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Has any serious thought been given to a return to our traditional Orthodox Paschalia? Should be part of our vision.

John ,

This not very bright person is wondering what you mean there ?

Are we getting back to the old question of Calendar ?

JOhn,

you mean returning to the Orthodox reconing of Easter instead of just following the Roman Calender during Lent and pascha?

Yes, Brian.

When did the BCC adopt the Roman Paschalia? Did it creep into our church with the Saturday Masses, confessionals and removed icon screens?

Is there a decree that made the change?

John,

It is interesting that the calculation differences between East and West existed all the way back to the time of St. Polycarp in the 2nd century. The story goes that Polycarp made his way to Rome to meet with Pope St. Anicetus to discuss the date of Pascha. Neither could persude the other to his position, so they both agreed to respect their differences, and then the pope concelebrated the liturgy in his papal chapel with Polycarp as a testament to their unity in diversity.

I'd favor a restoration myself. It would be one more act of alignment with our Orthodox mother and sister churches in anticipation of full union.

Plus, we'd benefit from all those post-Easter candy sales! :p

Gordo

Gordo,

Ya gotta love those stories. But you are correct, the dating differences for Easter do go all the way back to the second century. Yet many Orthodox are "new" calendarists. Which Orthodox communions will we be rejecting by returning to the old calendar? For that matter to which "mother" Church do the Rusyns return? I mean the Melkites and Ukes have a mother Church. What is ours? Do we go all the way back to Constantinople?

Even with all of these questions and obstacles I'm with you. The candy sales are enough of an enticement to endure any hardship and brave any...well you get the picture.

CDL

All Orthodox Churches, except for Finland, use the traditional Paschalion. When someone says a church is on the "New Calendar" in Orthodoxy, they mean they calculate their fixed feasts with the Gregorian (cough..), I mean Revised Julian Calendar. All movable feasts are still based on the dating of Pascha.

I don't know if the ACROD is an example for the second question, but they went back to Constantinople.

Andrew

Dear Friends,

This is an excellent point!

The fact is that the Orthodox Paschalion has the approbation of an Ecumenical Council and its calculation is independent of the True, er, I mean Ju-lian/Gregorian Calendar issue.

I think all EC Churches, regardless of what calendar they are on, should be united in following the Orthodox Paschalion.

Alex

Has someone forbidden the BCC from following the Orthodox Paschalion?

Just seems strange that we haven't restored this yet.

Dear JohnS,

Not at all, but the parishes in my UGCC neck of the voodz, whenever they adopt the Gregorian calendar, ALL follow the Western paschalion.

I think they must be under a misapprehension that the two go hand-in-hand.

OR, as one may surmise, those who adopted the Western calendar for "reasons of convenience" concerning the Christmas date etc., feel that this "convenience" should be extended to the Easter date as well.

That is how a number of those EC's who do this have described it to me.

It is as if the "C" in "EC" stands for "Convenience!"

However, as the Administrator has consistently put it, our EC heritage should follow the Orthodox model by way of an ideal. If so, then the Orthodox Paschalion is surely something all EC's should be following, don't you think?

All my Orthodox neighbours and I exchange greetings in several languages on Orthodox Pascha, I've been invited to attend the "anathema" services for the first Sunday of the Great Fast by them and at least one who follows the "Reformed Julian" calendar has told me he is envious of my family when we celebrate Nativity on January 7th!

But I've always thought the Orthodox Paschalion is something all EC's should be following, don't you?

Alex

Can we get permission to restore our proper Paschalia?

Didn't HRM just recently restore that? It depends on the hierarch, of course.

Gordo

Just for the record, the large majority of Greek-Catholics in the world retain the traditional Paschalia. Those whose parishes do not are welcome to come celebrate with those of us who celebrate on the authentic dates.

Fr Serge

One can't help but just LOVE Fr. Serge!

Alex