Precupetii Vechi Parish

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PASCHAL CALENDAR

2004 -2013                             2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013                         Zacchaeus Sunday Jan 25 Feb 13 Feb 5 Jan 21 Feb 10 Feb 1 Jan 17 Feb 6 Jan 29 Feb 17                         PUBLICAN and PHARISEE Beginning of the Lenten Triodion Feb 1 Feb 20 Feb 12 Jan 28 Feb 17 Feb 8 Jan 24 Feb 13 Feb 5 Feb 24                         MEATFARE Sunday Feb 15 Mar 6 Feb 26 Feb 11 Mar 2 Feb 22 Feb 7 Feb 27 Feb 19 Mar 10     2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 CHEESEFARE (Forgiveness Sunday) Feb 22 Mar 13 Mar 5 Feb 18 Mar 9 Mar 1 Feb 14 Mar 6 Feb 26 Mar 17                         Beginning of Great Lent Feb 23 Mar 14 Mar 6 Feb 19 Mar 10 Mar 2 Mar 15 Mar 7 Feb 27 Mar 18                         PALM SUNDAY Apr 4 Apr 24 Apr 16 Apr 1 Apr 20 Apr 12 Mar 28 Apr 17 Apr 8 Apr 28     2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 PASCHA (Easter) Beginning of the Pentecostarion Apr 11 May 1 Apr 23 Apr 8 Apr 27 Apr 19 Apr 4 Apr 24 Apr 15 May 5                         ASCENSION May 20 Jun 9 Jun 1 May 17 Jun 5 May 28 May 13 Jun 2 May 24 Jun 13                         PENTECOST May 30 Jun 19 Jun 11 May 27 Jun 15 Jun 7 May 23 Jun 12 Jun 3 Jun 23                         St. PETER and PAUL fast begins Jun 7 Jun 27 Jun 19 Jun 4 Jun 23 Jun 15 May 31 Jun 20 Jun 11 Jun 25                           Length of Fast: 22 days 2 days 10 days 25 days 6 days 14 days 29 days 9 days 18 days 4 days     2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013   Western Easter Apr 11 Mar 27 Apr 16 Apr 8 Mar 23 Apr 12 Apr 4 Apr 24 Apr 8 Mar 31                         up

PASCHALIA

About determinating  the date of Easter

The determination of the date of Easter is governed by a computation based on the vernal equinox and the phase of the moon. According to the ruling of the First Ecumenical Synod in 325, Easter Sunday should fall on the Sunday which follows the first full moon after the vernal equinox. If the full moon happens to fall on a Sunday, Easter is observed the following Sunday. The day taken to be the invariable date of the vernal equinox is March 21.

The difference in the determination of Easter between the Orthodox and other Christian Churches concerns the date of Passover. Jews originally celebrated Passover on the first full moon following the vernal equinox. Christians, therefore, celebrated Easter on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox. After the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. and the other tragic events, which gave rise to the dispersal of the Jews, Passover sometimes preceded the vernal equinox. This was occasioned by the dependence of the dispersed Jews upon local pagan calendars for the calculation of Passover. As a consequence, most Christians eventually ceased to regulate the observance of Easter by the Jewish Passover. Their purpose, of course, was to preserve the original practice of celebrating Easter following the vernal equinox.

As an alternative to calculating Easter by the Passover, "paschal (Easter) cycles" were devised. The Orthodox Church eventually adopted a 19-year cycle, the Western Church an 84-year cycle. The use of two different "paschal cycles" inevitably gave way to differences between the Eastern and Western Churches regarding the observance of Easter. Varying dates for the vernal equinox increased these differences. Consequently, it is the combination of these variables, which accounts for the different date of Orthodox Easter, whenever it varies from the rest of Christendom.