I am convinced that the star of Bethlehem was a real star that showed up in the constellation Virgo prior to the birth of Jesus and continued to shine for about seven years. The apocryphal Gospel of James, written by the brother of Jesus, and writings of the first-century bishop Ignatius describe the star as dazzling, with Ignatius saying that it “outshone all the celestial lights, and to which the Sun and Moon did obeisance.” - RON PHILLIPS