What Does theophany Mean
The concept of theophany comes from the late Latin word theophanīa , in turn derived from the Greek theopháneia . This term is formed with theós (translatable as "god" ) and -phaneia (which refers to a "manifestation" ).
A theophany is an expression of the divinity of a deity . Through a theophany, therefore, a god manifests his divine condition before human beings.
Theophany is often associated with the appearance of a god who, at that moment, becomes visible in the eyes of one or more people. However, theophanies have been understood and interpreted differently throughout history .
In Judaism and Christianity , for example, theophanies are the appearances of angels and God, many of them narrated in the Tanach and in the Bible . A sample of theophany takes place when the archangel Gabriel appears before the Virgin Mary and announces that he will carry the son of God in her womb , an episode narrated in the Gospel of Saint Luke .
Theophanies are sometimes a traumatic experience for those who perceive them. This is because, in the existence of mortals, the physical presence of a god is not conceived. Therefore, when faced with a theophany, it is common for the subject to feel fear .
It should be noted that there are other notions that are analogous to the idea of theophany. Among them we can mention the cristofanías (the appearance of Jesus Christ ) and the angelofanías (expressions of the angels ).