the right focus for their spiritual quest.”

In other words, the Magi are quintessential seekers, driven by a hunger for truth and meaning.

Their journey was far from easy — they traversed vast deserts, faced political intrigue with King Herod, and navigated their way by star. Their willingness to endure hardship highlights the deep-rooted human desire for transcendence and religious meaning.

A possible route of the Magi, assuming they set off from ancient Babylon

Importantly, their search did not end with mere spirituality or abstract contemplation. It culminated in an encounter with Jesus, where their gifts spoke to the essence of his life and nature: gold for kingship, frankincense for divinity, and myrrh for death and sacrifice.

Simultaneously though, their encounter with Baby Jesus was also the beginning of the Magi’s journey. As Christ had not yet lived, died, and resurrected, they had no ability to fathom the full significance of his birth. In this way, the Magi reveal that, for those starting out on the path towards faith, the best place to start is by simply considering the notion of God becoming flesh.

So what does it mean to find God incarnate in the manger?

This question is just as important to decoding the meaning of the Magi themselves — and the very core of the Christian faith…

The Mystery at the Heart of Christianity