how did the early church celebrate easter

Full Answer

How do traditional Christians celebrate Easter?

For traditional Christians, the larger culture continues to remind them of Easter through events such as Mardi Gras, Lent, and Palm Sunday. Weeks, if not months before Easter, traditional Christians are reminded of its advent.

What is the true origin of Easter?

In Rome the first Sunday after Nisan 14 (Passover) became the Christian feast of Easter. Others opted for a stronger paschal connection and insisted on the Jewish Passover as the exact date (these people were called “Quartodecimans”).

When is Easter celebrated in the Catholic Church?

1170 At the Council of Nicea in 325, all the Churches agreed that Easter, the Christian Passover, should be celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon (14 Nisan) after the vernal equinox (Catechism of the Catholic Church. Imprimatur Potest +Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger.

Why does Easter start on Easter morning?

John recorded that following the Feast of the Tabernacles, Jesus said that the Father loved the Son because He offered His own life and that He had power to take it up again (see John 10:17–18). All these predictions preceded the final week of Jesus’s life and directed His believers toward the quintessential Easter morning.

When did the early church celebrate Easter?

2nd centuryThe earliest recorded observance of Easter comes from the 2nd century, though it is likely that even the earliest Christians commemorated the Resurrection, which is an integral tenet of the faith.

How was Easter celebrated in ancient times?

Rabbits and eggs as ancient symbols of new life During the Middle Ages, people began decorating eggs and eating them as a treat following mass on Easter Sunday after fasting through Lent.

What did the early church call Easter?

PaschaThe festival that early Christians celebrated was called in Greek Πάσχα (Pascha), a transliteration of the Aramaic word פסחא, cognate to Hebrew פֶּסַח (Pesach). The word originally designated the Passover feast of Exodus 12.

How does the church celebrate Easter?

Many Christians worldwide celebrate Easter with special church services, music, candlelight, flowers and the ringing of church bells. Easter processions are held in some countries such as the Philippines and Spain. Many Christians view Easter as the greatest feast of the Church year.

What did pagans do on Easter?

When life began to blossom in nature, pagans decorated eggs to celebrate this time of rebirth and then gift the eggs to family and friends. The easter egg hunt also comes from pagan traditions, as the pagans used eggs in their celebration of Eástre, having to hunt for the eggs and use what they could find.

Is Easter mentioned in the Bible?

The word Easter is not even scriptural; it does not exist in true translations of the bible.

What did early Christians eat on Easter?

Christ's miracles included turning water into wine, and feeding 5,000 with five loaves of bread and two fish. His parables included fig trees, mustard seeds, vineyards and feasting on fatted calf to celebrate a prodigal son's return.

How did Passover become Easter?

When Emperor Constantine stopped the persecution of Christians in the fourth century, he declared that pascha would be officially celebrated on the Sunday after Passover. “Several centuries later, the holiday was no longer called pascha but Easter and the date was modified to align with the solar calendar.”

What is difference between Passover and Easter?

“Passover has everything to do with the hardships that the Jews faced in Egypt when they were enslaved,” Klaiman said. “Easter is more the death and resurrection of Jesus. While they are celebrated almost at the same time every year, they are – at the root of the story – pretty different.”

How are churches decorated at Easter?

Church bells are rung and churches are decorated with flowers such as white lilies which are associated with Easter. The colours in the church change to white or gold which are thought to be the best colours. There are many customs associated with Easter Day which involve eggs.

How does the Catholic Church celebrate Easter?

“[In the Catholic church], Easter is celebrated with a mass, and in the weeks prior to there are readings and sermons about the death and resurrection of the Lord. Some churches will have an Easter egg hunt, but mainly a mass to celebrate that Jesus' resurrection.

Who started Easter?

The naming of the celebration as “Easter” seems to go back to the name of a pre-Christian goddess in England, Eostre, who was celebrated at beginning of spring. The only reference to this goddess comes from the writings of the Venerable Bede, a British monk who lived in the late seventh and early eighth century.

What Does Easter Mean?

Historically, the word Easter is not Hebrew. The word is Greek. The word is linked to the Hebrew word ‘Pascha’, which means ‘Passover’. This linking took place long after the resurrection of Christ. Trying to pin down the exact origin of Easter should tell you something about it.

