Orthodox Star of Bethlehem. Star of Bethlehem - what does it look like and where is it located? Christmas star flower photo
Reality and Myth of the Star of Bethlehem
The star of Bethlehem is a mysterious celestial phenomenon, which the Magi called the "star", according to the Gospel of Matthew.
Many people know the story of the sign that heralded the beginning of a new era in the history of mankind. This happened at the end of the 1st century BC. e. in the skies over the Middle East ... Palestine, which at that time, as, indeed, now, was a seething cauldron of passions, was under Roman rule, and the puppet ruler of Judea, an ambitious despot, hardly kept power in his hands. The Jews, flatly refusing to accept the canons of Greco-Roman culture imposed by the king, predicted the coming of the Messiah who would free them, and impatiently awaited the signs announcing his appearance.
Such was the situation in Judea, when, according to the Gospel, Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem, and some mysterious travellers-magicians came to Jerusalem, American historians P. James and N. Thorpe tell in the book "Ancient Mysteries". Herod was frightened by their prophecy about the birth of a man who would become the new king.
Gathering a council of high priests and scholars, he ordered them to determine the birthplace of the Messiah, or "King of the Jews." The Old Testament prophet Micah predicted that a new “Lord of Israel” would come from the small town of Bethlehem. Upon learning of this, Herod talked with the wise wanderers about the star and sent them to Bethlehem to find a "new king" under a hypocritical pretext, as if he himself wanted to honor him.
The Magi came to Bethlehem and saw the star again: "And the star that they saw in the east went before them, and at last it came and stood over the place where the Child was." Having presented gifts to Jesus, the wise men received a revelation in a dream - although common sense alone would be enough - “to go to their country by another way”, without returning to Herod. When Herod realized that the Magi had tricked him around his finger, he "greatly became angry." Having missed his chance to find a new Messiah, he ordered the execution of every child under the age of 2 in Bethlehem and the surrounding area. Meanwhile, Mary and Joseph fled to Egypt with Jesus.
The story of the Magi and the Star of Bethlehem has become an integral part of Christmas folklore around the world. But is she true? This story can only be found in one of the 4 gospels, namely, in the Gospel of Matthew. With only one source of information, historians tend to be very careful in their assessments. Leaving aside the more general debate about the authenticity of all the gospels, Matthew is one of the earliest biographies of Christ, and therefore more credible.
We have no reason to consider the wise men who followed the Star of Bethlehem as exclusively folklore characters. Moreover, their behavior fits perfectly into the overall picture of religious beliefs and political intrigues of those times.
Ancient historians described the Magi (in the Greek and Latin text Magi - magicians) as an aristocratic priestly caste in ancient Persia, in many respects similar to the Brahmins in modern Indian society. The Magi were the heirs of the Chaldean sages from, whose deep knowledge of the firmament led to the creation of astronomical science, surprisingly perfect for that era. The Magi, who were the court astrologers of the Persian kings (550-323 BC), were feared and respected as sages and miracle workers, everywhere - from the Mediterranean to the Indus Valley.
Judea, which occupied a strategic position at the crossroads of trade routes between East and West, was of particular interest to both Parthia and Rome. In 39 BC. e. the victorious Parthian army sacked Jerusalem and drove out the ambitious young Herod. Re-enthroned three years later with the help of a large Roman army, Herod re-established diplomatic ties with the Parthian Empire, which continued to jealously watch the gradual consolidation of Roman power in Syria and Palestine. An unstable balance has developed, at times interrupted by border skirmishes. Each superpower tried to provoke a revolt against the puppet rulers placed by their rival at the head of the border states.
In the light of this situation, the story of the "three wise men" in the presentation of Matthew becomes more convincing, although it is filled with a slightly different meaning. The Magi could have been spies, or, to put it mildly, intelligence diplomats for the Parthian Empire. Zoroastrianism, the monotheistic religion of the Magi, enjoyed a certain respect among the Jews, because the Magi, unlike representatives of most other religions, could count on a fairly warm welcome in Judea.
It is known that Herod and the Magi are real historical characters. And the Star of Bethlehem? What light could bring the Magi from the east (Parthia), and then reappear over Bethlehem, indicating the birthplace of Jesus? Assumptions cover a wide range of celestial phenomena - from fireballs (meteors and meteorites), comets, new and supernovae to astronomical conjunction of planets and even ball lightning and UFOs.
Is it possible to answer this question based only on the meager information from the Gospel of Matthew? Dr David Hughes of the University of Sheffield in the UK has identified a number of criteria for determining the nature of a star, including:
First. The star seems to appear twice - first as a sign for the Magi in their own country, and then as a guiding sign over Bethlehem at the last stage of their journey.
Second. The star was supposed to have a specific astrological meaning for the Magi.
