Holy Easter - Revision history

Irlandos at 22:07, April 22, 2006

2006-04-22T22:07:42Z

Irlandos at 22:03, April 22, 2006

2006-04-22T22:03:03Z

Irlandos: /* Word for "Easter" in various languages */

2006-04-22T22:01:14Z

Word for "Easter" in various languages

Irlandos: /* Eastern Christianity */

2006-04-22T21:59:53Z

Eastern Christianity

Irlandos: /* Religious observation of Easter */

2006-04-22T21:57:52Z

Religious observation of Easter

Irlandos: /* Eastern Christianity */

2006-04-22T21:54:27Z

Eastern Christianity

Irlandos: /* Etymology and Pagan origins of Easter traditions */

2006-04-22T21:51:48Z

Etymology and Pagan origins of Easter traditions

Irlandos: /* Eastern Christianity */

2006-04-22T21:51:25Z

Eastern Christianity

Irlandos: /* Western Christianity */

2006-04-22T21:49:52Z

Western Christianity

Irlandos at 21:49, April 22, 2006

2006-04-22T21:49:05Z

New page

'''Easter''', also known as the '''Feast of the Resurrection''', "the Sunday of the Resurrection", or "Resurrection Day", is the most important religious feast of the Christian liturgical year, observed between early April to early [[May]] in [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Christianity]] (late [[March]] and late [[April]] in the west). It celebrates the resurrection of Jesus, which occurred after his death by crucifixion in AD 27-33 (see [[Good Friday]]).

==Nature and development==
In most languages of Christian societies, other than English, German and some Slavic languages, the holiday's name is derived from ''Pesach'', the Hebrew name of Passover, a Jewish holiday to which the Christian Easter is intimately linked. Easter depends on Passover not only for much of its symbolic meaning but also for its position in the calendar; the Last Supper shared by Jesus and his disciples before his crucifixion is generally thought of as a Passover seder, based on the chronology in the Synoptic Gospels. The Gospel of John has a different chronology which has Christ's death at the time of the slaughter of the Passover lambs, which may have been for theological reasons but which is regarded by some scholars as more historically likely given the surrounding events. This would put the Last Supper slightly before Passover, on 14 Nisan of the Hebrew calendar.

===Easter in the early Church===
The observance of any special holiday throughout the Christian year is believed by some to be an innovation postdating the early church. The ecclesiastical historian [[Socrates Scholasticus]] (b. 380) attributes the observance of Easter by the church to the perpetuation of local custom, "just as many other customs have been established", stating that neither [[Jesus]] nor his apostles enjoined the keeping of this or any other festival. However, when [http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf202.ii.viii.xxiii.html read in context,]this is not a rejection or denigration of the celebration—which, given its currency in Scholasticus' time would be surprising—but is merely part of a defense of the diverse methods for computing its date. Indeed, although he describes the details of the Easter celebration as deriving from local custom, he insists the feast itself is universally observed.

Perhaps the earliest extant primary source referencing Easter is a 2nd century [http://www.preteristarchive.com/Books/0150_melito_pascha.html Paschal homily] by [[Melito of Sardis]], which characterizes the celebration as a well-established one.

A number of ecclesiastical historians, primarily [[Eusebius of Caesarea|Eusebius]], bishop [[Polycarp]] of Smyrna, by tradition a disciple of [[John the Evangelist]], disputed the computation of the date with bishop Anicetus of Rome in what is now known as the Quartodecimanism controversy. Anicetus became bishop of the church of Rome in the mid second century (c. AD 155). Shortly thereafter, Polycarp visited Rome and among the topics discussed was when the pre-Easter fast should end. Those in [[Asia Minor]] held strictly to the computation from the Hebrew calendar and ended the fast on the 14th day of Nisan, while the Roman custom was to continue the fast until the Sunday following. Neither Polycarp nor Anicetus was able to convert the other to his position—according to a rather confused account by Sozomen, both could claim Apostolic authority for their traditions[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf202.iii.xii.xix.html]—but neither did they consider the matter of sufficient importance to justify a schism, so they parted in peace leaving the question unsettled. However, a generation later bishop Victor of Rome excommunicated bishop Polycrates of [[Ephesus]] and the rest of the Asian bishops for their adherence to 14 Nisan. The excommunication was rescinded and the two sides reconciled upon the intervention of bishop Irenaeus of Lyons, who reminded Victor of the tolerant precedent that had been established earlier. In the end, a uniform method of computing the date of Easter was not formally settled until the [[First Council of Nicaea]] in 325 (''see below''), although by that time the Roman timing for the observance had spread to most churches.

A number of early bishops rejected the practice of celebrating Easter, or more accurately Passover, on the first Sunday after Nisan 14. This conflict between Easter and Passover is often referred to as the "Paschal Controversy". The bishops dissenting from the newer practice of Easter favored adhering to celebrating the festival on Nisan 14 in accord with the Biblical Passover and the tradition passed on to them by the Apostles. The problem with Nisan 14 in the minds of some in the Western Church (who wished to further associate Sunday and Easter) is that it was calcuated by the moon and could fall on any day of the week.

An early example of this tension is found written by Theophilus of Caesarea (c. AD 180; 8.774 "Ante-Nicene Church Fathers") when he stated, "Endeavor also to send abroad copies of our epistle among all the churches, so that those who easily deceive their own souls may not be able to lay the blame on us. We would have you know, too, that in Alexandria also they observe the festival on the same day as ourselves. For the Paschal letters are sent from us to them, and from them to us—so that we observe the holy day in unison and together."

