<P> In contrast, many Syrian Christians name the Magi Larvandad, Gushnasaph, and Hormisdas . These names have a far greater likelihood of being originally Persian, though that does not guarantee their authenticity . </P> <P> In the Eastern churches, Ethiopian Christianity, for instance, has Hor, Karsudan, and Basanater, while the Armenian Catholics have Kagpha, Badadakharida and Badadilma . Many Chinese Christians believe that one of the magi came from China . </P> <P> The phrase from the east (ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν), more literally from the rising (of the sun), is the only information Matthew provides about the region from which they came . The Parthian Empire, centered in Persia, occupied virtually all of the land east of Judea and Syria (except for the deserts of Arabia to the southeast). Though the empire was tolerant of other religions, its dominant religion was Zoroastrianism, with its priestly magos class . </P> <P> Although Matthew's account does not explicitly cite the motivation for their journey (other than seeing the star in the east, which they took to be the star of the King of the Jews), the Syriac Infancy Gospel provides some clarity by stating explicitly in the third chapter that they were pursuing a prophecy from their prophet, Zoradascht (Zoroaster). </P>

Where did the the three kings come from