Difference between revisions of "Epiphany"
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'''Epiphany''' (pronounced with stress on the second vowel, which is the [[Long i - short i|short '-i-' of '''i'''s and '''i'''n]] 'er PIFF er ny {{IPA|ə ˈpɪf ə nɪ}}) may be a [[proper noun]] or a [[common noun]]. The basic meaning is 'manifestation'. | '''Epiphany''' (pronounced with stress on the second vowel, which is the [[Long i - short i|short '-i-' of '''i'''s and '''i'''n]] 'er PIFF er ny {{IPA|ə ˈpɪf ə nɪ}}) may be a [[proper noun]] or a [[common noun]]. The basic meaning is 'manifestation'. | ||
| − | *The [[proper noun]] [the] '''Epiphany''' is the name of the commemoration of the visit to the infant Jesus of the three [[Magi]]. This is | + | *The [[proper noun]] [the] '''Epiphany''' is the name of the commemoration of the visit to the infant Jesus of the three [[Magi]]. This is explained as 'the manifestation [showing] of Jesus Christ to the [[gentile]]s', and is celebrated on 6th January, which is also known as Twelfth Night. This marks the end of the 'Twelve Days of Christmas', and therefore of the Christmas season. (In [[Orthodox]] churches, '''Epiphany''' is held to celebrate the baptism of Jesus by [[John the Baptist]], but although this event was years later than the arrival of the Magi, it is still on 6th January. (Eastern Churches which still follow the [[Julian calendar]] celebrate '''Epiphany''' on 19th January in the [[Gregorian Calendar]].) |
| + | *As a [[common noun]] '''epiphany''' is essentially an extension of the [[proper noun]]. | ||
| + | **Within Christianity there are many '''epiphanies''', or realizations, such as the [[Pauline conversion|conversion of St Paul]] on the road to Damascus and the revelation to Simeon recorded in the [[Nunc Dimittis]]. They are not necessarily revelations of Jesus, for example [[Whit Sunday|the appearance of the Holy Spirit at Whit Sunday]]. | ||
| + | **Outside Christianity, [[figurative]] uses of '''epiphany''' are common and wide-ranging. One can have 'an '''epiphany''' of beauty', 'an epiphany of common sense' or an 'epiphany of understanding'. | ||
| + | ::::'''''[[etymology|Etymological]] note''''': '''epiphany''' is derived, through [[Latin]], from late [[Greek]] ἐπιφάνια 'manifestation', from the [[prefix]] ἐπι- and the [[verb]] φαίνειν, 'to show [to]'. There are other words sharing the element 'φάνια' such as '''theophany''', meaning 'an appearance of [a] god to humans', which is better reserved for discussion of pagan, polytheistic, religions (it gave rise to the [[aphetic]] [[forename]] '''Tiffany''', given to Christian female babies born at Epiphany); and '''bethphany''', from the Hebrew ''beth'' 'house', an obsolete term for the manifestation of Jesus's divine powers in his first miracle, when he transformed water into wine for the wedding feast at Cana (John, ch. 2, ''vv'' 1-11)', and '''phagiphany''' for his manifestation in the miracle of the [[Feeding of the Five Thousand]] ('''phagi''' is from the [[Greek]] φαγεῖν 'to eat', which also gives English the [[suffix]] '-phagous'). | ||
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| + | [[Category:religion]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Christianity]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Liturgical year]] | ||
| + | [[Category:etymology]] | ||
| + | [[Category:pronunciation]] | ||
Latest revision as of 12:11, 25 February 2022
Epiphany (pronounced with stress on the second vowel, which is the short '-i-' of is and in 'er PIFF er ny IPA: /ə ˈpɪf ə nɪ/) may be a proper noun or a common noun. The basic meaning is 'manifestation'.
- The proper noun [the] Epiphany is the name of the commemoration of the visit to the infant Jesus of the three Magi. This is explained as 'the manifestation [showing] of Jesus Christ to the gentiles', and is celebrated on 6th January, which is also known as Twelfth Night. This marks the end of the 'Twelve Days of Christmas', and therefore of the Christmas season. (In Orthodox churches, Epiphany is held to celebrate the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, but although this event was years later than the arrival of the Magi, it is still on 6th January. (Eastern Churches which still follow the Julian calendar celebrate Epiphany on 19th January in the Gregorian Calendar.)
- As a common noun epiphany is essentially an extension of the proper noun.
- Within Christianity there are many epiphanies, or realizations, such as the conversion of St Paul on the road to Damascus and the revelation to Simeon recorded in the Nunc Dimittis. They are not necessarily revelations of Jesus, for example the appearance of the Holy Spirit at Whit Sunday.
- Outside Christianity, figurative uses of epiphany are common and wide-ranging. One can have 'an epiphany of beauty', 'an epiphany of common sense' or an 'epiphany of understanding'.
- Etymological note: epiphany is derived, through Latin, from late Greek ἐπιφάνια 'manifestation', from the prefix ἐπι- and the verb φαίνειν, 'to show [to]'. There are other words sharing the element 'φάνια' such as theophany, meaning 'an appearance of [a] god to humans', which is better reserved for discussion of pagan, polytheistic, religions (it gave rise to the aphetic forename Tiffany, given to Christian female babies born at Epiphany); and bethphany, from the Hebrew beth 'house', an obsolete term for the manifestation of Jesus's divine powers in his first miracle, when he transformed water into wine for the wedding feast at Cana (John, ch. 2, vv 1-11)', and phagiphany for his manifestation in the miracle of the Feeding of the Five Thousand (phagi is from the Greek φαγεῖν 'to eat', which also gives English the suffix '-phagous').