Polycarp, a disciple of John, likewise adhered to a Nisan 14 observance. Irenaeus, who observed the "first Sunday" rule notes of Polycarp (one of the Bishops of Asia Minor), "For Anicetus could not persuade Polycarp to forgo the observance [of his Nisan 14 practice] inasmuch as these things had been always observed by John the disciple of the Lord, and by other apostles with whom he had been conversant." (c. AD 180; 1.569 "Ante-Nicene Church Fathers"). Irenaeus notes that this was not only Polycarp's practice, but that this was the practice of John the disciple and the other apostles that Polycarp knew.

Polycrates (c. AD 190) emphatically notes this is the tradition passed down to him, that Passover and Unleavened Bread were kept on Nisan 14 in accord with the Biblical Passover and not the later Easter tradition: "As for us, then, we scrupulously observe the exact day, neither adding nor taking away. For in Asia great luminaries have gone to their rest who will rise again on the day of the coming of the Lord.... These all kept Easter on the fourteenth day, in accordance with the Gospel.... Seven of my relatives were bishops, and I am the eighth, and my relatives always observed the day when the people put away the leaven" (8.773, 8.744 "Ante-Nicene Church Fathers").

Early within the Church it was admitted by both sides of the debate that the Lord's Supper was the practice of the disciples and the tradition passed down. The Last Supper is believed by some to be a Passover Seder. The Nisan 14 practice, which was strong among the churches of Asia Minor, becomes less common as the desire for Church unity on the question came to favor the majority practice. By the 3rd century the Church, which had become Gentile dominated and wishing to further distinguish itself from Jewish practices, began a tone of harsh rhetoric against Nisan 14/Passover (e.g. Anatolius, c. AD 270; 6.148,6.149 "Ante-Nicene Church Fathers"). The tradition that Easter was to be celebrated "not with the Jews" meant that Easter was not to be celebrated on Nisan 14.

==Date of Easter==
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em"
|-
|+align=center|'''Dates for Easter Sunday, 2000-2020'''
|-
! Year !! Western Christianity|Western !! Eastern Christianity|Eastern
|-
! 2000
| April 23 || April 30
|-
! 2001
|colspan=2 align=center| April 15
|-
! 2002
| March 31 || May 5
|-
! 2003
| April 20 || April 27
|-
! 2004
|colspan=2 align=center| April 11
|-
! 2005
| March 27 || May 1
|-
! 2006
| April 16 || April 23
|-
! 2007
|colspan=2 align=center| April 8
|-
! 2008
| March 23 || April 27
|-
! 2009
| April 12 || April 19
|-
! 2010
|colspan=2 align=center| April 4
|-
! 2011
|colspan=2 align=center| April 24
|-
! 2012
| April 8 || April 15
|-
! 2013
| March 31 || May 5
|-
! 2014
|colspan=2 align=center| April 20
|-
! 2015
| April 5 || April 12
|-
! 2016
| March 27 || May 1
|-
! 2017
|colspan=2 align=center| April 16
|-
! 2018
| April 1 || April 8
|-
! 2019
| April 21 || April 28
|-
! 2020
| April 12 || April 19
|}

In Western Christianity, Easter always falls on a Sunday from [[March 22]] to [[April 25]] inclusive. The following day, Easter Monday, is a legal holiday in many countries with predominantly Christian traditions. In Eastern Christianity, Easter falls between [[April 4]] and [[May 8]] between 1900 and 2100 based on the Gregorian date.

Easter and the holidays that are related to it are ''moveable feasts'', in that they do not fall on a fixed date in the Gregorian or Julian calendars (which follow the motion of the sun and the seasons). Instead, they are based on a lunar calendar similar—but not identical—to the Hebrew Calendar. The precise date of Easter has often been a matter for contention.

At the [[First Council of Nicaea#Passover .28Easter.29 Controversy|First Council of Nicaea]] in 325 it was decided that Easter would be celebrated on the same Sunday throughout the Church, but it is probable that no method was specified by the Council. (No contemporary account of the Council's decisions has survived.) Instead, the matter seems to have been referred to the church of [[Alexandria]], which city had the best reputation for scholarship at the time. The Catholic Epiphanius wrote in the mid-4th Century, "...the emperor...convened a council of 318 bishops...in the city of Nicea...They passed certain ecclesiastical canons at the council besides, and at the same time decreed in regard to the Passover that there must be one unanimous concord on the celebration of God's holy and supremely excellent day. For it was variously observed by people..."(Epiphanius. The Panarion of Epiphanius of Salamis, Books II and III (Sects 47-80), De Fide). Section VI, Verses 1,1 and 1,3. Translated by Frank Williams. EJ Brill, New York, 1994, pp.471-472).

The practice of those following Alexandria was to celebrate Easter on the first Sunday after the earliest fourteenth day of a lunar month that occurred on or after [[March 21]]. While since the Middle Ages this practice has sometimes been more succinctly phrased as ''Easter is observed on the Sunday after the first full moon on or after the day of the vernal equinox'', this does not reflect the actual ecclesiastical rules precisely. The reason for this is that the full moon involved (called the Paschal full moon) is not an astronomical full moon, but an ecclesiastical moon. Determined from tables, it coincides more or less with the astronomical full moon. The ecclesiastical rules are:
* Easter falls on the first Sunday following the first ecclesiastical full moon that occurs on or after the day of the ecclesiastical vernal equinox
* this particular ecclesiastical full moon is the 14th day of a tabular lunation (new moon)
* the ecclesiastical vernal equinox is always [[March 21]]

The Church of Rome used its own methods to determine Easter until the 6th century, when it may have adopted the Alexandrian method as converted into the Julian calendar by Dionysius Exiguus (certain proof of this does not exist until the [[ninth century]]). Churches in western continental Europe used a late Roman method until the late 8th century during the reign of Charlemagne, when they finally adopted the Alexandrian method. Since western churches now use the Gregorian calendar to calculate the date and Eastern Orthodox churches use the original Julian calendar, their dates are not usually aligned in the present day.

