Posted on 03/27/2013 6:00:34 AM PDT by NYer
Plus this year you can buy Easter Items at a discount after Catholic Easter.
I think both the Catholics and Orthodox should celebrate Easter on the Sunday after Passover, and use the Jewish method of figuring when Passover is. That’s when it should be anyway, and it would make both the Catholics and Orthodox change some.
I did not know this. You're absolutely right. It will take place this year.
Tale of two Easters: Holy Land Catholics, Orthodox to celebrate as one
They are doing this because the christian population has shrunk so much and employers will only recognize one Easter, not two. Read the article ... fascinating insight into just what I said in my previous post about intermarriage of Catholic and Orthodox families.
It may surprise you, Hilda, but the Council of Nicaea (A.D. 325) set the date of Easter as the Sunday following the paschal full moon, which is the full moon that falls on or after the vernal (spring) equinox. The paschal full moon? Because that was the date of Passover in the Jewish calendar, and the Last Supper (Holy Thursday) occurred on the Passover. Therefore, Easter was the Sunday after Passover. The Orthodox Church follows a solar calendar. Once in a blue moon (or is that a yellow sun) the two coincide. This year, for the first time ever, the Catholic and Orthodox Churches in the Middle East have agreed to celebrate Easter on the same day.
I am aware of that. The differences come from figuring out when, exactly, the “paschal full moon” is. This year, Orthodox Pascha is not until May 5th, even though Passover was two days ago.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.