Virtual Vertep Vision is a series of articles and videos dedicated to each character of the traditional Ukrainian Vertep. Created as part of the project “BoykoTravel: Vertep PreServes Ukraine”, implemented with the support of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation.
“Where are you going, Three Kings?”
“We are going to Bethlehem,
To bring our blessing of peace,
And we shall return.”
(Carol “Eternal God Is Born,” 18th c.)
The Three Kings – called “wise men” in the Gospel, and “Magis” in folk tradition – who came from the East to worship the Divine Child, symbolically represent both the three races descending from Noah’s sons – Shem, Ham, and Japheth – and the three stages of human life: youth, maturity, and old age. Their presence reveals the universality of God. He is for all peoples.
Their traditional names – Melchior, Caspar, and Balthazar – emerged in the Early Middle Ages. Their origins and appearances were described by the English Benedictine theologian and exegete, St. Bede the Venerable (672/3–735):
Melchior – an elderly man with a long white beard.
Caspar – a beardless young man with a fair complexion.
Balthazar – a dark-skinned man of middle age.
The three gifts of the Wise Men foretold Christ’s identity as King, High Priest, and Savior:
Gold – the “king” of all metals – offered to Jesus as King, not one who rules by force, but by love; not from a throne, but from the Cross.
Frankincense (Incense) – used in temple worship and sacrifice – offered to Jesus as God, from the lineage of Japheth.
Myrrh – used for anointing the dead – offered to Jesus as Man, from the lineage of Ham; a prophecy that He would die, and through His death overcome death.
The image of the star in the sky guiding the Magi symbolizes the visible presence of God in this world-changing event:
“And the star they had seen in the East went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the Child was.” (Matthew 2:9)
Warned in a dream by the Angel not to return to Herod, the Magi “went back by another way.” This speaks not only of a historical event, but carries a deep spiritual meaning: the wise men – literally astrologers or star watchers, priests of Persia or Arabia – had not known the true God before. They came to Him through paganism. The Angel’s warning not to return “by the same road” means also this: never return to paganism or superstition after having found Christ.
They came by the light of a star – and returned by the Light of the World.