At a summit in Aleppo, Syria, in 1997, the World Council of Churches proposed a reform in the calculation of Easter which would have replaced an equation-based method of calculating Easter with direct astronomical observation; this would have side-stepped the calendar issue and eliminated the difference in date between the Eastern and Western churches. The reform was proposed for implementation starting in 2001, but it was not ultimately adopted by any member body.

==Position in the church year==

===Western Christianity===
In Western Christianity, Easter marks the end of the forty days of [[Lent]], a period of fasting and penitence in preparation for Easter which begins on [[Ash Wednesday]].

The week before Easter is very special in the Christian tradition: the Sunday before is [[Palm Sunday]], and the last three days before Easter are [[Maundy Thursday]] or Holy Thursday, [[Good Friday]] and [[Holy Saturday]] (sometimes referred to as Silent Saturday). Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday respectively commemorate Jesus' entry in Jerusalem, the [[Last Supper]] and the [[Crucifixion]]. Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday are sometimes referred to as the [[Easter Triduum]] ([[Latin]] for "Three Days"). In some countries, Easter lasts two days, with the second called "[[Easter Monday]]". The week beginning with Easter Sunday is called Easter Week or the Octave of Easter, and each day is prefaced with 'Easter', e.g. Easter Monday, Easter Tuesday, etc. Easter Saturday is therefore the Saturday ''after'' Easter Sunday. The day before Easter is properly called Holy Saturday. Many churches start celebrating Easter late in the evening of Holy Saturday at a service called the [[Easter Vigil]].

[[Eastertide]], the season of Easter, begins on Easter Sunday and lasts until the day of [[Pentecost]], seven weeks later.

===Eastern Christianity===
In Eastern Christianity, preparations begin with [[Great Lent]]. Following the fifth Sunday of Great Lent is Palm Week, which ends with [[Lazarus]] Saturday. Lazarus Saturday officially brings Great Lent to a close, although the fast continues for the following week. After Lazarus Saturday comes Palm Sunday, [[Holy Week]], and finally Easter itself, or Pascha (Πάσχα), and the fast is broken immediately after the Divine Liturgy. Easter is immediately followed by Bright Week, during which there is no fasting, even on Wednesday and Friday.

The Paschal Service consists of [http://www.anastasis.org.uk/pascha.htm Paschal Matins, Hours, and Liturgy], which traditionally begins at midnight of Pascha morning. Placing the Paschal Divine Liturgy at midnight guarantees that no Divine Liturgy will come earlier in the morning, ensuring its place as the pre-eminent "Feast of Feasts" in the [[liturgical year]].

==Religious observation of Easter==
===Western Christianity===
The Easter festival is kept in many different ways among [[Western Christianity|Western Christians]]. The traditional, [[liturgy|liturgical]] observation of Easter, as practised among [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholics]] and some [[Lutheran]]s and [[Anglican]]s begins on the night of [[Holy Saturday]] with the [[Easter Vigil]]. This, the most important liturgy of the year, begins in total darkness with the blessing of the Easter fire, the lighting of the large [[Paschal candle]] (symbolic of the Risen Christ) and the chanting of the [[Exsultet]] or Easter Proclamation attributed to Saint [[Ambrose of Milan]]. After this service of light, a number of readings from the [[Old Testament]] are read; these tell the stories of [[creation]], the sacrifice of [[Isaac]], the crossing of the [[Red Sea]], and the foretold coming of the [[Messiah]]. This part of the service climaxes with the singing of the [[Alleluia]] and the proclamation of the [[gospel]] of the [[resurrection]]. A [[sermon]] may be preached after the gospel. Then the focus moves from the [[lectern]] to the [[Baptismal font|font]]. Anciently, Easter was considered the most perfect time to receive [[baptism]], and this practice is alive in [[Roman Catholicism]], as it is the time when new members are initiated into the Church, and it is being revived in some other circles. Whether there are baptisms at this point or not, it is traditional for the congregation to renew the vows of their baptismal faith. This act is often sealed by the sprinkling of the congregation with [[holy water]] from the font. The Catholic [[sacrament]] of [[Confirmation]] is also celebrated at the Vigil. The Easter Vigil concludes with the celebration of the [[Eucharist]] and [[Holy Communion]]. Additional celebrations are usually offered on Easter Sunday itself. Some churches read the Old Testament lessons before the procession of the Paschal candle, and then read the gospel immediately after the Exsultet. Some churches prefer to keep this vigil very early on the Sunday morning instead of the Saturday night, particularly [[Protestant]] churches, to reflect the gospel account of the women coming to the tomb at dawn on the first day of the week. These services are known as the [[Sunrise service]] and often occur in outdoor setting such as the church's yard or a nearby park.

