A sudden revelation or manifestation of divine reality, or more broadly, any moment of profound insight or understanding. In Christian tradition, it specifically refers to the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles, celebrated on January 6th.
From Greek 'epiphania' meaning 'manifestation' or 'striking appearance,' derived from 'epi' (upon) and 'phainein' (to show). The term entered Christian usage to describe Christ's revelation to the world, later expanding to include any sudden spiritual or intellectual illumination.
Epiphanies are like spiritual lightning strikes—sudden, illuminating, and life-changing! The word perfectly captures those 'aha!' moments when everything suddenly makes sense, whether it's Saint Paul's vision on the road to Damascus or a modern person's sudden understanding of their life's purpose. Interestingly, James Joyce popularized the secular use of 'epiphany' to describe moments of profound realization in literature, showing how religious language often migrates into everyday experience.
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