Third. At first, the star was seen "in the east." The Greek phrase ex en anatole used by St. Matthew, is considered by some scholars to be a technical term for "acronic ascent" - that is, the rising of a planet or star in the east when the sun sets in the west.
Fourth. The star could "stop" over Bethlehem in such a way that it pointed to the location of Jesus.
We will add a fifth, no less important factor to Hughes' analysis.
Fifth. The star was moving - it "walked ahead of them." Only a comet can meet all these conditions. Comets often appear twice: first before approaching the Sun, and then after passing perihelion (the closest point in the orbit of a celestial body in relation to the Sun).
Comets can appear in different places in the sky, including the eastern direction, and move across the sky at a speed of 10 degrees of angle per day, moving from one constellation to the next every 3-4 days. They may also "stop" over particular places pointed to by the comet's tail.
The Jewish historian Josephus writes that a sword-tailed comet (probably Halley's comet) "stood" over Jerusalem in 66 CE. e. like a sign of doom. In fact, Josephus Flavius and St. Matthew uses the same Greek verb to describe the unusual behavior of the Star of Bethlehem and the comet over Jerusalem.
In the Greco-Roman world, it was believed that comets predict important events in the fate of states, as a rule of a catastrophic nature - for example, the death of a ruler. Their appearance often caused panic.
But if comets had a bad reputation and were considered the messengers of fate, then why was an exception made for one of them and it became a miraculous sign of the birth of a new Messiah? This is precisely the argument against the "comet theory" put forward by David Hughes. But the Romans could have interpreted such omens differently: a comet that appeared in the sky after death in 44 AD. e., was considered the soul of a great man, rising to heaven to take his place next to the gods.
But what kind of comet "stood" over Bethlehem at the time of the birth of Jesus? Here we are faced with an almost insurmountable problem - the exact date of Jesus' birth.
According to conventional wisdom, the date of Christ's birth does not correspond to December 25, 1 CE. e. Most Bible scholars agree that Jesus was born no later than 4 BC. e., for the simple reason that the death of King Herod, in whose reign He was born, dates from this year according to a number of reliable sources.
According to the Gospel of Luke, Jesus' parents went to their hometown of Bethlehem to take part in a census conducted by the Romans to regularize the collection of taxes in Judea. It is believed that this census was carried out in 8 BC. e. Thus, Christmas is traditionally dated between 7 and 4 AD. BC e. Chinese chronicles mention two minor comets observed in the sky during these years, while Greek, Roman and Babylonian sources are silent about this - at least there is not even a hint of a similar celestial phenomenon described by St. Matthew.
There are other versions of the astronomical explanation of the Star of Bethlehem. Meteora ("fireballs"). The fiery streaks produced by meteors burning up in the upper atmosphere are a very beautiful phenomenon, but their duration is at best only a few seconds; the Magi would not even have had time to pack for the journey, not to mention the long journey.
The appearance of a new star is a very rare phenomenon, occurring approximately once every few centuries. In the time frame accepted for the birth of Christ, there is one bright nova that appears in Chinese astronomical records, but has not attracted attention in the Greco-Roman world. And although the outbreak of a new star can be observed for several weeks, it lacks the qualities that are necessary for complex astrological calculations and predictions: it simply appears and then disappears. In addition, a new star cannot move across the sky, much less “point” to a certain place.
Meanwhile, one of the celestial phenomena that has always been of interest to astrologers is the astronomical conjunction of the planets. This happens when two or more planets from the point of view of an earthly observer converge quite close to each other, sometimes even merging into one and giving the impression of a bright "star". Could the Star of Bethlehem be the result of an astronomical conjunction?
The possibility of such a connection was first proposed by Johannes Kepler (1571–1630), a great mathematician and mystic, one of the founders of modern astronomy. On the night of December 17, 1603, Kepler observed through a telescope the movements of Jupiter and Saturn, approaching the point of astronomical conjunction (shortly after that, Mars joined them). And two years later, Kepler observed a supernova that erupted in the constellation of Ophiuchus.
Mindful of an old rabbinic commentary on the book of the prophet Daniel, which states that the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in the constellation Pisces is of particular importance for the people of Israel, Kepler suggested that the Magi could witness such an event.
Kepler's calculations showed that such a conjunction must have occurred in 7 BC. e. He concluded that this was the date of the Immaculate Conception, and Christmas took place in 6 BC. e.
It took almost 60 years to dispel the myth of the Keplerian theory of the planetary origin of the star of Christmas. The detective work carried out by Dr. Christopher Walker of the British Museum, in collaboration with Professor Abraham Sachs, an American scientist and translator of Babylonian astronomical texts, led to a completely different discovery. The Babylonian texts were predictions rather than observations. In any case, the Babylonian astrologers of that era could predict the astronomical conjunction of the planets several years before this event. But, as Walker and Sachs have shown, although the texts predict the motions of Jupiter and Saturn in great detail, there is no mention of an astronomical conjunction.