In predominantly Roman Catholic [[Philippines]], the morning of Easter (known in the national language as "Pasko ng Muling Pagkabuhay" or the Pasch of the Resurrection) is marked with joyous celebration, the first being the dawn "Salubong", wherein large statues of Jesus and Mary are brought together to meet, imagining the first reunion of Jesus and his mother Mary after Jesus' Resurrection. This is followed by the joyous Easter Mass.

Some Christians wear their Sunday best to Church. This means a more formal dress and hats for some women.

===Eastern Christianity===
'''Easter''' is the fundamental and most important festival of the [[Eastern Orthodoxy|Eastern]] and [[Oriental Orthodoxy|Oriental]] Orthodox. Every other religious festival on their calendars, including [[Christmas]], is secondary in importance to the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is reflected in the cultures of countries that are traditionally Orthodox Christian majority. Easter-connected social customs are native and rich. Christmas customs, on the other hand, are usually foreign imports, either from [[Germany]] or the [[United States|USA]]. [[Eastern Rite|Eastern Rite Catholics]] in [[Communion (Christian)|communion]] with the [[Pope|Pope of Rome]] have similar emphasis in their calendars, and many of their liturgical customs are very similar.

This is not to say that Christmas and other elements of the Christian liturgical calendar are ignored. Instead, these events are all seen as necessary but ''preliminary'' to the full climax of the Resurrection, in which all that has come before reaches fulfilment and fruition. Pascha (Easter) is the primary act that fulfils the purpose of Christ's ministry on earth—to defeat death by dying and to purify and exalt humanity by voluntarily assuming and overcoming human frailty. This is succinctly summarized by the Paschal [[Troparion]], sung repeatedly during Pascha until the [[Apodosis]] of Pascha (which is the day before [[Ascension]]):

{| border=1 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0 width=100%
|- style="background:#efefef"
! [[English language|English]] !! [[Koine Greek|Greek]]!! [[Church Slavonic language|Church Slavonic]]* !! [[Romanian Language|Romanian]]
|-
|Christ is risen from the dead, Trampling down death by death, And upon those in the tombs Bestowing life!
|Χριστός ανέστη εκ νεκρών, θανάτω θάνατον πατήσας, και τοις εν τοις μνήμασι, ζωὴν χαρισάμενος!}}
|Хрїсто́съ воскре́се и́зъ ме́ртвыхъ, Сме́ртїю сме́рть попра́въ, И сѹ́щымъ во гробѣ́хъ живо́тъ Дарова́въ!
|Cristos a inviat din morti, Cu moartea pe moarte calcand, Si celor din morminte Viata daruindu-le!

|-
| align="center" size="+1"| '''Transliterations'''
|Christos anesti ek nekron, Thanato thanaton patisas, Kai tis en tis mnimasi Zo-in charisamenos!
|Christos voskrese iz mertvich, Smertiu smert poprav, E soushchim vo grobyech Zhivot darovav!
|}
*This language is not well-supported on many systems, so it may not appear as intended here.

Celebration of the holiday begins with the "anti-celebration" of [[Great Lent]]. In addition to fasting, almsgiving, and prayer, Orthodox are supposed to reduce all entertainment and non-essential activity, gradually eliminating them until Holy Friday. Traditionally, on the evening of Holy Saturday, the Midnight Office is celebrated shortly after 11:00 pm. At its completion all light in the church building is extinguished. A new flame is struck in the altar, or the priest lights his candle from a perpetual lamp kept burning there, and he then lights candles held by deacons or other assistants, who then go to light candles held by the congregation. Entirely lit by candle, the priest and congregation process around the church building, re-entering ideally at the stroke of midnight, whereupon [[Matins]] begins immediately followed by the Paschal [[Canonical hours|Hours]] and then the [[Divine Liturgy]]. Immediately after the Liturgy it is customary for the congregation to share a meal, essentially an [[agape]] dinner (albeit at 2.00 am or later!) [[Image:neObgig_Samara.jpg|frame|right|The [[Holy Fire]] in Jerusalem, celebrated on Holy Saturday, has been described as the oldest miracle-related ceremony in Christendom.]]

The day after, Easter Sunday proper, there is no liturgy, since the liturgy for that day has already been celebrated. Instead, in the afternoon, it is often traditional to hold "Agape vespers". In this service, it has become customary during the last few centuries for the priest and members of the congregation to read a portion of the Gospel of John (20:19–25 or 19–31) in as many languages as they can manage.

For the remainder of the week (known as "Bright Week"), all fasting is prohibited, and the customary greeting is "Christ is risen!", to be responded with "Truly He is risen!" (See also [[Pascha greeting]])

===Etymology and Pagan origins of Easter traditions===

==Miscellaneous==
===Word for "Easter" in various languages===
====Names related to [[Eostremonat]] ([[Eostre]] Month)====

* English ''Easter''
* German ''Ostern''
* Samoan ''Eseta'' (derived from English)

====Names derived from the [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] ''Pesach'' (פסח) Passover ====
* Latin ''Pascha'' or ''Festa Paschalia''
* [[Greek language|Greek]] ''Πάσχα'' (''Paskha'')
* Afrikaans ''Paasfees''
* Albanian ''Pashkët''
* Arabic عيد الفصح (''ʿAīd ul-Fiṣḥ'')
* Bulgarian ''Пасха'' (''Pasha''; rarely used)
* Catalan ''Pasqua''
* Croatian ''Vazam''
* Danish ''Påske''
* Dutch ''Pasen'' or ''paasfeest''
* Esperanto ''Pasko''
* Finnish ''Pääsiäinen''
* French ''Pâques''
* Hebrew ''פסחא'' (''Pascha'')
* Icelandic ''Páskar''
* Indonesian ''Paskah''
* Irish Gaelic ''Cáisc''
* Italian ''Pasqua''
* Norwegian ''Påske''
* Tagalog (Philippines) ''Pasko ng Muling Pagkabuhay'' (literally "the Pasch of the Resurrection")
* Persian ''Pas`h''
* Polish ''Pascha''
* Portuguese ''Páscoa''
* Romanian ''Paşte''
* Russian ''Пасха'' (''Paskha'')
* Scottish Gaelic ''Casca''
* Spanish ''Pascua''
* Swedish ''Påsk''
* Turkish ''Paskalya''
* Welsh ''Pasg''

