The Worship of the Magi 2

This relief sculpture is just above the doors of St James Roman Catholic Church in Rudesheim, Germany. It is contemporary work in a traditional... more

by Sarah Loft

Title

The Worship of the Magi 2

Artist

Sarah Loft

Medium

Photograph

Description

This relief sculpture is just above the doors of St James Roman Catholic Church in Rudesheim, Germany. It is contemporary work in a traditional style. The original St James Church was destroyed during WWII (on 25 November 1944) and reconstructed between 1946 and 1956. The oldest part of the previous church still standing is the 12th century tower substructure.

The story of the three wise men who followed a star searching for the new born Savior is recounted in the Gospel of St Luke. It is part of the Christmas story which in the West is generally commemorated at the end of the Christmas on January 6. In the Eastern churches the story is integrated into the central celebration. Orthodox icons of the birth of Christ show a manger scene with shepherds approaching on one side and the magi on the other. In fact these were not simultaneous events, but the intent of the iconic message is theological not historical. The shepherds are seen as a representation of Israel and the magi as the gentiles-- both embracing the joy of the incarnation of God in the flesh.

Per Wikipedia: Rudesheim am Rhein is a winemaking town in the Rhine Gorge and thereby part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. It lies in the Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis district in the Regierungsbezirk of Darmstadt in Hesse, Germany. It is officially known as Rudesheim am Rhein, which distinguishes it from Rudesheim an der Nahe.

It is particularly famous for the Rheingauer Riesling white wine. Assmannshausen (a quarter of Rudesheim am Rhein), on the other hand, is the only spot in the Rheingau that grows red wine, and its Assmannshauser Spatburgunder, a Burgundy-type Pinot Noir, is very well regarded.

Rudesheim lies at the foot of the Niederwald on the Rhine's right (east) bank on the southern approach to the Lorelei. The town belongs to the Frankfurt Rhine Main Region and is one of Germany's biggest tourist attractions. Only Cologne Cathedral draws more tourists from other countries. Making the town worth visiting is, not only the wine or even the Old Town itself, but also the picturesque Rheingau landscape together with the romantic Rhine.

The area was settled first by the Celts, then after the turn of the Christian Era by Ubii and later by Mattiaci. In the first century, the Romans pushed forth to the Taunus. In Bingen they built a castrum, and on the other side, near what is now Rudesheim, lay a bridgehead on the way to the Limes.

The Romans were followed by the Alamanni, and along with the Migration Period (Volkerwanderung) came the Franks. Archaeological finds of glass from this time suggest that there was already winegrowing in Rudesheim even then. The town's origin as a Frankish Haufendorf (roughly, "clump village") can still be seen on today's town maps.

Rudesheim had its first documentary mention in 1074. Its livelihood came mainly from winegrowing and shipping, particularly timber rafting.

Note: The watermark will not appear on the print you purchase.

Featured in the Christian Theme Artwork group, November 2016.

Uploaded

November 15th, 2016