The Replacement of Passover

From the time of the Exodus of Israel from Egypt, the Passover was observed by the Jewish people on the 14th of Nisan. Right up through the New Testament, Passover was observed along with the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Even Christ Himself kept it with His disciples. More on this in a moment.

Were Christians Ever Told to Observe Easter?

The only answer anyone can give in truth is no! We were told by Jesus Himself to observe Passover, not Easter!

When Did Jesus mention Rabbits, Chicks, and Eggs?

Do you recall reading about rabbits, chicks, or eggs in scripture? I remember reading about rabbits! In the bible, rabbits are called conies!

Conclusion

So as the world prepares to celebrate Easter, consider what it is they do. We can’t stop the world from doing what they do. Nor am I writing this to tell anyone to stop doing what they choose. But if you are a Christian, please consider what you are a partaker of.

What was the Easter tradition in the Roman Empire?

In the years between Victor and Constantine more churches began to adopt the Sunday tradition espoused by Rome and by now called Easter. Those who maintained the Passover evening celebration were mainly the original churches founded by the Apostles. Where the tolerance for diversity of commemoration once preserved the unity among the churches, now this diversity was seen as a threat to unity under the leadership of Rome. This schism and contention between the churches reflected the division within the Empire itself. In the days of Constantine, the Roman Empire was ruled by four people, two Emperors and two Caesars, one pair in the east and one in the west. Over time Constantine was able to unify the Empire under his sole control and sought to bring that same unity to the Christian church, which he had elevated to privileged status 9. In AD 325 he called for a council of church bishops at Nicaea 10, located in northeast Turkey, where east meets west, to solve the major issues separating the churches. The major resolutions of the conference concerned the deity of Christ and the essence of the Godhead, along with a formula to settle the Easter/Passover dispute.

What day of the week do churches celebrate the resurrection of Jesus?

The resurrection of Jesus occurred on the third day of Passover, the first day of the week – Sunday . Desiring to show deference to the actual day of the resurrection and consistent with their weekly worship, these churches chose to celebrate on the Sunday following the beginning of the Passover. This tradition found a champion in the Bishop of Rome.

What is the Last Supper?

The Scriptures are clear that the Last Supper was in fact the last earthly Passover that Jesus celebrated . At its core the celebration is conducted in an orderly manner, called a Seder, using ritual food items as symbols that tell of the deliverance of Israel from Egypt. In the 2 nd Temple days, Passover, which is celebrated on the 14 th of Nisan, had become an eight day celebration that included the Feast of Unleavened Bread (beginning the 15 th) and the Feast of Firstfruits (16 th) 1. In that day (as today) the Seder was filled with messianic references and it was hoped that the Messiah would appear at that time. These references amplify the prophetic portion of each of these feasts concerning what is called in Judaism the greater redemption – the spiritual redemption. Looking beyond the physical historic deliverance of Israel, the feasts were a reminder that reinforced hope in the glorious expectation of the restoration of the people of Israel to their God. The Passover began to represent spiritual righteousness and the coming of the kingdom; Unleavened Bread, an emblem of sanctification or being set apart by and for the Lord, represented the new beginning; while Firstfruits, as the guarantee of a harvest to follow, prefigures the resurrection of the righteous. All of which find reality in Messiah Jesus who offered His body as the final sacrifice for sin. His resurrection proved the acceptance of that sacrifice and through it the New Covenant could be established. He is the one who has gone before us to open the way for the greater redemption to begin; and for those who believe in His substitutionary sacrifice, His death, burial and resurrection 2, He has become our Passover, our Sanctification and He is the Firstfruits 3.

What are the traditions of Easter?

A month or so later, these celebrations crescendo with Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and finally Easter Sunday. During these events, Catholics and Protestants celebrate Mardi Gras, fast from certain foods, wave palm branches, attend special weekday services, and hold sunrise services—all in anticipation of Easter. Members of the Church celebrate in a much more subdued manner. Why? Is it because such celebrations are not biblically based? No, traditions such as Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Sunrise Sunday all have strong scriptural precedents. The reason appears to be grounded in the Latter-day Saint culture of “otherness.”

What is the significance of Easter?

Additionally, the Orthodox, Roman, and Protestant branches of Christianity heavily influenced the emerging traditions of Easter. From the onset, Easter became the center of the Christian calendar year. As a result, there were traditions to mark Easter both before and after this special event. Forty days before this holiday, a period of fasting and penitence was instituted as early as the fourth century. Known as Lent, this period was intended to purify the believer before the actual celebration of Easter and to serve as a reminder of the Savior’s forty-day fast in the wilderness. Following Easter, a fifty-day period of celebration known as Eastertide commenced and concluded with Pentecost. [8]

What are the symbols of Easter?