1980 - Dr. Nikos Kokkinos proposed a completely different chronology of the life of Jesus. A detailed examination of Roman sources and the New Testament shows that Christ was crucified in A.D. 36. (and not in the 33rd, as is commonly believed).
It was necessary to find out how old Christ was in the year when He was crucified on the cross. It is believed that Jesus Christ was a fairly young man, between the ages of 30 and 40. According to Kokkinos, this sounds implausible. In order to be considered a rabbi (religious teacher) in Hebrew society, a person had to be at least 50 years of age. Many other pieces of evidence lead us to the same conclusion.
For example, Bishop Irenaeus in the 2nd century AD. e. claimed that Jesus was about 50 years old when He began to teach people. (Irenaeus was a student of Polycarp, who knew people who said they saw Jesus Christ with their own eyes.) But the most unambiguous indication is found in the Gospel of John (8:57), which says that Christ "is not yet 50 years old." In another passage from St. John Jesus compares his body - and indeed his life - with the Temple in Jerusalem, which took "46 years" to build.
But none of the three successive temples in Jerusalem took so long to build. According to Kokkinos, Christ said that they were of the same age with the temple - that is, both were 46 years old. The construction of the temple, which stood in Jerusalem during the life of Christ, was completed under King Herod in 12 BC. Adding 46 years, we get 34 years from R.Kh. - the first year of Christ's preaching, according to Kokkinos. It follows that Christ was crucified in AD 36. at the age of 48!
According to this theory, Jesus Christ was born in 12 BC. If Kokkinos is right, then we can safely abandon all theories of astronomical conjunction of stars or planets in order to explain the Star of Bethlehem. Only after he substantiated the dating of 12 BC, Kokkinos noticed the coincidence of this date with the appearance of Halley's comet in the sky in 12-11 years. BC!
According to the new dating, Halley's comet becomes an ideal candidate for the role of the Star of Bethlehem. It was a clear sign that appeared twice and moved across the firmament, guiding the Magi. The comet's tail could well point to Bethlehem, just as it did in A.D. 66. (during the next visit of Halley's comet) when it was seen as a "giant sword" in the sky, looming menacingly over Jerusalem.
Detailed computer rendering of the motions of a comet seen in Rome, Parthia and Jerusalem in 12–11 AD. BC, could eventually confirm this idea. Now, 7 centuries later, we will finally find out whether the great Giotto was right, in a fit of inspiration, he depicted Halley's comet over the manger in Bethlehem on his canvas.
Star of Bethlehem - what is it? What does it have to do with the Sacrament of the Nativity of Christ? You can find out about all this when you read our article!
"I am the root and offspring of David,
bright and morning star.
(Rev. 22:16)
AT christmas eve we are looking forward to when it lights up - the first, brightest star, a prototype of the miraculous phenomenon described by the Evangelist Matthew. And the tradition of decorating the top of the Christmas tree with a star did not begin at all with the Soviet-style Spasskaya Tower, but with the same Star of Bethlehem.
This phenomenon remains a mystery to astronomers, for many hundreds of years there have been disputes about its origin and nature, and a variety of hypotheses, both natural and theological, have been expressed. She was prophesied by Balaam (“I see Him, but now not yet, I see Him, but not close. A star rises from Jacob, and a rod rises from Israel” - Numbers 24:17) and Isaiah (“Arise, shine, Jerusalem, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen over you... And nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness that rises above you” – Isaiah 60:1-3). The Question of Essence christmas star and the time of its appearance is connected with the determination of the year of the birth of the Savior. (Proposed to keep the account "from Christmas» Roman monk Dionysius the Lesser in 525. on the basis of the facts that John begins to baptize "in the fifteenth year of the reign of the emperor Tiberius" (Luke 3:1), and he reigned from 14 to 37 years. AD, and by the time of baptism Jesus Christ was “thirty years old” (Luke 3:23). However, if we attribute the birth of the Savior to 1g. AD, there are contradictions with other gospel indications: after all, it was “in the days of Herod, king of the Jews” (Luke 1:5, Matt. 2:1), and Herod died in 4g. BC.)
Was it a conjunction of planets? For the first time, such an idea arose from the Roman theologian Tertullian (II-III centuries). In the 17th century, it was proved by the famous German astronomer Johannes Kepler (1571-1630), in 1604 he observed the approach of Mars, Saturn and Jupiter, as a result of which a new bright star arose, the light of which was visible even during the day, calculations showed that at the end 7 - early 6g. BC, Jupiter conjunct Saturn three times in the sign of Pisces. The coincident planets themselves could appear as one bright star. Interestingly, Jupiter is considered the “royal star”, and Saturn is considered the Jewish one, while the fish symbolizes Christ (the name “Christ” in abbreviation is similar to the Greek word “fish”). Therefore, the Magi could interpret the combination of these planets as a sign of the birth of the King of the Jews.
