The Darkness of Epiphany: Herod’s Murdering of the Innocents

Presentations of the Matthean narrative that have had such an illustrious life in art and imagination are not complete without the disturbing involvement of Herod and the political killings that result from the Magi’s visit. 

This was a truth acknowledged by the ancient church when it placed a Holy Innocents Day in the week after Christmas Day. If the church really wanted to honor the Magi, we would have Epiphany pageants that tell the whole Matthean story, including this dark aspect that is indispensable to Matthew’s intent. 

We have at least one surviving Christmas carol from…