Be the first to comment!The Three Magi to arrive in Malta from Cologne on Saturday afternoon
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The arrival on Sunday, of the Three Magi in Bethlehem f’Ghajnsielem, in Gozo for the traditional Adoration of the Magi, will bring this popular Nativity Village to a close.
The Magi are expected to arrive in Malta tomorrow – Saturday – on an Air Malta from Brussels at 4.30 pm.
The voyage of the Three Magi to Gozo started from Cologne in Germany, where they had a symbolic send off from Cologne Cathedral, by the Archbishop of Cologne Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, along with a choir of over 3,000 people.
The Magi have been taking part in the commemoration of the 850th anniversary since the relics of the three Magi Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar arrived in the City.
A delegation from Gozo went to Cologne led by the Minister for Gozo Dr Anton Refalo, where he thanked the Archbishop of Cologne Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, for the beautiful event organised for the departure. The Minister invited them to vist Malta and Gozo, in particular to visit the National Sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady Ta’ Pinu. Dr Refalo presented the Cardinal with an icon of Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu.
Cardinal Woelki sent a message of greeting to the Bishop of Gozo Mario Grech and sent his blessing to the Maltese people and augured year full happiness and peace.
Earlier the Magi together with the Maltese delegation were received by the Dean of the Cathedral of Cologne Pater Raymond Wette and the Mayor of Adeanau Arnold Hoffman and attended a ceremony for the children which recalled the grace of the three Magi.
The Maltese delegation includes representatives of the Local Council of Ghajnsielem and Mellieha, the members of the Organising Committee of Bethlehem f’Ghajnsielem Nativity Village and the Christmas in Gozo Committee.
The ‘relics of the Magi’ were originally situated at Constantinople, but brought to Milan by Eustorgius I, the City’s Bishop, to whom they were entrusted by Emperor Constant in 344.
The relics of the Magi were taken from Milan by Holy Roman Emperor Fredrick Barbarossa and given to the Archbishop of Cologne, Rainald of Dassel eight centuries later, in 1164, where they were place in a gold box. The Three Magi have since attracted a constant stream of pilgrims to Cologne.
This visit by the Magi to Gozo, is made possible through the collaboration of the Ministry for Gozo, the Christmas in Gozo Committee, the Local Councils of Ghajnsielem and Mellieha with the support of the MTA. The poster was designed by Daniel Zerafa.
The Mellieha Local Council made the necessary contacts in Germany thanks to the twinning between the Councils of Mellieha and Adenau dating back to January 1996.
Sunday 4th 2015: 2.00pm – 8.00pm The Adoration of the Magi.
