What determines the date of Orthodox Easter?

They established Easter to be held on the first Sunday that occurs after the first full moon, which follows the vernal equinox, but always after Jewish Passover. To avoid any confusion in the date, it was also determined that the vernal equinox would fall on March 21.

Why does the Orthodox Church celebrate Easter on a different date?

Eastern Christianity recognises a different date for Easter because they follow the Julian calendar, as opposed to the Gregorian calendar which is widely used by most countries today. The Julian Calendar was proposed by Julius Caesar in 46 BC, in which the year consisted of 365 days, every fourth year having 366 days.

How does the Church determine the date for Easter Sunday?

Easter falls on the first Sunday after the Full Moon date, based on mathematical calculations, that falls on or after March 21. If the Full Moon is on a Sunday, Easter is celebrated on the following Sunday.

How do Eastern Orthodox celebrate Easter?

Easter celebrations in Orthodox Christian communities usually include a spit-roast lamb dinner and a display of hard-boiled eggs, dyed red to symbolize the blood of Christ. The egg was an important symbol in the mythologies of many early civilizations and was also connected with the springtime fertility rituals.

Why are Catholic and Orthodox Easter different?

Why Is The Orthodox Easter Date Different? The Orthodox Easter always falls later than the Catholic one as it is calculated using the same formula, but using the Julian Calendar (as we said above, this is currently 13 days behind the commonly used Gregorian).

What is the rarest date for Easter?

That was in 1940 – the rarest Easter date of them all in that quarter-millennium. Easter falls on Mar. 23 only twice (in 1913 and 2008) and just twice on April 24 (in 2011 and 2095). All the rest are more common than this year’s Easter date.

Is Orthodox different from Catholic?

The Catholic Church believes the pope to be infallible in matters of doctrine. Orthodox believers reject the infallibility of the pope and consider their own patriarchs, too, as human and thus subject to error. In this way, they are similar to Protestants, who also reject any notion of papal primacy.

Why did the Orthodox Church split from Catholic Church?

The Great Schism came about due to a complex mix of religious disagreements and political conflicts. One of the many religious disagreements between the western (Roman) and eastern (Byzantine) branches of the church had to do with whether or not it was acceptable to use unleavened bread for the sacrament of communion.

What is the difference between Orthodox Easter and regular Easter?

Easter as it’s commonly celebrated in the United States falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon of the spring equinox, while Orthodox Easter is celebrated on the Sunday after the first full moon after Passover.

Is Easter a pagan holiday?

Well, it turns out Easter actually began as a pagan festival celebrating spring in the Northern Hemisphere, long before the advent of Christianity. Following the advent of Christianity, the Easter period became associated with the resurrection of Christ.

Why is Easter a moveable feast?

Easter is a moveable feast celebrated on the first Sunday after the vernal equinox full moon (i.e. on Sunday after the full moon of March). These dates are calculated with the old Gregorian calendar, because it specifies the vernal equinox.

What do Orthodox eat on Easter?

Greek Orthodox Easter menu

• Spit-roast lamb. An 18 kg lamb will feed about 40.
• Easter bread with red eggs (tsoureki) Easter bread with red eggs (tsoureki)
• Greek Easter biscuits (koulourakia paschalina)
• Skewered chicken (kotosouvlaki)
• Cheese pastry cups (kalitsounia)
• Balsamic-glazed figs.

What Bible does the Orthodox Church use?

The Orthodox Study Bible (OSB) is an Eastern Orthodox study Bible published by Thomas Nelson. It features an English translation of the St. Athanasius Academy Septuagint for the Old Testament and utilizes the New King James Version for the New Testament.