The tomb of the Three Wise Men is in Milan

The relics of the Magi have long been preserved in the splendid basilica of Sant’Eustorgio, in the Porta Ticinese district. So, is the tomb of the Three Kings in Milan? Yes and no. Here’s everything you need to know about this ancient and fascinating story.

Who were the Magi?

According to the Gospel of Matthew, the Magi were wise men who, following the comet, arrived in Jerusalem from the Far East to worship the newborn baby Jesus, already known as King of the Jews.

How did the Magi end up in Milan?

Tradition has it that the Magi returned to Jerusalem after the crucifixion of Christ, where they were martyred. It was Saint Helena, mother of the emperor Constantine, who transferred their remains to Constantinople, so that they could be venerated at Hagia Sophia, now a mosque. Eustorgius, during a visit to Constantinople before becoming bishop of Milan, received the relics as a gift from the emperor Constantine. And so it was that the Magi ended up in Milan.

The legend of the oxen

It is said that the relics of the Magi were kept in a large marble sarcophagus that was transported by two oxen that stopped, exhausted, in the area of Porta Ticinese. Eustorgio, considering it a sign, decided to build the basilica right there.

The relocated remains

When Frederick Barbarossa sacked Milan in 1164, the relics were moved and hidden in the church of San Giorgio in Palazzo, to prevent them from being desecrated or stolen. But Archbishop Rainald von Dassel, who was in the service of Barbarossa, discovered the citizens’ ploy and managed to steal the remains of the Magi, taking them to Cologne. They are still there, in a reliquary created by the goldsmith Nicola di Verdun.

So who’s in Sant’Eustorgio?

In the basilica of Sant’Eustorgio only the marble sarcophagus remains, with a star carved on the lid and the inscription, dating back to 1700, which reads Sepulcrum trium Magorum. A star, instead of a classic cross, can also be found on the bell tower of the church, as a sign of the presence of the Magi in the sacred building.

Over the centuries, the citizens of Milan tried several times to reclaim the relics. In 1903 they obtained some fragments that are now kept in a display case above the altar of the Magi, on the right side of the transept.

The historical procession of the Magi

Every year, on the day of the Epiphany, a procession is held that starts from the Duomo and makes its way to the basilica of Sant’Eustorgio, where the living Nativity scene is set up. It represents the journey of the Three Wise Men to Jerusalem, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh for the baby Jesus. The festival has been documented since 1336 and since then it has only been called off during the years of the plague.

Article translated by Jasmina Towers

Tag

Curiosities

Travel

Subscribe to our newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter to keep up to date with our latest news Subscribe with your email address to receive the latest news, updates and practical tips from the real estate world directly in your inbox

Subscribe