Some of the more prevalent religious symbols are the empty cross, the lamb, and the Easter egg. The empty cross often projects the Protestant view that Jesus rose from His death; it symbolizes His ultimate victory. The lamb ties most Christians to both the Passover symbolism of the Paschal Lamb and the New Testament appellation of Jesus as the “Lamb of God” (John 1:29). Some Christians eat lamb as a part of the Easter feast, while others hang up pictures of lambs or bake lambshaped cakes.

What was the prelude to Easter?

The prelude to the Easter celebration might best be traced from the onset of the Savior’s mortal ministry, even though His death and Resurrection were certainly fore ordained (Revelation 13:8, “The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world”). As soon as His earthly ministry commenced, Jesus began to point toward His death and Resurrection. John highlighted Jesus’s first prediction of His sacrifice and Resurrection. Jesus had cleansed the temple of the money changers, after which a contingent of defiant Jews had challenged His authority and power by asking Him for a sign. His metaphoric response—”Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19)—must have left them wondering. The Jews misinterpreted His comment as if it referred to Herod’s monumental temple. John, however, parenthetically inserted that Jesus’s disciples remembered this prediction later after He had risen from the dead and had shown them His body. So from John we receive a very early reference to the anticipated Easter event.

Why do people wear white clothes on Easter Sunday?

In the early church, congregants baptized on Easter Sunday were dressed in new white clothes to symbolize their purity and rebirth. Quite likely this practice merged with the commercialism of modern times to surface in the purchase of new clothes for Easter and the desire to display them. In some European countries, “these promenades are led by a person holding a cross or an Easter candle.” [13] So while many Easter traditions and customs seem far removed from Easter, most of them are a blend of religious traditions with modern culture. It is amazing how diverse Easter traditions have become. But considering their two thousand years of historical development, perhaps these traditions demonstrate the deep need for devout Christians everywhere to remember the miracle of the Resurrection.

Why did the disciples break bread?

Luke also adds that the disciples were there to “break bread.”. The reason for the abrupt shift seems to be the miraculous Resurrection; each Sabbath day for those earliest Christians was either a commemoration of or a reflection on the Easter miracle.

How many days in advance of Christmas is the largest preparation?

Once again, the order of preparation time spent followed the same order the holidays were ranked. The largest preparation value was for Christmas at thirty days in advance of the holiday, followed by Thanksgiving at seven days, Easter at four days, and finally the Fourth at two days.

Why did the church change to Easter Sunday?

Samuele Bacchiocchi noted that the change to Easter-Sunday and to a weekly Sunday was due to persecution (the new Gentile hierarchyhe is referring to are Greek and/or Latin bishops in Jerusalem, which took over after the rebellion was crushed):

Where did Easter come from?

Tomorrow's World, March 1971) Easter came from pagan sun-worship, not from Jesus Christ or the apostles. It is one of those Babylonian customs brought to Samaria after Israel's overthrow (721-718 B.C.) by the colonists from Babylonia. Later it was transplanted to Rome by Simon Magus.

Why did Passover change to Sunday?

This is believed to have happened because there was a rebellion by Jews and that any distancing between Jews and claimed Christians seemed physically advantageous (at least to some in Rome and certain ones in Jerusalem).

Why was Easter not observed?

Easter was simply not observed by early Christians, nor those who felt that they needed to obey the God of the Bible rather than men. Easter was a result of compromise with scripture and paganism, combined with fear of man and antisemitism. First, Passover was switched to Sunday out of fear and compromise.

What happened to Jerusalem during the Bar Kokhba revolt?

In the area of Jerusalem, the Bar Kokhba revolt resulted in Jerusalem being renamed Ælia Capitolina. It was an area that compromised and switched to Sunday around 135 A.D.

What does the Easter egg symbolize?

...The symbolic meaning of a new creation of mankind by Jesus risen from the dead was probably an invention of later times. The custom may have its origin in paganism, for a great many pagan customs, celebrating the return of spring, gravitated to Easter. The egg is the emblem of the germinating life of early spring...

Is Passover observed at night?

