Obs. [ad. med.L. bethphania, made up of Heb. beth house, and -phania, Gr. -φάνεια showing, manifestation, in ἐπιφάνεια EPIPHANY.] A term invented by the Schoolmen for the ‘third divine manifestation’ commemorated in the feast of Epiphany, viz. the miracle ‘in the house’ at Cana of Galilee.
1635. Austin, Medit., 55. By three Apparitions our Saviour was manifested this day … the third was the Bethphania in Domo when at a Marriage hee turned Water into Wine in a House … Though the Feast bee of all the three Manifestations, yet the Epiphany hath carried away the name both from the Theophanie and the Bethphanie.
1875. W. Smith, Dict. Chr. Antiq., I. 619/1.
1883. Stallybrass, trans. Grimm’s Teut. Mythol., II. 586. That miracle [turing water into wine] to which was given a special name, bethphania.