====Names used in other languages====
* Armenian ''Զատիկ'' (''Zatik'' or ''Zadik'', literally "resurrection")
* Belarusian ''Вялікдзень'' or ''Vialikdzen’'' (literally "the Great Day")
* Bulgarian ''Великден'' (''Velikden'', literally "the Great Day") or ''Възкресение Христово'' (''Vazkresenie Hristovo'', literally "Resurrection of Christ")
* Simplified Chinese 复活节 Traditional Chinese 復活節 Pinyin Fùhuó Jié}} (literally "Resurrection Festival")
* Croatian ''Uskrs'' (literally "resurrection")
* Czech ''Velikonoce'' (literally "Great Nights" [plural, no singular exists])
* Estonian ''Lihavõtted'' (literally "meat taking")
* Farsi ''عيد پاك'' (literally "Chaste Feast")
* Georgian ''აღდგომა'' (''Aĝdgoma'', literally "rising")
* Hungarian ''Húsvét'' (literally "taking, or buying meat")
* Japanese 復活祭 (''Fukkatsu-sai'', literally "resurrection festival") or イースター ''Īsutā'', from English
* Korean 부활절 (''Puhwalchol'', literally "Resurrection season")
* Latvian ''Lieldienas'' (literally "the Great Days", no singular exists)
* Lithuanian ''Velykos'' (derived from Slavic languages, no singular exists)
* Bulgarian dialect of FYROM ''Велигден'' (''Veligden'', literally "the Great Day")
* Polish ''Wielkanoc'' (literally "the Great Night")
* Romanian ''Inviere'' (literally "resurrection")
* Serbian ''Ускрс'' (''Uskrs'') or ''Васкрс'' (''Vaskrs'', literally "resurrection")
* Slovak ''Veľká Noc'' (literally "the Great Night")
* Slovenian ''Velika noč'' (literally "the Great Night")
* Tongan (South-pacific) ''Pekia'' (literally "death (of a lord)")
* Ukrainian ''Великдень'' (''Velykden’'', literally "the Great Day") or ''Паска'' (''Paska'')

===Traditions===
*[http://www.armenianchurch.net/worship/easter/index.html Easter in the Armenian Orthodox Church]
*[http://www.orthodox.net/pascha/ Eastern Orthodox views on Easter]

===Calculating===
* [http://www.ely.anglican.org/cgi-bin/easter Calculator for the date of Festivals (Anglican)]
* [http://www.noeticspace.com/paschalion Paschal Calculator (Eastern Orthodox)]
* [http://5ko.free.fr/en/easter.php Side-by-side Easter reference] - for [[Catholic]] and [[Orthodox]] Easter dates, both [[Old style]] and [[New style]], from 16th through 25th century.

{{Credit wikipedia}}

[[Category:Christian festivals]]
[[Category:Easter]]
[[Category:Holidays]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:07, April 22, 2006
Line 1:		Line 1:
−	'''Holy Easter''', also known as the '''Feast of the Resurrection''', "the Sunday of the Resurrection", or "Resurrection Day", is the most important religious feast of the Christian liturgical year, observed between early April to early May in [[Eastern Orthodox Church\|Eastern Christianity]] (late March and late April in the west). It celebrates the resurrection of Jesus, which occurred after his death by crucifixion in AD 27-33 (see [[Good Friday]]).	+	'''Holy Easter''', also known as the '''Feast of the Resurrection''', "the Sunday of the Resurrection", or "Resurrection Day", is the most important religious feast of the Christian liturgical year, observed between early April to early May in [[Eastern Orthodox Church\|Eastern Christianity]] (late March and late April in the west). It celebrates the [[resurrection of Jesus]], which occurred three days after his death by crucifixion in AD 27-33 (see [[Good Friday]]).

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Easter''', also known as the '''Feast of the Resurrection''', "the Sunday of the Resurrection", or "Resurrection Day", is the most important religious feast of the Christian liturgical year, observed between early April to early [[May]] in [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Christianity]] (late [[March]] and late [[April]] in the west). It celebrates the resurrection of Jesus, which occurred after his death by crucifixion in AD 27-33 (see [[Good Friday]]).
+'''Holy Easter''', also known as the '''Feast of the Resurrection''', "the Sunday of the Resurrection", or "Resurrection Day", is the most important religious feast of the Christian liturgical year, observed between early April to early May in [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Christianity]] (late March and late April in the west). It celebrates the resurrection of Jesus, which occurred after his death by crucifixion in AD 27-33 (see [[Good Friday]]).
@@ Line 112: / Line 112: @@
 ==Position in the church year==
 ===Eastern Christianity===
@@ Line 129: / Line 127: @@
 ==Religious observation of Easter==
 ===Eastern Christianity===
@@ Line 141: / Line 138: @@
 |-
 |Christ is risen from the dead,<br />Trampling down death by death,<br />And upon those in the tombs<br />Bestowing life!
-|Χριστός ανέστη εκ νεκρών,<br />θανάτω θάνατον πατήσας,<br />και τοις εν τοις μνήμασι,<br />ζωήν χαρισάμενος!}}
+|Χριστός ανέστη εκ νεκρών,<br />θανάτω θάνατον πατήσας,<br />και τοις εν τοις μνήμασι,<br />ζωήν χαρισάμενος!
 |<span lang="cu" class="Cyrillic" style="font-family:{{CYchar fonts}}">Хрїсто&#769;съ воскре&#769;се и&#769;зъ ме&#769;ртвыхъ,<br />Сме&#769;ртїю сме&#769;рть попра&#769;въ,<br />И сѹ&#769;щымъ во гробѣ&#769;хъ<br />живо&#769;тъ Дарова&#769;въ!</span>
 |Cristos a inviat din morti,<br />Cu moartea pe moarte calcand,<br />Si celor din morminte<br />Viata daruindu-le!

