Epiphany
“Epiphany” comes from the Greek word meaning “manifestation” or “sudden appearing”,and it represents the word and the light of Christ going out to all the world. Epiphany hymns often include the star in their texts—“Brightest and best of the stars of the morning”, “What star is this with beams so bright”, “How bright appears the morning star”, to name a few. But no hymn represents Epiphany better than “We three kings of orient are”. The three kings who followed the star are the first “foreigners” to whom the light of Christ is revealed. The western Christian Church has, since the first century, believed that there were only three kings, or wise men. The Syrian Christian Church at that time counted as many as twelve!
The hymn itself is fairly new in hymn tradition, written and composed in 1857, and has in fact been called the first modern American Christmas carol. It was written by John Henry Hopkins, Jr., a professor of Music at General Theological Seminary. The hymn’s usefulness for teaching, and its simplicity have brought it great popularity both here and in England. Hopkins originally intended the verses to be sung by three men dressed as kings, with the congregation singing the refrain. Current practice has the congregation singing all five verses and refrain. The Syrian belief of twelve kings would have made quite a long hymn!
Lynn Gardner, Organist/Choirmaster
