www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Can Christians celebrate the Passover?

Dear Friends,

As I have a Jewish uncle, I thought I would learn about the Passover traditions and have a Passover for him this year.

Any comments?

Alex

Dear Alex,

I don't think there is anything inherently wrong with this from a Christian perspective, but your uncle may find it offensive (he may feel it is another Christian usurption of Jewish tradition).

Dear Friend,

Actually, my uncle is something of an agnostic - I've talked about it with him.

A Rabbi at our local synagogue actually offers a course to non-Jews on how to prepare a Passover, and I will be taking it.

Alex

Alex,

I have participated in several Passover meals, including one I hosted at my house. Go, learn, enjoy!

Fr. Deacon Edward

Yes it is wrong. Christ is our passover and our lamb. Pascha is the fulfillment of what passover is about, just as the church is the fulfillment of the old covenant.

The Barech of the Seder dinner in particular shows why this is inappropriate for Christians. In that dinner a cup is poured and set aside for the prophet Elijah who is to herald the messiah who will come. It is an explicit denial that the messiah has already come. How could one partake in such a celebration?

Andrew

Yes, we can as part of a learning process on what distinguishes us from our elder brothers in the faith!

Amado

Dear Andrew,

Well, Ethiopian Christians have a Passover that they celebrate on Holy Thursday during Passion Week.

As for the "Kos Eliahu," why can't I as an Eastern Catholic (darkened though my mind is as a result of schism from the true Church ) understand this in terms of the Second Coming of Christ?

I understand that the Canons of the Church (I too own the "Rudder" like my Orthodox friends, with the exception that I actually enjoy reading it . . .) forbids certain involvements with Jewish traditions.

But your Orthodox saint-to-be, Alexander Men, included a number of Jewish practices in his experience of Orthodoxy, including the menorah in his home icon corner.

I understand the prohibition of the Church, when it was all united as the Orthodox Church, with respect to these things.

But did not the Jerusalem Christians of the Apostles' day, Jewish converts that they were, practice most of their Jewish religious heritage, including Temple worship?

I'm asking, not telling.

And doesn't our learning more about Judaism aid in a fuller experience of Christianity?

At least so thinks my darkened mind . . .

Shalom Aleichem!

All of a sudden, I want to get up and dance!!

Alex

Alex,

The Asscoiation of Hebrew Catholics offers avery nice Seder Service with Catholic Interpretation throughtout.
http://hebrewcatholic.org/files/ThePaschalMeal.pdf

They laso have a commentary, The Passover Seder in the Light of Christ by Roy Schoeman:

http://www.hebrewcatholic.org/HCLiturgicalYear/SederinChrist/passoversederint.html

Fr. Deacon Lance

As you stated your uncle will not be offended in any way. I say do it -- learn and enjoy!

You're a nice nephew in my opinion. Let us know how it goes! Please!

God Bless,

Dave

Dear Father Deacon Lance,

Thank you!

That association is a nice bunch! I didn't know they include so many aspects of Judaism in their experience of Catholicism.

But what does it hurt?

Such a nice Deacon you are . . .

Alex

Dear Dave,

I'm going to call the Rabbi today and book myself into one of his classes . . .

My uncle is actually a U.S. citizen and a Korean War Veteran.

I decorated his room at the cottage with a U.S. Air Force flag and beside it I put an icon of St Michael the Archangel - patron of the U.S. Air Force I believe.

He has no problem with St Michael (he said he's a "Jewish Angel") and he doesn't have a problem with the icon of St Joseph the Fair that's there as well.

I'll have icons of Moses, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob AND of St Elias for our Passover!

What can it hurt?

You're such a nice boy too!

Alex

Alex,
The church has retained much of its Jewish heritage; the structure of the liturgy, the layout of Christian temples, sacred scripture and so on. The church however has transformed all of these things. It has fulfilled them, just as Pascha is the fulfillment of the Old Testament Passover. I believe personally that to participate in a Passover commemoration is to make a mockery of Pascha and the Resurrection itself, because Passover out of the context of the church is a denial of those things. I do not for that very reason celebrate Passover with my family, nor do I any of the high holy days.

Ultimately it does not matter what an unworthy soul like myself says on the matter. Consider what the Church Fathers would have thought of such a celebration and most importantly seek the release of your spiritual father.

Andrew

Dear Andrew,

I respect your sincere convictions, Sir, and I applaud them.

Would to God there would be more like you!

I will follow your advice and get the blessing of my spiritual Father, to be sure.

And the only one present at the Passover who won't be a Christian will be the uncle.

We enjoy a good relationship, he respects my Christian faith and practice and he even wanted me to take him to see Pope John Paul II at World Youth Day 2002!

He said he respected the participants in that since, as he said, they "have strong faith."

I think he wants to have strong faith too. By that I think he means he just doesn't want to become a "regular church-goer" like other Christians (like my in-laws whom he detests) that he sees around him.

He always speaks admiringly of those with 'strong faith.'

It is obvious he would admire you!

Alex

Andrew,

I could see your point of view if one was participating in the Seder as an act of saying "I don't believe Chrsit is the Messiah." But to participate in it in a Chrisitian context as a way of seeing how the old Passover pointed to Christ our Passover is not only all right I think but a very good thing.

Beyond that the Catholic Church has given approval and encouragement to the Hebrew Catholics to preserve their heritage just as St. James of Jerusalem did.

Fr. Deacon Lance

I think I have sufficiently expressed my feelings then. I would also remark that I don�t think it�s a matter of having strong faith or not, or that mine is particularly strong.

Also, I just noticed this

Fr. Alexander of eternal memory is an intriguing character, who if his life was not cut short by his tragic murder would have been an interesting one to follow in the post Communist period. His opinions certainly are not without controversy in the church however.

The Menorah is in effect present for all Orthodox Christians in that the seven-branched candelabrum behind the altar (I can�t remember the Russian name for it) is a direct carryover from the Temple. The miracle behind the festival of lights, just as an aside, is also recorded in scripture that we as Orthodox Christians regard as canonical.

Andrew