Easter Date

8/13/2019 Easter Date

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Date

Some differences between when groups observe passover are:

1. Disputes over reckoning of the 24-hour day, for example, the modern western 24-

hour day begins at midnight(12: !.".#, whereas the biblical 24-hour day isgenerall$ reckoned to begin at sunset.%1&

2. Disputes over which da$ 'esus was crucified on: according to 'ohn 1:1)and the

*ospel of +eter, it was the da$ of preparation for the +assover,-isan1), alsocalled the uartodeciman. ('ohn nowhere identifies the /ast Supper as a +assover

meal, and 'ohn 10:20 has the priests preparing to eat the +assover meal in the

morning after the /ast Supper.# !ccording to man$ other interpretations of theS$noptic *ospels, it was the da$ of +assover, -isan 1.%11&

. Some 3hristians observe the celebration on the da$ before +assover, at the same

time that 'esus held his/ast Supper, while others observe it at the same time thatthe +assover was sacrificed, that is, the time of 'esus4 death, which occurred at

the ninth hour of the da$ ("atthew 25:)67, "ark 1:)75, /uke 2:))7)6#, orapproximatel$ : p.m, according to the S$noptic *ospels. (see evening and

8ime for technical reference on time#.). Still others celebrate it after sunset, at which time it would be the 1th of -isan,

the time in which the 9sraelites ate the +assover meal (for example see xodus

12:0#.. Some 3hristians, out of deference for traditional *entile aster dates, choose to

celebrate +assover, or hold Seders, on the 8hursda$ before aster, known as

"aund$ 8hursda$, or the /ast Supper observance. 8hese dates var$ among;ebrew, *regorian, and 'ulian calendars, and the$ var$ between rthodox (e.g. *reek >rthodox# traditions. (8here

is also a school of thought that the /ast Supper ma$ have been on the 8uesda$night, with most passion week sabbath references in the *ospels referring to a

8hursda$ hol$ da$ of rest (/eviticus 2:675# instead of to the traditional Saturda$

main sabbath. 3ontrast "ark 16:1 after the weekda$ da$ of rest with /uke 2:67

2):1 before the weekend sabbath.#

9t was a ?uestion of defilement that gave rise to the words: @8he$ themselves did not

enter into the governorAs palace, that the$ might not get defiled but might eat the

passover.B ('oh 10:20# 8hese 'ews considered it a defilement to enter into a *entile

dwelling. (!c 1:20# 8his statement was made, however, @earl$ in the da$,B hence afterthe +assover meal had taken place. 9t is to be noted that at this time the entire period,

including +assover da$ and the Cestival of nfermented 3akes that followed, was attimes referred to as @+assover.B 9n the light of this fact, !lfred dersheim offers thefollowing explanation: ! voluntar$ peace offering was made on +assover and another, a

compulsor$ one, on the next da$, -isan 1, the first da$ of the Cestival of nfermented

3akes. 9t was this second offering that the 'ews were afraid the$ might not be able to eatif the$ contracted defilement in the Eudgment hall of +ilate.F8he 8emple, 105), pp. 106,

105
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passover_(Christian_holiday)#cite_note-10http://bibref.hebtools.com/?book=%20John&verse=19:14&src=!http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Peterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nisanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartodecimanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synoptic_Gospelshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passover_(Christian_holiday)#cite_note-11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_Supperhttp://bibref.hebtools.com/?book=%20Matthew&verse=27:46-50&src=http://bibref.hebtools.com/?book=%20Mark&verse=15:34-37&src=http://bibref.hebtools.com/?book=%20Luke&verse=23:44-46&src=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eveninghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timehttp://bibref.hebtools.com/?book=%20Exodus&verse=12:8&src=!http://bibref.hebtools.com/?book=%20Exodus&verse=12:8&src=!http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maundy_Thursdayhttp://bibref.hebtools.com/?book=%20Leviticus&verse=23:6-7&src=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passover_(Christian_holiday)#cite_note-10http://bibref.hebtools.com/?book=%20John&verse=19:14&src=!http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Peterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nisanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartodecimanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synoptic_Gospelshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passover_(Christian_holiday)#cite_note-11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_Supperhttp://bibref.hebtools.com/?book=%20Matthew&verse=27:46-50&src=http://bibref.hebtools.com/?book=%20Mark&verse=15:34-37&src=http://bibref.hebtools.com/?book=%20Luke&verse=23:44-46&src=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eveninghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timehttp://bibref.hebtools.com/?book=%20Exodus&verse=12:8&src=!http://bibref.hebtools.com/?book=%20Exodus&verse=12:8&src=!http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maundy_Thursdayhttp://bibref.hebtools.com/?book=%20Leviticus&verse=23:6-7&src=


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Christian History regarding the Passover

Christian tradition - the passover finished

!pollinaris and "elito of Sardiswere both 2nd centur$ writers that wrote about the end

of 3hristian celebration of the 'ewish +assover.

