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Controversy over the Date of Easter: Difference between revisions
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==Irenaeus, Victor and Easter== | ==Irenaeus, Victor and Easter== | ||
Victor was the 13th Bishop in Rome. He excommunicated all of the churches in Asia Minor for disagreeing with his interpretation regarding the date of the celebration of Easter. Most of the churches in Asia Minor had significant Jewish populations, while Rome had little Jewish influence. Irenaeus addressed Victor in a letter (only a fragment of which remains), warning him that if he persisted in the course on which he had entered, the effect would be to rend the Catholic Church in pieces. In 190 or 191, Irenaeus travelled to Rome to meet with Victor, who received and accepted the rebukes of Irenaeus. The debate of the date of the passover continued to be handled independently by each Church until the Council of Nicea.<ref> | Victor was the 13th Bishop in Rome. He excommunicated all of the churches in Asia Minor for disagreeing with his interpretation regarding the date of the celebration of Easter. Most of the churches in Asia Minor had significant Jewish populations, while Rome had little Jewish influence. Irenaeus addressed Victor in a letter (only a fragment of which remains), warning him that if he persisted in the course on which he had entered, the effect would be to rend the Catholic Church in pieces. In 190 or 191, Irenaeus travelled to Rome to meet with Victor, who received and accepted the rebukes of Irenaeus. The debate of the date of the passover continued to be handled independently by each Church until the Council of Nicea.<ref> | ||
:''"The pacific name [Irenaeus] bears, was rendered yet more illustrious by his interposition to compose the Easter Controversy, then threatening to impair, if not to destroy, the unity of the Church. The beautiful concordat between East and West, in which Polycarp and Anicetus had left the question, was now disturbed by Victor, Bishop of Rome, whose turbulent spirit would not accept the compromise of his predecessor. Irenaeus remonstrates with him in a catholic spirit, and overrules his impetuous temper | :''"The pacific name [Irenaeus] bears, was rendered yet more illustrious by his interposition to compose the Easter Controversy, then threatening to impair, if not to destroy, the unity of the Church. The beautiful concordat between East and West, in which Polycarp and Anicetus had left the question, was now disturbed by Victor, Bishop of Rome, whose turbulent spirit would not accept the compromise of his predecessor. Irenaeus remonstrates with him in a catholic spirit, and overrules his impetuous temper."'' [[Irenaeus Introduction|INTRODUCTORY NOTE TO IRENAEUS AGAINST HERESIES]], Vol. I Ante-Nicene Fathers 309 </ref> | ||
==The Council of Nicea and Easter== | |||
In 325, at the Council of Nicea, the first canon (unchanging law of discipline) was issued giving the patriarchs of Alexandria and Rome exceptional authority over other churches in their regions. It was also decided at this council that the Christian Passover must not be celebrated with the Jewish Passover, which was the custom of the disciples. The Roman Emperor Constantine enforced this doctrine by the physical suppression of forms of worship he considered unorthodox. <ref>Life of Constantine Vol. III Ch. XVIII by Eusebius</ref> | |||
Not eager to reignite the controversy of Easter, many historians have tried to spin the resolution of this controversy in a positive light. For example, the introductory note to Irenaeus' book "Against Heresies" includes the following note by the translators: | |||
:''"At the Council of Nice, the rule for the observance of Easter was finally settled by the whole Church; and the forbearing example of Irenaeus, no doubt contributed greatly to this happy result."'' <ref>[[Irenaeus Introduction|INTRODUCTORY NOTE TO IRENAEUS AGAINST HERESIES]], Vol. I Ante-Nicene Fathers 309 </ref> | |||
But just because something is called a "happy result" does not mean it is a "happy result". In fact, the "result" was the start of oppression by the Church of Rome over all other Churches around the world. | |||
==Columba and Easter== | ==Columba and Easter== | ||
Ireland was outside of the Roman Empire, and Christianity developed independently in this region without Rome's influence. The Irish, like the Jews, had a calendar that did not agree with the Roman calendar, and celebrated Passover on a different day of the year. | Ireland was outside of the Roman Empire, and Christianity developed independently in this region without Rome's influence. The Irish, like the Jews, had a calendar that did not agree with the Roman calendar, and celebrated Passover on a different day of the year. | ||