Or maybe it was a new extraordinarily bright star? This version was held by the Holy Martyr Ignatius the God-bearer († beginning of the 2nd century), the scientific justification was given by the Italian mathematician and astronomer Geronimo Cardano (1501-1576), according to his calculations, it caught fire in the constellation Cassiopeia, its flashes are repeated about once every three hundred years , and one of them was observed at the beginning of our era. In 1977 British scientists D. Clark, J. Parkinson and F. Stephenson analyzed the Chinese and Korean astronomical chronicles for the period from 10 BC to 10 BC. BC. by 13 y.o. AD and compared the Star of Bethlehem with that observed for 70 days in 5AD. BC. a nova that flared up near Beta Capricornus.
Could the Star of Bethlehem be a comet? For the first time this idea arose from the Greek philosopher and church leader Origen (III century): “She was from the kind of those stars,” he writes in his essay “Against Celsus,” “which are shown temporarily and are called comets. (...) It is usually observed that with the onset of great events and extraordinary changes, stars of this kind appear on the earth. Scientific justification for the first time expresses in 1907. German astronomer A. Shtenzel, then it is developed by our scientist A.I. Reznikov in an atheistic article “Halley's Comet: Demystification of the Christmas Legend (1986): “According to ancient Chinese chronicles, in August-October 12. BC. it was possible to observe Halley's comet from Earth... in early September, the comet entered the constellation Leo and approached the star Melech, or Regulus, the "little king"... The Leo constellation was associated with the names of Judah and his tribe (Gen. 49:9, Rev. 5 :5). The image of this constellation was on the banners of the Jews. Therefore, the appearance of a new star in the constellation Leo near Regulus could be regarded by astronomers of that time as a sign of the birth of the new King of the Jews.
However, all the theories outlined have their drawbacks: you can follow an ordinary star, observing it with the naked eye, for as long as you like, since, in fact, it stands still, always remaining far away, another thing is that in a certain part of the globe it can be better visible, seem brighter, but how could it point from a great height to a specific city, moreover, a small cave where the Baby lay? In addition, the gospel star walked when the Magi walked, at their speed, and stopped with them. Experienced astronomers could hardly take Jupiter and Saturn for one star, especially since, according to modern English scientists, the distance between them was several diameters of the Moon, therefore, no special light was visible from the earth. If it was a comet or an extraordinarily bright star, how can one explain why no one in Jerusalem noticed it? In addition, Halley's Comet was visible in 12AD. BC, and the census indicated in Luke 2:1,2, by decree of Emperor Augustus, was carried out in 6-7 years. AD during the reign of Quirinius in Syria. In addition, if we refer the Baptism of the Savior to 29g. AD (see the beginning), Jesus Christ would not have been about thirty years old, but 42. And, finally, was it worth the Magi to make a huge and incredibly dangerous path after the usual celestial phenomenon? “In the hope of what rewards from such a distant country do they go to bow to the King? If they had thought that He would be their King, then there would not have been sufficient reason for them to go. If He had still been born in the royal chambers, if His father had been a king and was with Him, then one could say that by worshiping the born Infant they wanted to please the father, and thereby earn his favor. But now they know that the newborn will be the King not of them, but of another people, in a country remote from them; they know that He is not yet at the perfect age: why do they undertake such a journey, and bring gifts, moreover, being exposed to great dangers in this matter? (...) And what signs of kingship did they find when they saw a hut, a manger, a baby in swaddling clothes, and a poor mother? To whom did they give gifts? And for what? Was it established and accepted as a custom to show respect in this way to every king who is born? Did they go around the whole universe and about whom they learned that he would become a king from a low and poor state, they bowed to him before ascending to the royal throne? - writes St. John Chrysostom (see his "Commentary on St. Matthew the Evangelist", conversations VI-VIII).
With his opinion, we will begin a short review of the reflections of the holy fathers and theologians on the mysterious star. According to St. John Chrysostom, the Star of Bethlehem is not an ordinary celestial body, but an invisible rational force that has taken the form of a star: “how would a star indicate such a cramped place of a manger and a hut, if it had not left the height, had not descended, and did not become over the very head Baby? (...) So, what prompted them and made them leave the house and decide on such a long journey? The star and the divine illumination of their thoughts, which gradually raised them to the most perfect knowledge ... For feelings there was nothing great there ... so that you can openly see from here the wisdom of the Magi, and know that they approached not as a simple person, but as God and a benefactor ".
Blessed Theophylact of Bulgaria (second half of the 11th - early 12th century) directly calls the miraculous star "divine and angelic power."
