Chapter 3

1The wise men visit Christ. Mary gives them one of his swaddling clothes. 3 An angel appears to them in the form of a star. They return and make a fire, and worship the swaddling cloth, and put it in the fire, where it remains unconsumed . AND it came to pass, when the Lord Jesus was born at Bethlehem, a city of Judæa, in the time of Herod the King; the wise men came from the East to Jerusalem, according to the prophecy of Zoradascht, and brought with them offerings: namely, gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and worshipped him, and offered to him their gifts.
2Then the Lady Mary took one of his swaddling clothes in which the infant was wrapped, and gave it to them instead of a blessing, which they received from her as a most noble present.
3And at the same time there appeared to them an angel in the form of that star which had before been their guide in their journey; the light of which they followed till they returned into their own country.
4On their return their kings and princes came to them inquiring, What they had seen and done? What sort of journey and return they had? What company they had on the road?
5But they produced the swaddling cloth which St. Mary had given to them, on account whereof they kept a feast.
6And having, according to the custom of their country, made a fire, they worshipped it.
7And casting the swaddling cloth into it, the fire took it, and kept it.
8And when the fire was put out, they took forth the swaddling cloth unhurt, as much as if the fire had not touched it.
9Then they began to kiss it, and put it upon their heads and their eyes, saying, This is certainly an undoubted truth, and it is really surprising that the fire could not burn it, and consume it.
10Then they took it, and with the greatest respect laid it up among their treasures.