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| (For 346.) Coss. Augustus Constantius IV, Constans III; Præf. the same Nestorius; Indict. iv; Easter-day iii Kal. Apr., iv Pharmuthi; Moon 21; Æra Dioclet. 62.
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Letter
XVIII.—(For 346.) Coss. Augustus Constantius IV,
Constans III; Præf. the same Nestorius; Indict. iv; Easter-day iii
Kal. Apr., iv Pharmuthi; Moon 21; Æra Dioclet. 62.
Athanasius, to the
Presbyters and Deacons of Alexandria, brethren beloved in the Lord,
greeting.
You have done well, dearly beloved brethren, that
you have given the customary notice of the holy Easter in those
districts; for I have seen and acknowledged your exactness. By other
letters I have also given you notice, that when this year is finished,
ye may know concerning the next. Yet now I have thought it necessary to
write the same things that, when you have it exactly, you also may
write with care. Therefore, after the conclusion of this feast, which
is now drawing to its close, on the twelfth of the month Pharmuthi,
which is on the vii Id. Apr.4436
| 4436 The
number vii is omitted in the ms. | , Easter-day will be
on the iii Kal, April; the fourth of Pharmuthi, according to the
Alexandrians. When therefore the feast is finished, give notice again
in these districts, according to early custom, thus: Easter Sunday is
on the iii Kal. April, which is the fourth of Pharmuthi, according to
the Alexandrian reckoning. And let no man hesitate concerning the day,
neither let any one contend, saying, It is requisite that Easter should
be held on the twenty-seventh of the month Phamenoth; for it was
discussed in the holy Synod4437
, and all there
settled it to be on the iii Kal. April. I say then that it is on the
fourth of the month Pharmuthi; for the week before this is much too
early4438
| 4438 The
14th day of the Moon, reckoning from the time of mean New Moon,
took place on Sunday the 23rd. According to the rule which obtained in
later times and continued in use until the Gregorian reformation of the
Calendar, the 14th day of the Ecclesiastical Moon took place on
Saturday the 22nd, which would make Easter-day happen on the 23rd. It
would seem, therefore, that the decision of the Synod referred to,
brought the Ecclesiastical Moon into closer accordance with that of the
heavens, than the later Calendar would have done. In 357 Easter was
apparently kept on Mar. 23. | . Therefore let there be no dispute, but let
us act as becometh us. For I have thus written to the Romans also. Give
notice then as it has been notified to you, that it is on the iii Kal.
April; the fourth of Pharmuthi, according to the Alexandrian
reckoning.
That ye may have health in the Lord, I pray, my
dearly beloved brethren. E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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