Saint Basil the Great in "Word on Nativity"says:" None of the already existing stars could designate this regal Christmas. It was an unusual star. In fact, those [stars] that were created from the beginning are either completely motionless or constantly moving. And this one appeared, it seems, possessed these two features at the same time. (…) One cannot agree with those who examine the circumstances with excessive curiosity Christmas and states that this star was like the comets which are commonly believed to appear in the sky just to indicate the change of kings. For they are for the most part immobile, representing a fire enclosed in some particular place,” but that star disappeared from sight in Jerusalem, and on the way to Bethlehem it lit up again, “it obeyed someone [orders], served someone then she appeared for the sake of someone, ”says St. Basil.
Indeed, could an ordinary star act so wisely - to disappear upon the arrival of the Magi in Jerusalem? As St. Ephraim the Syrian explains in his Commentary on the Four Gospels, “To embarrass Israel, God hid the star from the magi, so that when they came to Jerusalem, the scribes would interpret to them about His birth and thus they would receive true testimony from the prophets, and from the priests. St. Ephraim likens her to the Savior: “The star, under the guidance of which the Magi made their way, was, of course, visible to them, but her body was hidden: in this capacity she was like Christ, whose light shone, of course, on all people, but the paths of the procession are hidden were from all people. He also draws a parallel with the case that happened with Hezekiah (Jewish king, 727-698 BC), when, in confirmation of the healing from a fatal illness, the Lord gave a sign through the prophet Isaiah - the sun went back, and the shadow returned ten steps ( 2 Kings 20:8-11, Isaiah 38:2-8): “A star appeared because the prophets ceased. There was a star, in order to show who was the One to whom the broadcasting of vices rushed. For as for the sake of Hezekiah the sun went to the east, so for the sake of the Child who was in the manger, the star went from the east to the west. (...) At a joyful birth, a joyful star appeared, and at a time of mournful death, sad darkness appeared. And just as Hezekiah was freed from visible death by a sign, so the magicians were freed from hidden death by a sign.
Even if we assume that the Star of Bethlehem was an ordinary celestial body, it could miraculously move, contrary to natural laws, by the will of the Lord, because even through the prayer of Joshua, God stopped the sun and moon during the battle of the Israelites for Gibeon (Josh. 10:12-14 ), “He will say to the sun, and he will not rise, and he will seal the stars” (Job 9:7).
As you know, a miracle requires not so much rational scientific evidence as sincere faith. “Go with the star,” St. Gregory the Theologian calls on us, “bring with the Magi gifts - gold, and Lebanon, and myrrh - as a King, as God, and as one who died for you. Glorify with the shepherds, rejoice with the Angels, sing with the Archangels, so that there will be a common triumph of the heavenly and earthly Forces ”(“ The Word on Theophany, or on Nativity of the Savior»).
Imbued with religiosity and blessed by the one God, the Land of Israel gave rise to three world religions, which are called upon to fill the souls of people with the light of hope and love for God. Here, over Bethlehem, located near Jerusalem, more than 2 millennia ago, the mysterious Star of Bethlehem was born.
The history of the small town of Bethlehem, whose name, Beit Lehem, is translated from Hebrew as "House of Bread" and from Arabic "House of Meat" is directly connected with the Bible, which indicates that King David was elected and anointed to the kingdom here. In addition, the events of the Book of Ruth unfolded in the land of Bethlehem.
The Star of Bethlehem, which illuminated the pasture a thousand years after King David died, became a harbinger of the birth of Jesus. The Christian teaching says that the first to know about the birth of the Baby, who was destined to become a great king and teacher, were the Magi, who decided to give the newborn a gift in order to find out what fate awaits him.
They brought myrrh, frankincense, and gold. The choice of the first gift would mean that Jesus would become a healer, the second - God, the third - a king. However, when Jesus accepted all the offerings, the Magi learned that before them was a healer, God and King in one person.
Almost all books of not only the Old Testament, but also the Jewish Torah contain identical information about the King and the Savior, with the only difference that in the Christian religion Jesus is recognized as the Savior, and in the Jewish faith the coming of the messiah is an event that still has to happen in the future.
Star setting
Tradition says that the light of the Star of Bethlehem, which inspired the Magi, comes from the bottom of the well, which is dug under the vaults of the Cave of the Nativity. It is said that to this day a faint light breaks through the water column. In the fourth century, the building of the Temple of the Nativity of Christ, which is considered one of the oldest Israeli shrines, was erected over the vaults of the Cave.
At the beginning of the 18th century, the Catholic monks of the Franciscan order installed a shining silver Star of Bethlehem in the Cave. The Star of Bethlehem, this man-made shrine, is represented by fourteen rays, each of which is a symbol of a certain stop on the Way of the Cross, passed by Jesus along Via Dolorosa to the place of his execution.
The inscription on the star indicates that this is the place where the Virgin Mary had a son - Jesus Christ. However, in 1847 the Turks took possession of the silver Star of Bethlehem.
After some time, the Franciscan monks received a new Star as a gift from the Turkish ruler. The Star of Bethlehem shines surrounded by icons and 15 lit lamps, which are the offering of the Christian churches of three denominations - Armenian, Catholic and Greek.