"elito4s Peri Pascha(>n the +assover# is perhaps the most famous earl$ documentconcerning the 3hristian non7observation of +assover.

Cor indeed the law issued in the gospelGthe old in the new, both coming forth

together from Hion and 'erusalemI and the commandment issued in grace, and the

t$pe in the finished product, and the lamb in the Son, and the sheep in a man, andthe man in *od...Cor at one time the sacrifice to the sheep was valuable, but now

it is without value because of the life of the /ord. 8he death of the sheep once was

valuable, but now it is without value because of the salvation of the /ord. 8he

blood of the sheep once was valuable, but now it is without value because of theSpirit of the /ord. 8he silent lamb once was valuable, but now it has no value

because of the blameless Son. 8he temple here below once was valuable, but nowit is without value because of the 3hrist from aboveJ -ow that $ou have heard

the explanation of the t$pe and of that which corresponds to it, hear also what

goes into making up the m$ster$.


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Excommunication for celebrating passover

3hristians who kept the biblical +assover were considered to be uartodecimanas the$

keep +assover on the 1)th of-isan. +ol$crates of phesus,was a late 2nd centur$ leader

who was excommunicated (along with all uartodecimans# b$ the =oman bishop Lictor

for observing the 3hristian +assover on the 1)th of -isan and not switching it to aSunda$ resurrection celebration. ;e, +ol$crates, claimed that he was simpl$ following

the practices according to scripture and the *ospels, as taught b$ the !postles 'ohn and+hilip, as well as b$ church leaders such as +ol$carpand "elito of Sardis.

8he 3hristian eucharist ceremon$, which includes the bread and wine, proclaims the

/ord4s death, not specificall$ his resurrection. +aul confirmed this when he wrote, Cor as

often as $ou eat this bread and drink this cup, $ou proclaim the /ord4s death till ;ecomes (13orinthians 11:26#. !ccording to the 3atholic nc$clopedia, 9n fact, the

'ewish feast was taken over into the 3hristian aster celebration.%1)&

! "#!$% &MNOPQR TUVWNR# XY Z[\ Y][^_\] `^_[, \X [X[.jYj[[ ]^[ _Y [ 99 Y_. X[ Y[_\ qYj\ \j ^Y [\ ^ZYY ^Y _[Y `Y\ ][^ XYj _\Y_^.[\ ^Y \]Y jY^Y [ _

\[_[X _, Z_j ^]\\ \ ]j\ ^Y. ^[ \ Zj[\ XY

[j^\ ]Y jYjZ\[. _\ XY \_\ 15.\[jY ]\\ y[[ ]\jY\ _ Y[XXYj ][^Yj \Zj (]\\[X# YY [ _Y [j^_Y.

Y[j\ XY [j\155. \[jY.

'eparation of Easter computation from (e)ish calendar

8he feast of aster is linked to the 'ewish +assoverand Ceast of nleavened zread, as3hristians believe that the crucifixionand resurrectionof 'esus occurred at the time of

those observances.

!s earl$ as +ope Sixtus 9, some 3hristians had set aster to a Sunda$ in the lunar monthof -isan. 8o determine which lunar month was to be designated as -isan, 3hristians

relied on the 'ewish communit$. z$ the later rd centur$ some 3hristians began to

express dissatisfaction with what the$ took to be the disorderl$ state of the 'ewishcalendar. 8he$ argued that contemporar$ 'ews were identif$ing the wrong lunar month as

the month of -isan, choosing a month whose 1)th da$ fell before the spring e?uinox.%))&

3hristians, these thinkers argued, should abandon the custom of rel$ing on 'ewishinformants and instead do their own computations to determine which month should best$led -isan, setting aster within this independentl$ computed, 3hristian -isan, which

would alwa$s locate the festival after the e?uinox. 8he$ Eustified this break with tradition

b$ arguing that it was in fact the contemporar$ 'ewish calendar that had broken with

tradition b$ ignoring the e?uinox, and that in former times the 1)th of -isan had neverpreceded the e?uinox.%)&>thers felt that the customar$ practice of reliance on the 'ewish
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calendar should continue, even if the 'ewish computations were in error from a 3hristian

point of view.%)6&

8he controvers$ between those who argued for independent computations and those whoargued for continued reliance on the 'ewish calendar was formall$ resolved b$ the

3ouncil, which endorsed the independent procedure that had been in use for some time at=ome and !lexandria. aster was henceforward to be a Sunda$ in a lunar month chosen

according to 3hristian criteriaFin effect, a 3hristian -isanFnot in the month of -isanas defined b$ 'ews. 8hose who argued for continued reliance on the 'ewish calendar

(called protopaschites b$ later historians# were urged to come around to the maEorit$

position. 8hat the$ did not all immediatel$ do so is revealed b$ the existence of sermons,%)5& canons,%)0& and tracts%)& written against the protopaschite practice in the later )th

centur$.

