Orthodox Easter Date

[Charlie_Zeaiter]

This year, Orthodox Easter is 5 weeks after the Catholic date. Does anybody know why?

I can never work out how the Orthodox dertermine their Easter date.

 

[JMJ_coder]

Hello,

This year, Orthodox Easter is 5 weeks after the Catholic date. Does anybody know why?

I can never work out how the Orthodox dertermine their Easter date.

It is because they are on the Julian calendar. We both calculate Easter using the formula decided upon at the Council of Nicea (325 A.D.), but due to the differing calendars, Easter is often times not the same.

 

[MoreThan1Hat]

Hello,

It is because they are on the Julian calendar. We both calculate Easter using the formula decided upon at the Council of Nicea (325 A.D.), but due to the differing calendars, Easter is often times not the same.

Additionally, AFAIK, the Julian Paschalion specifies that Pascha must occur after the Jewish Passover.

 

[Volodymyr]

I am surprised you cannot understand Orthodox calculation. Both calculations of Easter are very convulted. Rely on different understanding of when “full moon” and “vernal equinox” occur. Latin definition is astromically perhaps more correct by its definition. Orthodox is in keeping with Decision of Nikea Ecumenical Council, that Easter must be related to Jewish Passover. The calculations are totally independent of one another.

Calculations:

Catholic: Easter is first Sunday after first full moon following March 21.

Orthodox: Easter is first sunday after vernal equinox and after Jewish Pasover.
2005 — 1 мая;
2006 — 23 апреля;
2007 — 8 апреля;
2008 — 27 апреля;
2009 — 19 апреля;
2010 — 4 апреля;
2011 — 24 апреля;
2012 — 15 апреля;
2013 — 5 мая;
2014 — 20 апреля;
2015 — 12 апреля;
2016 — 1 мая;
2017 — 16 апреля;
2018 — 8 апреля.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

. . .
Calculations:

Catholic: Easter is first Sunday after first full moon following March 21.

Orthodox: Easter is first Sunday after vernal equinox and after Jewish Passover. . . .я.

Isn’t the Passover on the Full Moon?

 

[Charlie_Zeaiter]

Hello,

It is because they are on the Julian calendar. We both calculate Easter using the formula decided upon at the Council of Nicea (325 A.D.), but due to the differing calendars, Easter is often times not the same.

I don’t think that’s true - because sometimes Orthodox Easter falls on the same day as Catholic Easter.

Your explanation would be true in regards to Christmas - some Orthodox Churches celebrate Christmas 13 days after we do - but it doesn’t make sense for Easter. There must be more to it.

 

[Charlie_Zeaiter]

Additionally, AFAIK, the Julian Paschalion specifies that Pascha must occur after the Jewish Passover.

… Orthodox: Easter is first sunday after vernal equinox and after Jewish Pasover…

emphasis mine]
hmmm… that’s interesting. My memory is coming back to me now. It’s starting to ring some bells - because Passover is a week long festival, right? That would explain why sometimes the Catholic Easter falls during the Passover festival whilst the Orthodox Easter is a week later in some years.

 

[lampstand]

I listened to an online broadcast of an Orthodox service just yesterday. When it was time for the homily, one of the first things the priest did was to wish the Catholics and other churches a blessed Palm Sunday (and he went on to note that of course Lent has just gotten under way for the Orthodox). It was a fine thing to do and it really made me smile.

 

[Charlie_Zeaiter]

Isn’t the Passover on the Full Moon?

Passover is the first full moon after the vernal equinox (aka, the first full moon of spring).

But Catholics have changed this to be the first full moon after March 21st… and also the catholic calculations for predicting the full moon aren’t 100% accurate.

I’m not sure if the Jews and Orthodox have an accurate calculation for determining the Passover dates. The Jews used to be very accurate by visually observing the solar and lunar cyles - but it was a slow process and I don’t know if they still adhere to it.

 

[JMJ_coder]

Hello,

I don’t think that’s true - because sometimes Orthodox Easter falls on the same day as Catholic Easter.

Your explanation would be true in regards to Christmas - some Orthodox Churches celebrate Christmas 13 days after we do - but it doesn’t make sense for Easter. There must be more to it.

There are a couple more differences, but it is the calendar that is the primary factor. In the old calendar, the vernal equinox was March 20, regardless of when the actual equinox is - so if the calendars vary, the date of their respective equinoxes vary as well. We are not so different in dates yet as to not have an occasional day that is equally shared. Eventually, it will be impossible for Catholics and Orthodox to celebrate Easter together.

When the Catholic Church moved to the Gregorian Calendar, the Church also adopted a slightly adjusted formula for calculating Easter that is more accurate astronomically. While the Orthodox may follow the letter of the Council of Nicea, I believe the Catholic Church follows the spirit of the Council. The Council did not have the requisite understanding of the way their calendar would stray from accuracy. But, be certain that the Council never meant to have Easter celebrated in summer, autumn or winter, as will happen in the Orthodox Church if they don’t come to some decision of their calendar.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

Passover is the first full moon after the vernal equinox (aka, the first full moon of spring).

But Catholics have changed this to be the first full moon after March 21st… and also the catholic calculations for predicting the full moon aren’t 100% accurate.

I’m not sure if the Jews and Orthodox have an accurate calculation for determining the Passover dates. The Jews used to be very accurate by visually observing the solar and lunar cyles - but it was a slow process and I don’t know if they still adhere to it.

Thanks - Joe

 

[Charlie_Zeaiter]

Hello,

There are a couple more differences, but it is the calendar that is the primary factor. In the old calendar, the vernal equinox was March 20, regardless of when the actual equinox is - so if the calendars vary, the date of their respective equinoxes vary as well. We are not so different in dates yet as to not have an occasional day that is equally shared. Eventually, it will be impossible for Catholics and Orthodox to celebrate Easter together…

Ok, thanks. I thought the Orthodox were no longer using the predefined March vernal equinox - I thought they had changed their rules to use the actual vernal equinox. Thanks for the info.

 

[JMJ_coder]

Hello,

orthodoxwiki.org/Paschalion

 

[valient_Lucy]

I listened to an online broadcast of an Orthodox service just yesterday. When it was time for the homily, one of the first things the priest did was to wish the Catholics and other churches a blessed Palm Sunday (and he went on to note that of course Lent has just gotten under way for the Orthodox). It was a fine thing to do and it really made me smile.

That was a lovely thing to do!

And may God bless the Orthodox Christians on the forum (and everywhere for that matter) as they begin Lent.