@@ Line 138: / Line 138: @@
 {| border=1 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0 width=100%
 |- style="background:#efefef"
-! [[English language|English]] !! [[Koine Greek|Greek]]!! [[Church Slavonic language|Church Slavonic]]* !! [[Romanian Language|Romanian]]
+! English !! [[Koine Greek|Greek]]!! Church Slavonic* !! Romanian
 |-
 |Christ is risen from the dead,<br />Trampling down death by death,<br />And upon those in the tombs<br />Bestowing life!
-|Χριστός ανέστη εκ νεκρών,<br />θανάτω θάνατον πατήσας,<br />και τοις εν τοις μνήμασι,<br />ζωὴν χαρισάμενος!}}
+|Χριστός ανέστη εκ νεκρών,<br />θανάτω θάνατον πατήσας,<br />και τοις εν τοις μνήμασι,<br />ζωήν χαρισάμενος!}}
 |<span lang="cu" class="Cyrillic" style="font-family:{{CYchar fonts}}">Хрїсто&#769;съ воскре&#769;се и&#769;зъ ме&#769;ртвыхъ,<br />Сме&#769;ртїю сме&#769;рть попра&#769;въ,<br />И сѹ&#769;щымъ во гробѣ&#769;хъ<br />живо&#769;тъ Дарова&#769;въ!</span>
 |Cristos a inviat din morti,<br />Cu moartea pe moarte calcand,<br />Si celor din morminte<br />Viata daruindu-le!
@@ Line 156: / Line 156: @@
 The day after, Easter Sunday proper, there is no liturgy, since the liturgy for that day has already been celebrated. Instead, in the afternoon, it is often traditional to hold "Agape vespers". In this service, it has become customary during the last few centuries for the priest and members of the congregation to read a portion of the Gospel of John (20:19&ndash;25 or 19&ndash;31) in as many languages as they can manage.
 For the remainder of the week (known as "Bright Week"), all fasting is prohibited, and the customary greeting is "Christ is risen!", to be responded with "Truly He is risen!"
 ===Western Christianity===

