The Gifts of the Magi: A Secret History from the Vatican Libraries

 What are the gifts of the Magi? Traditionally identified as gold, frankincense, and myrrh, a forgotten 2nd-century text called "The Revelation of the Magi" describes them as "Cave Treasures" guarded by a sacred bloodline from the land of Shir. Today, relics believed to be these original gifts are housed in a gold chest at the Monastery of St. Paul on Mount Athos.

What is the Revelation of the Magi?

While the Gospel of Matthew gives us the famous account of the Three Wise Men, but there is a "lost" story known as The Revelation of the Magi.

This text, recently translated from a 3rd-century Syriac document by Harvard Professor Brent Landau, offers a radical alternative. It claims the Magi were not Persian astrologers, but a sacred bloodline from the land of Shir (likely ancient China) descended from Seth, the third son of Adam and Eve. Their sole purpose for generations was to guard the Gifts of the Magi within a hidden mountain cave.

Where did the Gifts of the Magi come from?

According to this revelation, the gifts weren't just bought in a market; they were Adam’s treasures.

• The Prophecy: Adam told Seth to watch for a star that would rest on a pillar of light in the Cave of Treasures.

• The Purification: Each month, the Magi bathed in the "Spring of Purification," surrounded by seven sacred trees: Olive, Vine, Myrtle, Cypress, Orange, Cedar, and Juniper.

• The Appearance: When the star finally appeared, it wasn't a dot in the sky, but an "ineffable pillar of light" that transformed into a "small humble man" who invited the Magi to bring the treasures to the Nativity.

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What is the spiritual meaning of myrrh in this story?

Fascinatingly, the Revelation of the Magi refers only to "The Treasures." However, we know from the biblical account that Myrrh was the centerpiece.

The spiritual meaning of myrrh here is one of continuity. It represents a sacred obligation passed from father to son for thousands of years. It is the physical link between the first humans in the Garden and the birth of the Messiah.

Where are the original Gifts of the Magi today?

If you travel to the Monastery of St. Paul on Mount Athos, the monks will tell you that the story didn't end in Bethlehem. They claim to be the guardians of the actual gold, frankincense, and myrrh given to the Christ Child.

The Journey of the Relics:

1. Jerusalem to Constantinople: Entrusted by Mother Mary to the Church of Jerusalem, they were moved to Constantinople in the 4th Century.

2. The Ottoman Peril: After the fall of the city in 1453, the treasures were in danger.

3. Princess Mara of Serbia: The Christian wife of Sultan Mourat II, Princess Mara, personally delivered the gifts to Mount Athos.

4. The Miracle at the Port: Because women are forbidden on the Holy Mountain, tradition says Mother Mary appeared to stop Mara at the shore, where a "Cross of the Queen" stands today.

Today, the monastery guards a gold box containing 38 gold coins and 62 olive-shaped incense beads (a mix of Frankincense and Myrrh).

Experience the Sensorium of the Magi

Whether these physical beads are the original relics or symbolic representations, the spiritual meaning of myrrh remains the same: it is a botanical bridge across time.

In my Aromatic Mystery School, we don't just look at the history; we use the Sensorium—the scent, the texture, and the vibration of these oils—to connect to this lineage of "Hidden Mysteries."

Ready to explore your own spiritual practice with these ancient oils? 👉 Join my Sensorium Approach mailing list here for deep-dives into the monographs of the Magi’s treasures.