Catholic and Orthodox Easter 2023
Orthodox Easter Monday is also known as Bright Monday or Monday of Renewal in the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Churches of the Byzantine Rite. This year, it falls on April 17. If like us, you’re wondering why the Catholic celebration of Easter occurs on a Sunday while, in the east, the holy day is on Monday, the answer lies in the different adoption of the calendar by the orthodox and the unorthodox Christians. On the Julian calendar, the date is celebrated on Monday, and on the Gregorian calendar, Easter is celebrated on Sunday. Show
History of Orthodox Easter MondayEaster is a central holiday for the Christian faith because it represents the resurrection of Jesus Christ. According to Christian belief, Jesus came back to life three days after dying on the cross. Easter dates vary from year to year since its calculation is based on the phases of the moon. The Easter full moon is the first full moon that occurs after March 21, a date that approaches the March equinox. Every year, Easter is celebrated by Catholic Christians on the first Sunday after the Easter full moon, but this is not so for Orthodox Christians, who celebrate Easter on the first Monday after the Easter full moon. Due to the complexity of the calculation, the Easter date took a long time to be reduced to two days — Sunday for Catholics and Monday for Orthodox Christians. In fact, in the first centuries of Christianity, Easter celebrations took place on several different days, occupying well over a week if we consider the first Christian populations of the Middle East and Europe. In 325, by order of the Roman Emperor Constantine I, Christian bishops gathered to consolidate religious rites and festivals at the first Council of Nicea. The formula for calculating the date of Easter became known as the Ecclesiastical Calculation. For Eastern Christianity, although Easter Monday is the most important day, the celebration still takes up an entire week, which is known as the Bright Week. Orthodox Easter Monday timeline1st Century A.D. Jesus is Resurrected Three days after dying on the cross, Jesus comes back to life. 325 A.D. The First Council of Nicea The Roman Emperor Constantine I convokes the Council of Nicaea, which establishes the formula for calculating the day of Christ's resurrection, consolidating the Easter festivities. 1054 The Great Schism Internal quarrels split the church into two sides: the Catholic in the west and the Orthodox in the east, leading to the celebration of similar events on different dates. 1582 Different Calendars In February, Pope Gregory XIII issues a papal bull instituting the Gregorian calendar in much of Catholic Europe. Do Greek Orthodox churches celebrate Easter Monday?Yes, many Orthodox churches around the world observe Easter Monday. Is Easter Monday considered a holiday?Easter Monday is a public holiday in some countries, but not in the U.S. What happened the day after the resurrection?It is believed that after His resurrection, Jesus Christ appeared to His disciples on different occasions over the next forty days, giving them convincing proof of His coming back to life. During these visits, He ate with them and told them about the kingdom of God and the Great Commission. Orthodox Easter Monday Activities
5 Facts About Easter That Will Blow Your Mind
Why We Love Orthodox Easter Monday
Orthodox Easter Monday dates
What year will Catholic and Orthodox Easter be together?For example, both the Orthodox and Catholic Easter fell on the same day in 2010, 2011, and in 2014. It will also fall on the same day this year in 2017. However, with the way the two calendars work, they will not fall on the same day again until 2034. Which day do you celebrate Easter?
What are Orthodox Easter dates for 2023?Orthodox Easter Day, which takes place on the Sunday after the first full moon after Passover, is a sacred season and the most significant celebration of the Eastern Christian churches or orthodox churches — it will be celebrated on April 16 this year.
Which Easter is correct Catholic or Orthodox?Easter as it's commonly celebrated in the United States falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon of the spring equinox (always between March 22 and April 25), while Orthodox Easter is celebrated on the Sunday after the first full moon after Passover (between April 4th and May 8th.)
Why is Orthodox Easter date different?For millions of people around the world, Easter falls on Sunday 24 April 2022. Orthodox Christians in Europe, Africa and the Middle East celebrate Easter later than most in the western world. It's because they use a different calendar to work out what day Easter should fall on.
|