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	Some Christians wear their Sunday best to Church. This means a more formal dress and hats for some women.		Some Christians wear their Sunday best to Church. This means a more formal dress and hats for some women.
−
−	~~===Eastern Christianity===~~
−	'''Easter''' is the fundamental and most important festival of the [[Eastern Orthodoxy\|Eastern]] and [[Oriental Orthodoxy\|Oriental]] Orthodox. Every other religious festival on their calendars, including [[Christmas]], is secondary in importance to the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is reflected in the cultures of countries that are traditionally Orthodox Christian majority. Easter-connected social customs are native and rich. Christmas customs, on the other hand, are usually foreign imports, either from [[Germany]] or the [[United States\|USA]]. [[Eastern Rite\|Eastern Rite Catholics]] in [[Communion (Christian)\|communion]] with the [[Pope\|Pope of Rome]] have similar emphasis in their calendars, and many of their liturgical customs are very similar.
−
−	This is not to say that Christmas and other elements of the Christian liturgical calendar are ignored. Instead, these events are all seen as necessary but ''preliminary'' to the full climax of the Resurrection, in which all that has come before reaches fulfilment and fruition. Pascha (Easter) is the primary act that fulfils the purpose of Christ's ministry on earth—to defeat death by dying and to purify and exalt humanity by voluntarily assuming and overcoming human frailty. This is succinctly summarized by the Paschal [[Troparion]], sung repeatedly during Pascha until the [[Apodosis]] of Pascha (which is the day before [[Ascension]]):
−
−	~~{\| border=1 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0 width=100%~~
−	~~\|- style="background:#efefef"~~
−	~~! [[English language\|English]] !! [[Koine Greek\|Greek]]!! [[Church Slavonic language\|Church Slavonic]]* !! [[Romanian Language\|Romanian]]~~
−	\|-
−	~~\|Christ is risen from the dead,<br />Trampling down death by death,<br />And upon those in the tombs<br />Bestowing life!~~
−	~~\|Χριστός ανέστη εκ νεκρών,<br />θανάτω θάνατον πατήσας,<br />και τοις εν τοις μνήμασι,<br />ζωὴν χαρισάμενος!}}~~
−	\|<span lang="cu" class="Cyrillic" style="font-family:{{CYchar fonts}}">Хрїсто́съ воскре́се и́зъ ме́ртвыхъ,<br />Сме́ртїю сме́рть попра́въ,<br />И сѹ́щымъ во гробѣ́хъ<br />живо́тъ Дарова́въ!</span>
−	~~\|Cristos a inviat din morti,<br />Cu moartea pe moarte calcand,<br />Si celor din morminte<br />Viata daruindu-le!~~
−
−	\|-
−	~~\| align="center" size="+1"\| '''Transliterations'''~~
−	~~\|Christos anesti ek nekron,<br />Thanato thanaton patisas,<br />Kai tis en tis mnimasi<br />Zo-in charisamenos!~~
−	~~\|Christos voskrese iz mertvich,<br />Smertiu smert poprav,<br />E soushchim vo grobyech<br />Zhivot darovav!~~
−	\|}
−	~~<small>*This language is not well-supported on many systems, so it may not appear as intended here.</small>~~
−
−	Celebration of the holiday begins with the "anti-celebration" of [[Great Lent]]. In addition to fasting, almsgiving, and prayer, Orthodox are supposed to reduce all entertainment and non-essential activity, gradually eliminating them until Holy Friday. Traditionally, on the evening of Holy Saturday, the Midnight Office is celebrated shortly after 11:00 pm. At its completion all light in the church building is extinguished. A new flame is struck in the altar, or the priest lights his candle from a perpetual lamp kept burning there, and he then lights candles held by deacons or other assistants, who then go to light candles held by the congregation. Entirely lit by candle, the priest and congregation process around the church building, re-entering ideally at the stroke of midnight, whereupon [[Matins]] begins immediately followed by the Paschal [[Canonical hours\|Hours]] and then the [[Divine Liturgy]]. Immediately after the Liturgy it is customary for the congregation to share a meal, essentially an [[agape]] dinner (albeit at 2.00 am or later!) [[Image:neObgig_Samara.jpg\|frame\|right\|The [[Holy Fire]] in Jerusalem, celebrated on Holy Saturday, has been described as the oldest miracle-related ceremony in Christendom.]]
−
−	The day after, Easter Sunday proper, there is no liturgy, since the liturgy for that day has already been celebrated. Instead, in the afternoon, it is often traditional to hold "Agape vespers". In this service, it has become customary during the last few centuries for the priest and members of the congregation to read a portion of the Gospel of John (20:19–25 or 19–31) in as many languages as they can manage.
−
−	For the remainder of the week (known as "Bright Week"), all fasting is prohibited, and the customary greeting is "Christ is risen!", to be responded with "Truly He is risen!" (See also [[Pascha greeting]])
−
−

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−
−	~~===Etymology and Pagan origins of Easter traditions===~~

@@ Line 167: / Line 167: @@
 ==Miscellaneous==
 ===Word for "Easter" in various languages===
-* English ''Easter''
+====Names derived from the Hebrew ''Pesach'' (פסח) Passover ====
 * Latin ''Pascha'' or ''Festa Paschalia''
 * [[Greek language|Greek]] ''Πάσχα'' (''Paskha'')
@@ Line 204: / Line 199: @@
 * Turkish ''Paskalya''
 * Welsh ''Pasg''
 ====Names used in other languages====
@@ Line 228: / Line 229: @@
 * Tongan (South-pacific) ''Pekia'' (literally "death (of a lord)")
 * Ukrainian ''Великдень'' (''Velykden’'', literally "the Great Day") or ''Паска'' (''Paska'')
 ===Traditions===