Symbol meaning
In contrast to the debate about whether the Star of Bethlehem really exists, or about what its meaning is and whether it is a physical, astronomical and astrological phenomenon, believers associate their hope for better times and faith in the undivided love of God with it.
That is why a small town, despite the vicissitudes of politics associated with the Palestinian Authority, annually receives an endless stream of tourists and pilgrims arriving from different parts of the world. Leaving fun entertainment, tourists come to bow to this holy place, who stay in hotels in Netanya and Tel Aviv, on the Dead Sea and in the resort of Eilat.
Excursion to the Star of Bethlehem
Here, in the Church of the Nativity of Christ, pilgrims touch the most sacred shrines, feeling holiness, warmth and light. Capturing the Star of Bethlehem in a photo, or leaving documentary evidence of it on video, they forever leave a precious memory of this shrine in their souls.
Such a tour does not fit into the usual excursion, which ends in a coastal cafe or restaurant, or some other pleasant pastime. An excursion to Bethlehem makes you want to be in a quiet and calm environment, left alone with your thoughts and feelings, which have nothing to do with everyday hustle and bustle and life.
Is one of them. Each of the symbols characterizes Orthodoxy in a certain way. Probably, everyone at least once thought about what the eight-pointed star means in religion and not only. After all, she met in the culture of many peoples in different eras. It certainly has a variety of meanings. To understand all this, you need to trace its appearance in the history of mankind and in the symbolism of Orthodox Christianity.
Star with eight rays
In Christianity, this is the Star of Bethlehem or a symbol. According to the Scriptures, it lit up in the sky when the Messiah was born. Its eight rays were brighter than other stars. Seeing them, the ancient wise men (Magi) remembered the prophecies and realized that the long-awaited Savior was born. They hastened to the east to worship the Son of God. The star of Bethlehem showed the elders the way, moving ahead until it stopped over the place where Jesus was born.
There is a Star of Bethlehem in the cave of the Nativity of Christ. How many rays on it is known for certain. The place where Jesus was born is indicated by a silver star with fourteen rays. This number is no coincidence. It symbolizes the stops on the Way of the Cross of Jesus in Jerusalem.
Star of Bethlehem. History of occurrence
Today, an eight-pointed star is found in Orthodox churches, the meaning of which can be understood by referring to the history of its appearance.
But initially the Star of Bethlehem had five rays, according to the number of wounds of Jesus Christ. She also symbolized health: the number of fingers, sense organs. But its main meaning was in the human nature of Christ.
During the Renaissance, the star was associated with the occult. And upside down, it became a symbol of Satan. But Christians considered this option a sign of the rebirth of Christ. And even canonized by the church as a saint, Constantine had a seal with an inverted five-pointed star. It was he who made Christianity the state religion.
For Russia, historically, the symbol in the form of a star with five rays is alien. It is more customary to personify it with Judaism and Freemasonry. Although during the years of Soviet power it was the star with five rays that was chosen as the state symbol.
Eight-pointed star in Orthodoxy. Prerequisites for the appearance
The five-pointed Star of Bethlehem was replaced by a six-pointed star around the fifteenth century. In general, this symbol arose at the beginning of the Neolithic period. It meant six directions of the world. Everyone knows that there are four of them, but, for example, the inhabitants of Ancient India, seeing a symbol with so many rays, understood its meaning as "six sides of the horizon."
Then, in some of the periods, there was a seven-pointed Bethlehem star in Russia. Once upon a time, magicians wore the same symbol as a distinctive sign, but with the indication of a planet near each beam.
The meaning of the eight-pointed star in Rus'
And, finally, an eight-pointed star appeared - a symbol known in Rus' since ancient times. Long before the twentieth century, among the inhabitants of Ancient Rus', even in pagan times, it meant the presence of the main deity. The image of such a star was placed on military banners, clothes, and on various household and religious items.
In Orthodox Rus', the eight-pointed star was no less important. After all, it caught fire in the firmament at the moment of the birth of our Savior and led the Magi to the place where Jesus was born.
Eight-pointed star in iconography
Today this sign is present in all Orthodox churches, symbolizing Russia. A star with eight rays can be found on all Russian icons of the Mother of God, the patroness of our Fatherland. We, in Russia, say about this symbol: the star of the Virgin, Russian, and also Bethlehem.
As mentioned above, the icons of the Blessed Virgin Mary depict an eight-pointed star, the meaning of which is very important in Orthodoxy. This is understandable only from the fact that the symbol is located on the shoulders and head of the Virgin. On the "Burning Bush" icon, the image of the Mother of God is completely inscribed in an octogram (this is also the name of a symbol with two squares superimposed on each other, forming an eight-pointed symbol). The star is closely connected with the Mother of God, her secret.
