Replies

SoothingDave;Invincibly Ignorant;malakhi

XS>Passover and First Fruits are what was celebrated by Christians until 325 AD when at the Council at Nice, the Corporate Church separated Easter and Passover for what they hoped would be forever.

SD>Hi Chuck. I hardly think this was the motive, and I'm not sure why you would say so. If the "corporate Church" wanted to eternally seperate Easter and Passover, #1, why would they still fall so close together? Why not make Easter several months apart?

#2, as you note, the calendars do more perfectly align from time to time. As the author of the calendar, the Church was surely not ignorant of these things.

I think you'll find, and don't tell Steven, that the feast was set based upon a solar rather than a lunar event due to the relative imprecision in observing the lunar events.

SD

46,951 posted on 04/16/2003 7:00 AM MDT by SoothingDave

THE FIRST COUNCIL OF NICE
A.D. 325
Emperor. — CONSTANTINE.
Pope. — SILVESTER.
Elenchus.
Historical Introduction.
The Creed and the Creed of Eusebius of Caesarea.
Excursus on the word gennhqe>nta ouj poihqenta.
Excursus on the words gennhqe>hqe>nta ouj poihqenta
The XX. Canons, with the Ancient Epitome and Notes.
Excursus to C.j, On the use of the word Canon.
Excursus to C.v, On the word provfe>rein.
Excursus to C. vj, On the Extent of Rome’s Jurisdiction over Suburban Churches.
Excursus to C. vij, On the Rise of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
Excursus to C. viij, On the Chorepiscopi.
Excursus to C. xj, On the Public Discipline.
Excursus to C. xiij, On the Communion of the Sick.
Excursus to C. xv, On the Translation of Bishops.
Excursus to C. xvij, On Usury.
Excursus to C. xix, On Deaconesses.
Excursus on the Number of the Nicene Canons, with the Contents of the spurious Arabic Canons.
Proposed Action on Clerical Celibacy.
The Synodal Letter with the Decree on the Keeping of Easter.

The differences in the way of fixing the period of Easter did not indeed
disappear after the Council of Nicea. Alexandria and Rome could not agree,
either because one of the two Churches neglected to make the calculation
for Easter, or because the other considered it inaccurate. It is a fact, proved
by the ancient Easter table of the Roman Church, that the cycle of
eighty-four years continued to be used at Rome as before. Now this cycle
differed in many ways from the Alexandrian, and did not always agree
with it about the period for Easter — in fact (a), the Romans used quite
another method from the Alexandrians; they calculated from the epact, and
began from the feria prima of January. (b.) The Romans were mistaken in
placing the full moon a little too soon; whilst the Alexandrians placed it a
little too late. (c.) At Rome the equinox was supposed to fall on March
18th; whilst the Alexandrians placed it on March 21st. (d.) Finally, the
Romans differed in this from the Greeks also; they did not celebrate Easter
the next day when the full moon fell on the Saturday.

Psalm 18:30 As for God, his way is perfect; the Word of the LORD is
flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.
Psalm 18:31 For who is God besides the LORD?
And who is the Rock except our God?

chuck <truth@YeshuaHaMashiach>