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 ==Religious observation of Easter==
 ===Western Christianity===
-The Easter festival is kept in many different ways among [[Western Christianity|Western Christians]]. The traditional, [[liturgy|liturgical]] observation of Easter, as practised among [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholics]] and some [[Lutheran]]s and [[Anglican]]s begins on the night of [[Holy Saturday]] with the [[Easter Vigil]]. This, the most important liturgy of the year, begins in total darkness with the blessing of the Easter fire, the lighting of the large [[Paschal candle]] (symbolic of the Risen Christ) and the chanting of the [[Exsultet]] or Easter Proclamation attributed to Saint [[Ambrose of Milan]]. After this service of light, a number of readings from the [[Old Testament]] are read; these tell the stories of [[creation]], the sacrifice of [[Isaac]], the crossing of the [[Red Sea]], and the foretold coming of the [[Messiah]]. This part of the service climaxes with the singing of the [[Alleluia]] and the proclamation of the [[gospel]] of the [[resurrection]]. A [[sermon]] may be preached after the gospel. Then the focus moves from the [[lectern]] to the [[Baptismal font|font]]. Anciently, Easter was considered the most perfect time to receive [[baptism]], and this practice is alive in [[Roman Catholicism]], as it is the time when new members are initiated into the Church, and it is being revived in some other circles. Whether there are baptisms at this point or not, it is traditional for the congregation to renew the vows of their baptismal faith. This act is often sealed by the sprinkling of the congregation with [[holy water]] from the font. The Catholic [[sacrament]] of [[Confirmation]] is also celebrated at the Vigil.  The Easter Vigil concludes with the celebration of the [[Eucharist]] and [[Holy Communion]]. Additional celebrations are usually offered on Easter Sunday itself. Some churches read the Old Testament lessons before the procession of the Paschal candle, and then read the gospel immediately after the Exsultet.  Some churches prefer to keep this vigil very early on the Sunday morning instead of the Saturday night, particularly [[Protestant]] churches, to reflect the gospel account of the women coming to the tomb at dawn on the first day of the week. These services are known as the [[Sunrise service]] and often occur in outdoor setting such as the church's yard or a nearby park.
+The Easter festival is kept in many different ways among Western Christians. The traditional, liturgical observation of Easter, as practised among Roman Catholics and some Lutherans and Anglicans begins on the night of Holy Saturday with the Easter Vigil. This, the most important liturgy of the year, begins in total darkness with the blessing of the Easter fire, the lighting of the large Paschal candle (symbolic of the Risen Christ) and the chanting of the Exsultet or Easter Proclamation attributed to Saint Ambrose of Milan. After this service of light, a number of readings from the Old Testament are read; these tell the stories of creation, the sacrifice of Isaac, the crossing of the Red Sea, and the foretold coming of the Messiah. This part of the service climaxes with the singing of the [[Alleluia]] and the proclamation of the gospel of the resurrection. A sermon may be preached after the gospel. Then the focus moves from the lectern to the font. Anciently, Easter was considered the most perfect time to receive baptism, and this practice is alive in Roman Catholicism, as it is the time when new members are initiated into the Church, and it is being revived in some other circles. Whether there are baptisms at this point or not, it is traditional for the congregation to renew the vows of their baptismal faith. This act is often sealed by the sprinkling of the congregation with holy water from the font. The Catholic sacrament of Confirmation is also celebrated at the Vigil.  The Easter Vigil concludes with the celebration of the Eucharist and Holy Communion. Additional celebrations are usually offered on Easter Sunday itself. Some churches read the Old Testament lessons before the procession of the Paschal candle, and then read the gospel immediately after the Exsultet.  Some churches prefer to keep this vigil very early on the Sunday morning instead of the Saturday night, particularly Protestant churches, to reflect the gospel account of the women coming to the tomb at dawn on the first day of the week. These services are known as the Sunrise service and often occur in outdoor setting such as the church's yard or a nearby park.
-In predominantly Roman Catholic [[Philippines]], the morning of Easter (known in the national language as "Pasko ng Muling Pagkabuhay" or the Pasch of the Resurrection) is marked with joyous celebration, the first being the dawn "Salubong", wherein large statues of Jesus and Mary are brought together to meet, imagining the first reunion of Jesus and his mother Mary after Jesus' Resurrection.  This is followed by the joyous Easter Mass.
+In predominantly Roman Catholic Philippines, the morning of Easter (known in the national language as "Pasko ng Muling Pagkabuhay" or the Pasch of the Resurrection) is marked with joyous celebration, the first being the dawn "Salubong", wherein large statues of Jesus and Mary are brought together to meet, imagining the first reunion of Jesus and his mother Mary after Jesus' Resurrection.  This is followed by the joyous Easter Mass.
 Some Christians wear their Sunday best to Church.  This means a more formal dress and hats for some women.
 ==Miscellaneous==

@@ Line 118: / Line 118: @@
 In Eastern Christianity, preparations begin with [[Great Lent]]. Following the fifth Sunday of Great Lent is Palm Week, which ends with [[Lazarus]] Saturday. Lazarus Saturday officially brings Great Lent to a close, although the fast continues for the following week. After Lazarus Saturday comes Palm Sunday, [[Holy Week]], and finally Easter itself, or Pascha (Πάσχα), and the fast is broken immediately after the Divine Liturgy. Easter is immediately followed by Bright Week, during which there is no fasting, even on Wednesday and Friday.
-The Paschal Service consists of [http://www.anastasis.org.uk/pascha.htm Paschal Matins, Hours, and Liturgy], which traditionally begins at midnight of Pascha morning. Placing the Paschal Divine Liturgy at midnight guarantees that no Divine Liturgy will come earlier in the morning, ensuring its place as the pre-eminent "Feast of Feasts" in the [[liturgical year]].
+The Paschal Service consists of [http://www.anastasis.org.uk/pascha.htm Paschal Matins, Hours, and Liturgy], which traditionally begins at midnight of Pascha morning. Placing the Paschal Divine Liturgy at midnight guarantees that no Divine Liturgy will come earlier in the morning, ensuring its place as the pre-eminent "Feast of Feasts" in the liturgical year.
 ==Religious observation of Easter==

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	==Position in the church year==		==Position in the church year==

−	~~===Western Christianity===~~
−	~~In Western Christianity, Easter marks the end of the forty days of [[Lent]], a period of fasting and penitence in preparation for Easter which begins on [[Ash Wednesday]].~~

−	The week before Easter is very special in the Christian tradition: the Sunday before is [[Palm Sunday]], and the last three days before Easter are [[Maundy Thursday]] or Holy Thursday, [[Good Friday]] and [[Holy Saturday]] (sometimes referred to as Silent Saturday). Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday respectively commemorate Jesus' entry in Jerusalem, the [[Last Supper]] and the [[Crucifixion]]. Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday are sometimes referred to as the [[Easter Triduum]] ([[Latin]] for "Three Days"). In some countries, Easter lasts two days, with the second called "[[Easter Monday]]". The week beginning with Easter Sunday is called Easter Week or the Octave of Easter, and each day is prefaced with 'Easter', e.g. Easter Monday, Easter Tuesday, etc. Easter Saturday is therefore the Saturday ''after'' Easter Sunday. The day before Easter is properly called Holy Saturday. Many churches start celebrating Easter late in the evening of Holy Saturday at a service called the [[Easter Vigil]].
−
−	~~[[Eastertide]], the season of Easter, begins on Easter Sunday and lasts until the day of [[Pentecost]], seven weeks later.~~

	===Eastern Christianity===		===Eastern Christianity===