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| On the Keeping of Easter.
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On the Keeping of
Easter.
From the Letter of the Emperor to all those not present
at the Council.
(Found in Eusebius, Vita Const., Lib.
iii., 18–20.)
When the question relative to the sacred festival of
Easter arose, it was universally thought that it would be convenient
that all should keep the feast on one day; for what could be more
beautiful and more desirable, than to see this festival, through which
we receive the hope of immortality, celebrated by all with one accord,
and in the same manner? It was declared to be particularly
unworthy for this, the holiest of all festivals, to follow the custom
[the calculation] of the Jews, who had soiled their hands with the most
fearful of crimes, and whose minds were blinded. In rejecting
their custom,113
| 113 We must read
ἕθους,
not ἔθνους, as the Mayence
impression of the edition of Valerius has it. | we may transmit to
our descendants the legitimate mode of celebrating Easter, which we
have observed from the time of the Saviour’s Passion to the
present day [according to the day of the week]. We ought not,
therefore, to have anything in common with the Jews, for the Saviour
has shown us another way; our worship follows a more legitimate and
more convenient course (the order of the days of the week); and
consequently, in unanimously adopting this mode, we desire, dearest
brethren, to separate ourselves from the detestable company of the
Jews, for it is truly shameful for us to hear them boast that without
their direction we could not keep this feast. How can they be in
the right, they who, after the death of the Saviour, have no longer
been led by reason but by wild violence, as their delusion may urge
them? They do not possess the truth in this Easter question; for,
in their blindness and repugnance to all improvements, they frequently
celebrate two passovers in the same year. We could not imitate
those who are openly in error. How, then, could we follow these
Jews, who are most certainly blinded by error? for to celebrate the
passover twice in one year is totally inadmissible. But even if
this were not so, it would still be your duty not to tarnish your soul
by communications with such wicked people [the Jews]. Besides,
consider well, that in such an important matter, and on a subject of
such great solemnity, there ought not to be any division. Our
Saviour has left us only one festal day of our redemption, that is to
say, of his holy passion, and he desired [to establish] only one
Catholic Church. Think, then, how unseemly it is, that on the
same day some should be fasting whilst others are seated at a banquet;
and that after Easter, some should be rejoicing at feasts, whilst
others are still observing a strict fast. For this reason, a
Divine Providence wills that this custom should be rectified and
regulated in a uniform way; and everyone, I hope, will agree upon this
point. As, on the one hand, it is our duty not to have anything
in common with the murderers of our Lord; and as, on the other, the
custom now followed by the Churches of the West, of the South, and of
the North, and by some of those of
the East, is the most acceptable, it has appeared good to all; and I
have been guarantee for your consent, that you would accept it with
joy, as it is followed at Rome, in Africa, in all Italy, Egypt, Spain,
Gaul, Britain, Libya, in all Achaia, and in the dioceses of Asia, of
Pontus, and Cilicia. You should consider not only that the number
of churches in these provinces make a majority, but also that it is
right to demand what our reason approves, and that we should have
nothing in common with the Jews. To sum up in few words: By
the unanimous judgment of all, it has been decided that the most holy
festival of Easter should be everywhere celebrated on one and the same
day, and it is not seemly that in so holy a thing there should be any
division. As this is the state of the case, accept joyfully the
divine favour, and this truly divine command; for all which takes place
in assemblies of the bishops ought to be regarded as proceeding from
the will of God. Make known to your brethren what has been
decreed, keep this most holy day according to the prescribed mode; we
can thus celebrate this holy Easter day at the same time, if it is
granted me, as I desire, to unite myself with you; we can rejoice
together, seeing that the divine power has made use of our
instrumentality for destroying the evil designs of the devil, and thus
causing faith, peace, and unity to flourish amongst us. May God
graciously protect you, my beloved brethren.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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