If we recall the meaning of the symbol with eight rays, then by tradition it was understood as eternity, unshakable stability and going beyond the limits of this world. Also, the octogram is a sign of Paradise, Heavenly Jerusalem and the final Transfiguration.
The meaning of the star among different peoples
The eight-pointed star is a symbol of balance, order, creation, if it is inscribed in a circle. So in ancient times they designated the calendar, the seasons (everything material changes, but the main thing remains unchanged).
The eight-pointed star is found in the cult of Latvians, Udmurts. In the form of a double cross or with forked ends, it can be seen in folk ornaments among the Finns and Karelians, as well as among the northern peoples (for example, Finno-Ugric). Here it means guiding and rebirth, is a symbol of light and glory.
In addition, a star with eight rays can be found in Karelia, Likhoslavl and its region (whose inhabitants are also Karelians), Colombia, Peru. The flags of Great Britain and the Philippines also have an octal symbolism.
The eight-pointed star, whose meaning among the Egyptians was the identity of the divine sign, is also found among the Sumerians. In their language, it was this symbol that denoted the word, which translates as "god, star, sky."
It is believed that the eight-pointed sign symbolizes the seven periods in the history of mankind, and the eighth ray - the life of the next century. That is the time when the kingdom of God will come.
Star in the traditions of Christians
The eight-pointed has always been the main one on the tops of the festive fir trees. She also served as decoration in houses and on the street. During Soviet times, the star was replaced by a five-pointed one.
Children were given the eight-pointed Star of Bethlehem for prosperity and happiness.
According to church tradition, one of the apostles was the first to bring the message of the Christian faith to the Russian land. Apparently, therefore, in Tsarist Russia, the highest award, which had the shape of an eight-pointed star, was called the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called. Today, he also has a high status, returned by presidential decree in 1998.
The star of Bethlehem, no matter how many rays it has, is of great importance in the history of Christianity. The Magi, led by her, found out where the Savior was and told the world about his birth. Today, this symbol, as always, is a guide for believers, reminding that the material and the spiritual are interconnected. But if one passes without a trace, then the other is eternal and imperishable. Striving for life in the kingdom of God, one must remember that in this world everyone can become a guiding star for someone, doing good deeds and thereby drawing closer to the Lord. Maybe this is the true meaning of the symbol with eight rays. Peace and harmony to you!
In this article, we will talk about what the Star of Bethlehem is and what it looks like. This is one of the many phenomena that Christians do not question, and scientists have been trying to prove it or disprove it scientifically for many years.
What is the Star of Bethlehem?
Let's start with history. According to the Gospel of Matthew, the three wise men, seeing in the sky a new bright star in the east (or, more precisely, at sunrise), went towards it to bow to Jesus Christ. From ancient legends they knew that such a star would lead them to the King of the Jews. The Magi came to Jerusalem, but did not find the Savior there and, on the advice of King Herod, went to Bethlehem, where the star stopped right above the house of the Holy Family. After bowing to Jesus and bringing him gifts - gold, frankincense and myrrh, they set off on their way back to their homeland to preach the birth of the Savior there. Until now, these three wise men are revered as saints, and their relics are located in Cologne.
Was there a star?
Criticizing the Scriptures, some have argued that there was no star, and this is just a later insertion into the original text, designed to decorate it and make it more solemn.
However, it has already been proven that the events described in the texts by the evangelists practically do not contradict real historical events. Therefore, it can be assumed that in fact at that time there really was some kind of cosmic body in the sky. In addition, the style of presentation indicates that the authors told about events exactly as they happened, without inventing additional elements of the story, otherwise the Gospels would look different in terms of sequence. For believers, the angel leading the Magi would probably look more natural and logical than some kind of star. Why include it in the text, if in fact it did not exist?
Parade of planets
One of the most likely explanations for this phenomenon is given by astronomers - most likely, it was the so-called parade of planets, when the Earth, Sun, Jupiter and Saturn lined up in one line. It must have looked amazing, and it is not surprising that mystical significance was attributed to such a phenomenon.
It is worth saying that the three Magi, heading to the Savior, were scientists, mathematicians, astronomers of their time, revered in society. Therefore, studying the planets and stars was their profession.
bright comet
Another version of the origin of the Star of Bethlehem says that it was a comet. Judging by the time of the gospel events, it was most likely a comet from the constellation Capricorn that appeared in the 5th century BC and was described in detail by astronomers from China. However, at that time, such cosmic bodies were considered mainly a bad omen, so it is not at all a fact that the appearance of that comet could be interpreted as a blessed sign of the appearance of the Savior.