The Eastern Orthodox realize that Passover was originally observed at night as one of their priests has written:

How long did the fasting last for Easter?

Christians prepared for Easter, the festival of the Resurrection, by fasting. At first, the fasting lasted one day; later it was extended to 40 hours, to symbolize the 40 days Jesus spent fasting and praying in the wilderness. Sunday, the “little Easter,” was also a festival of joy.

What was the first part of the Christian worship assembly?

T he first part of an early Christian worship assembly was open to all, including strangers, who might be converted by the preaching. The second part of the service involved the Lord’s Supper, which only the baptized were allowed to partake, so the unbaptized departed then. By the early 200s, baptism often included renouncing Satan ...

Why did Romans believe in funerals?

Many Romans believed Christians were a funeral society because Christian families observed the anniversary of a relative’s death on the third, ninth, and thirtieth (or fortieth) day after the death. They gathered at the tomb, sang psalms, read Scripture, prayed, gave alms to the poor, and ate a meal. Later, this practice developed into feasts to honor martyrs. Perhaps the first such feast was for Polycarp (a bishop burned to death for his faith); it began shortly after his death in about 156.

Why is Easter Sunday considered an official day?

It was now made “official”: Easter Sunday, the day after the first full moon, after the spring equinox, became the day to celebrate Jesus Christ’s resurrection. This was a serious and critical shift of theology. Critical, because it not only changed the day of the observance, but changed the focus, the meaning of the observance. It now became an observance and celebration of His resurrection, contrary to the Biblical admonition of remembering His death!

Who kept Easter with the Jews?

Those who kept Easter [Passover] with the Jews were called Quartodecimans” (Catholic Encyclopedia, emphasis added). Clearly, the historical record from the Catholic Church proves that they themselves (not Jesus Christ) chose to exercise authority to change and sever the connection of Passover.

What day of the moon is Passover?

Notice what history tells us from the Catholic Church itself, concerning this second century controversy: “The dioceses of all Asia, as from the older tradition [Passover], held that the fourteenth day of the moon, on which day the Jews were commanded to sacrifice the lamb, should always be observed as the feast of the life-giving Pasch Passover]... However, it was not the custom of the churches in the rest of the world [primarily the West, represented by Rome] to end it at this point [allegedly a non-biblical based fast ending on Easter Sunday], as they observed the practice, which from apostolic tradition has prevailed to the present time... Synods and assemblies of bishops [not Jesus Christ’s example or the Gospel records!] were held on this account and all with one consent through mutual correspondence drew up an ecclesiastical decree [superseding Christ’s personal example as recorded in the Gospels] that the mystery of the resurrection of the Lord should be celebrated on no other day but, the Sunday [Easter] and that we should observe the close of the paschal fast on that day only. A letter of Saint Irenaeus is among the extracts just referred to, and this shows that the diversity of practice regarding Easter had existed at least from the time of Pope Sixtus. Further, Irenaeus states that St. Polycarp [bishop of Smyrna], who like the other Asiatics, kept Easter on the fourteenth day of the moon [which is really the Passover], whatever day of the week that might be, following therein the tradition which he [Polycarp] claimed to have derived from St. John the Apostle, but could not be persuaded by Pope Anicetus to relinquish his Quartodecimen observance. The question thus debated was therefore primarily whether Easter was to be kept on a Sunday, or whether Christians should observe the holyday of the Jews... Those who kept Easter [Passover] with the Jews were called Quartodecimans” (Catholic Encyclopedia, emphasis added).

What happened after the Council of Nicaea?

After the Council of Nicaea, the Roman government became more entangled with the ecclesiastical matters of the Church, derailing it further from the original intent by multiple means. “Emperor Theodosius (A.D. 78-398) made Christianity the State Religion of the Roman Empire, and made church membership compulsory.

Did Jesus keep an Easter in his life?

It is important we remember: Jesus Christ never kept an Easter in His life!

Who enjoined us to keep Easter?

Easter... The Savior and His apostles have enjoined us by no law to keep this feast [Easter]... And that the observance originated not by legislation [of the apostles], but as a custom the facts themselves indicate” (fourth century scholar, Socrates Scholasticus, Ecclesiastical History, Book V, chapter 22).

Is the Catholic Church theologically correct?

Unfortunately, the hard reality is, much of traditional Christianity, Protestant and/or Catholic, is not theologically correct.