Christian Easter is a great, special holiday. On this day, believers who identify themselves with the Christian religion recall with reverence and love the feat of the Son of God, who was not afraid of cruel torture and death itself, in order to give people hope for the salvation of the soul. That is why this is a bright, joyful holiday, because the Son of God has risen, having marked with his miraculous salvation the triumph of life over death.
Instructions
Step 1
This holiday does not have a fixed, clearly defined date. There is only one definitive condition: Easter must be celebrated on Sunday. At first glance, this may seem strange, even paradoxical. But the paradox is only apparent: the fact is that the date of Easter depends not only on the solar, but also on the lunar calendar.
Step 2
Initially, Easter - more precisely, "Passover" - was a holiday of the ancient Jews. On this day, they celebrated the beginning of the miraculous exodus of their ancestors from Egyptian captivity (remember the biblical legends, how Moses led the Jews through the Sinai desert for 40 years). But they also did not know the exact date of the beginning of the exodus, since the ancient Jews had a lunar calendar. And therefore, the 14th day of the first month of spring (when, according to their legends, this exodus began) fell on different days. Only one circumstance was rigidly recorded: it was the first day of the spring full moon.
Step 3
That is why, when the Christian religion ceased to be persecuted and became dominant, it was necessary to determine the date of the great holiday of Easter. There have been many theological discussions, disputes on this occasion, sometimes very tough. In the end, the priests at the ecumenical council, which took place in the city of Nicaea in the year 325, decreed: the Easter feast should be celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon, which came after the vernal equinox. That is why the date of Easter has such a wide spread - from April 7 to May 8. Whole month!
Step 4
The date of Easter can be calculated according to Easter - special tables compiled by the clergy. Orthodox Easter this year 2012 will be celebrated on Sunday, April 15th.
Step 5
How else can you determine the date of Easter? Using the lunar calendar, that is, tables that indicate the phases of the moon and the dates on which they fall. You just need to determine which day corresponds to the beginning of the first full moon after the vernal equinox. Then you, looking at the calendar, will see what is the date of the next Sunday following. Thus, you will find out on what day is Easter.