However, there is another option proposed by modern astronomers. It was this phenomenon that the three Magi could see: a bright star appeared in the 4th century BC and, it seems, was located just above Jerusalem. Here is a photo of the Star of Bethlehem.
a red star
It is worth saying that now this name means other, non-astronomical objects. For example, there is a star of Bethlehem flower - this is the well-known poinsettia, which many people buy before Christmas (and sometimes before the New Year). It blooms not too beautiful small yellow flowers, but pleases the eye with leaves - red, green, white, sharply contrasting with each other and creating a festive impression. Its leaves have eight ends, and this is an additional association with a star. Poinsettia is a home plant, beautiful and unpretentious, so it can often be found in European homes, in Russia it has not yet become widespread.
This flower was originally revered by the Aztecs. After its appearance in Europe around the sixteenth century, a legend arose associated with the celebration of Christmas. According to her, children from poor families really wanted to decorate the temple for the holiday, but they had no money at all for decorations. Therefore, they broke several branches from the bushes that grew along the road and brought them to the church, sincerely believing that even with such an offering they would bring much joy to the Lord. And when they brought their bouquets into the temple, they were transformed and covered with red and green, star-like leaves. This was the poinsettia.
What does a star look like
Most often, the Star of Bethlehem is depicted as eight-pointed. As a piece of jewelry, such as a pendant, they try not to wear it, because it is considered blasphemous. However, images of the Star of Bethlehem still exist: for example, a silver star is depicted on the floor of a well in a cave where, according to one version, Jesus Christ was born. This place is also called the Holy Nativity. Legend has it that the Star of Bethlehem fell right there after it led the Magi to the Divine Infant. Christians often claim that if you carefully look into the depths of a well lined with silver plates from the inside, you can see the flickering of a celestial body located deep at the bottom. Above the place where, according to this legend, the star is now located, in the eighteenth century, the monks of the Order of St. Francis of Assisi built a church.
By the way, it was such a star, and not crosses, as it is now, that was installed on top of the domes of the very first Orthodox churches.
Often used in Christian holidays, such a Christmas tree decoration is especially widespread. In Russia, the tradition was changed, and the star became five-pointed. But after the collapse of the Soviet Union, it again had eight ends, and now both traditions exist on an equal footing. However, on the main Christmas tree of Russia in the Kremlin there is an authentic star.
Orthodox shops sometimes offer the symbol of the Star of Bethlehem, most often in the form of a gold or silver pendant, costing from three to four thousand rubles. Similar gizmos can now be found in esoteric shops - they offer a variety of jewelry made from a wide variety of metals, most often inexpensive. Of course, it is a rather controversial issue whether people have the right to wear and make such jewelry. Even the opinions of the priests on this matter differ radically: for example, some believe that in fact the Star of Bethlehem was lit at one time by Satan in order to lead King Herod to the Divine Infant. Therefore, they do not approve of the symbol of the star itself. Some Orthodox priests consider the eight-pointed star a sign of belonging to Islam. The priests are more unanimous in relation to the five-pointed star, the pentagram, which is considered by representatives of the church to be a sign of involvement with the worshipers of Satan. The star of David with six ends is a clear symbol of Judaism, although the followers of this religion wear it very infrequently.
The star of Bethlehem is often used as part of other Christian symbols - for example, in the center of crosses. Often, precious or semi-precious stones are placed in the center of the star.
On almost all icons dedicated to the Mother of God, you can also find the sign of a star. Since the Mother of God is considered the patron saint of Russia, the Star of Bethlehem is sometimes called Russian. The symbol itself could also mean Heavenly Jerusalem, paradise, steadfastness in life situations, or something unearthly, sublime. The star is also associated with the so-called Eighth Day of Creation. It is believed that after the Fall, the Seventh Day continues to this day, after which the Apocalypse will come, and after the Second Coming of all the saved, eternal life awaits, the eternal Eighth Day. Thus, the star has another very important meaning - it symbolizes eternity.
DIY star of Bethlehem
Many children enjoy making their own Christmas tree decorations, and among other decorations, you can make a Christmas star. Sometimes it is hung on a window or on the very top of a festive tree. How to make a star of Bethlehem with your own hands? Best of all - from shiny paper, voluminous using the origami technique or cut it out of silver isolon.
Russian awards
The Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, which was the highest state award in pre-revolutionary Russia, basically had an eight-pointed star.
And in modern Russia, the "Star of Bethlehem" award has been established, on the gold medal of which the corresponding symbol is printed, and sometimes an angel is depicted on it. This is the sign of the Academy of Literature.
Other meaning
Of course, the main sphere of existence of this sign is Christianity, however, the esotericism so popular today also uses the Star of Bethlehem.
The meaning of this symbol in magic is the image of the law of karma of a whole family. It is believed that the seven generations that lived on Earth before the birth of a particular person on it will have their influence on him, and he, in turn, will influence the seven subsequent generations with his thoughts and actions. This theory exists because between Jesus Christ and his ancestor, the Jewish king David, fourteen generations were born. Many pendants in the form of a star are created under the influence of this particular esoteric direction.