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The wise men

വിദ്വാന്മാർ

Greek magoi, a word for Persian priests and astrologers

In the readings on 1 Sunday so far.

Icon of the wise men offering gifts to the Christ child on Mary’s lap, by Emmanuel Tzanes, 1667
Emmanuel Tzanes, 1667

At a glance

In Malayalam
വിദ്വാന്മാർ
What the name means
Greek magoi, a word for Persian priests and astrologers
In the readings
1 Sunday, 27 December 2026
Gospel passages
Matthew 2:9–15, 19–23

Name meanings and role notes are drafted with each edition and waiting for review by a priest or editor.

Who the wise men were

Magi from the East who followed a star to find the newborn King of the Jews. They worshipped the child Jesus and offered gold, frankincense and myrrh, then went home another way to avoid Herod.

Origins
“Wise men from the east”; the Greek word is magi ScriptureMatthew 2:1

  1. They come to Jerusalem asking, “Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star.”

    ScriptureMatthew 2:1–2

  2. Herod is troubled; the scribes point to Bethlehem from the prophet Micah.

    ScriptureMatthew 2:3–6; Micah 5:2

  3. Herod secretly asks them when the star appeared and sends them to search.

    ScriptureMatthew 2:7–8

  4. The star goes before them and stops over the place; they rejoice exceedingly.

    ScriptureMatthew 2:9–10

  5. Entering the house, they see the child with Mary his mother, fall down and worship him, and offer gold, frankincense and myrrh.

    ScriptureMatthew 2:11

  6. Warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they go home another way.

    ScriptureMatthew 2:12

  7. Scripture gives neither their number nor their names. Three is inferred from the three gifts; Western tradition later named them Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar, and Syriac writers gave other names.

    Tradition

  8. The Fathers read the gifts as gold for a king, incense for God and myrrh for one who would die.

    Tradition

Remembered in the Church year

  • Yeldho (Christmas)25 December

Read it in the Bible

  • Matthew 2:1–12 The visit of the Magi
  • Isaiah 60:1–6 Gold and frankincense

Sources: The Holy Bible (World English Bible).

Drafted from the Bible and Church tradition. Each line says where it comes from; anything marked Tradition or History is not in Scripture itself. Waiting for review by a priest or editor.

Sundays with The wise men

  1. First Sunday after Christmas

    Gospel: Matthew 2:9–15, 19–23

    Scholars from the east who studied the stars. Matthew does not say how many.

    In the story

Also in these readings

About the icon

The Adoration of the Magi. Emmanuel Tzanes, 1667. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Everyone in the readings