8hese two rules, independence of the 'ewish calendar and worldwide uniformit$, were

the onl$ rules for aster explicitl$ laid down b$ the 3ouncil. -o details for the

computation were specifiedI these were worked out in practice, a process that tookcenturies and generated a number of controversies. (See also 3omputusand =eform of

the date of aster.# 9n particular, the 3ouncil did not decree that aster must fall onSunda$. 8his was alread$ the practice almost ever$where.%&

-or did the 3ouncil decree that aster must never coincide with -isan 1 (the first Da$

of nleavened zread, now commonl$ called +assover# in the ;ebrew calendar. z$

endorsing the move to independent computations, the 3ouncil had separated the astercomputation from all dependence, positive or negative, on the 'ewish calendar. 8he

Honaras proviso, the claim that aster must alwa$s follow -isan 1 in the ;ebrew

calendar, was not formulated until after some centuries. z$ that time, the accumulation of

errors in the 'ulian solar and lunar calendars had made it the de facto state of affairs that'ulian aster alwa$s followed ;ebrew -isan 1.%1&

!t the council we also considered the issue of our holiest da$, aster, and it was

determined b$ common consent that ever$one, ever$where should celebrate it on one andthe same da$. Cor what can be more appropriate, or what more solemn, than that this

feast from which we have received the hope of immortalit$, should be kept b$ all without

variation, using the same order and a clear arrangementK !nd in the first place, it seemedver$ unworth$ for us to keep this most sacred feast following the custom of the 'ews, a

people who have soiled their hands in a most terrible outrage, and have thus polluted their

souls, and are now deservedl$ blind. Since we have cast aside their wa$ of calculating the

date of the festival, we can ensure that future generations can celebrate this observance atthe more accurate time which we have kept from the first da$ of the passion until the

present time....

FEmperor Constantine, following the Council of Nicaea[52]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea#cite_note-46http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea#cite_note-47http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea#cite_note-48http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea#cite_note-49http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea#cite_note-49http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_controversyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reform_of_the_date_of_Easterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reform_of_the_date_of_Easterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea#cite_note-50http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea#cite_note-51http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea#cite_note-51http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea#cite_note-52http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea#cite_note-46http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea#cite_note-47http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea#cite_note-48http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea#cite_note-49http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_controversyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reform_of_the_date_of_Easterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reform_of_the_date_of_Easterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea#cite_note-50http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea#cite_note-51http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea#cite_note-52


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Emperor Constantine to all churches concerning the

date of Easter

=eference numbers

rk. 26

Doc. 3+* 010

9ncipit {NV| O|}

Date 'une 2

!ncient source

usedSocrates, Church istory1.

"odern edition

used


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present time. &/+, 8herefore have nothing in common with that most hostile people, the

'ews. n what subEect are the$ competent to form a correct Eudgment,who, after that murder of their /ord lost their senses, and are led not b$ an$ rational

motive, but b$ an uncontrollable impulsiveness to wherever their innate fur$ ma$ drive

themK 8his is wh$ even in this matter the$ do not perceive the truth, so that the$constantl$ err in the utmost degree, and will celebrate the Ceast of +assover a second time

in the same $ear instead of making a suitable correction. &1+,


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&*+,Since these things are consistent, gladl$ receive this heavenl$ and trul$ divine

command. Cor whatever is done in the sacred assemblies of the bishops can be traced to

Divine will. 8herefore, once $ou have demonstrated the things which have beenprescribed to all our beloved brothers, it would be good for $ou to make public the above

written statements and to accept the reasoning which has proved itself to be sound, and to

establish this observance of the most hol$ da$. 9n this wa$, when 9 arrive to check on$our condition, which 9 have desired earnestl$ for some time, 9 will be able to celebrate

the sacred festival with $ou on one and the same da$, and will reEoice with $ou for all

things, as 9 see that through our efforts divine power is frustrating SatanAs cruelt$, andthat $our faith, peace, and unit$ are flourishing ever$where.

"a$ *od preserve $ou, beloved brothers.

8he above translation from Socrates (-+-C2 vol. 2, p. 1)716#, adapted b$ !'ther translations in usebius (-+-C2vol. 1, p. 2)7# and 8heodoret (-+-C2vol. , p.

)570#

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