The Three Holy Kings

In a distant land before the birth of Jesus in Judea, a group of wise astronomers awaited the fulfillment of a prophecy foretelling a star born from Jacob's lineage. On the day of Jesus Christ's nativity, these astronomers, known as the Three Kings—Melchior, Balthasar, and Caspar—saw a miraculous star atop a mountain, heralding the birth of a King in Judea. Moved by this sign, each King gathered treasures and embarked on a journey guided by the star, which led them to Bethlehem. There, they found the newborn Jesus, offering gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Warned in a dream to avoid King Herod's treachery, they returned home, spreading the news of the Holy Child's birth. Their relics, eventually housed in a shrine in Cologne, became symbols of faith and pilgrimage, enduring to this day.