Epiphany (
Koine Greek: Ἐπιφάνεια,
Epiphaneia, "Manifestation", "striking appearance") or
Theophany (
Ancient Greek: (ἡ) Θεοφάνεια,
Τheophaneia meaning "Vision of God"), also known as
Three Kings' Day, is a Christian
feast day that celebrates the revelation of God in his Son as
human in
Jesus Christ. In Western Christianity, the feast commemorates principally (but not solely) the
visit of the Magi to the
Christ child, and thus Jesus' physical manifestation to the
Gentiles. Moreover, the feast of the Epiphany, in some Western Christian
denominations, also initiates the liturgical season of
Epiphanytide.
Eastern Christians, on the other hand, commemorate the
baptism of Jesus in the
Jordan River, seen as his manifestation to the world as the
Son of God.