Liturgy and Devotion in Insular Witnesses to the Cult of the Three Kings of Cologne

A fifteenth-century manuscript reveals the significance of the cult of the Three Kings of Cologne for medieval pilgrims, highlighting its diverse devotional and liturgical practices. The votive Mass for Travellers of the Three Kings, attributed to priest Henry Wells, offers a unique lens into how this cult was integrated into personal piety and formal religious rites during Epiphany. The study examines Insular sources to explore the interplay between devotional practices—such as representative drama and medical invocations—and liturgical traditions, providing insight into the cultural and spiritual dimensions of pilgrimage at Cologne Cathedral.

Colton, L. (2022). Liturgy and Devotion in Insular Witnesses to the Cult of the Three Kings of Cologne. Music and Liturgy in Medieval Britain and Ireland, 292–312. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108694988.013