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| | [[File:Carracci The Holy Women at the Tomb of Christ.jpg|thumb|[[Annibale Carracci]], The Holy Women at the Tomb of Christ, circa 1597-98, as described in the [[Mark ending]]]] | | [[File:Carracci The Holy Women at the Tomb of Christ.jpg|thumb|[[Annibale Carracci]], The Holy Women at the Tomb of Christ, circa 1597-98, as described in the [[Mark ending]]]] |
| − | '''Resurrection Sunday''' (popularly called '''Easter''') is the [[Christian]] holiday celebrating the [[resurrection of Jesus Christ]]. In the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] the celebration is known as Pascha. | + | '''Resurrection Sunday''' (popularly called '''Easter''') is the [[Christian]] holiday celebrating the [[resurrection of Jesus Christ]]. In the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]], this celebration is known as Pascha. |
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| | The term used in [[Mexico]] is "Domingo de Resurrección," which translates as Resurrection Sunday. In the [[United States]], many [[Christian]] churches continue to prefer the word ''Easter'' due to familiarity; however, ''Resurrection Sunday'' has gained favor in some [[Protestant]] churches in recent years, to counter the possibly pagan origins of the name "Easter."<ref>http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-t020.html</ref> | | The term used in [[Mexico]] is "Domingo de Resurrección," which translates as Resurrection Sunday. In the [[United States]], many [[Christian]] churches continue to prefer the word ''Easter'' due to familiarity; however, ''Resurrection Sunday'' has gained favor in some [[Protestant]] churches in recent years, to counter the possibly pagan origins of the name "Easter."<ref>http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-t020.html</ref> |
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| | *by James (1 Corinthians 15:7); and | | *by James (1 Corinthians 15:7); and |
| | *by [[John]] (Revelation 1:12-18). | | *by [[John]] (Revelation 1:12-18). |
| − | Many others, including [[Mark]], had [[faith]] strong enough to believe without personally witnessing Jesus after his [[Resurrection]]. Mark confirms this as explained by an [[angel]] at [[The Tomb]], {{bibleref|Mark|16|2-8}}. | + | Many others, including [[Mark]], had [[faith]] strong enough to believe without personally witnessing Jesus after his [[Resurrection]]. Mark confirms the Resurrection as explained by an [[angel]] at [[The Tomb]], {{bibleref|Mark|16|2-8}}. |
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| | It is by far the most important date in Christianity (even among churches which don't follow a liturgical calendar), due to the Resurrection being the event on which Christianity either stands or falls. Also, it is usually the date on which church attendance is the highest, resulting in churches often having additional services to handle the crowds (which also gives rise to the term "Easter and Christmas Christians" to define people who only attend on those days). Because Jesus rose from the dead at sunrise on Sunday morning, "sunrise services" are observed in some churches as well as in community gatherings. | | It is by far the most important date in Christianity (even among churches which don't follow a liturgical calendar), due to the Resurrection being the event on which Christianity either stands or falls. Also, it is usually the date on which church attendance is the highest, resulting in churches often having additional services to handle the crowds (which also gives rise to the term "Easter and Christmas Christians" to define people who only attend on those days). Because Jesus rose from the dead at sunrise on Sunday morning, "sunrise services" are observed in some churches as well as in community gatherings. |
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| | == Date of Resurrection Sunday == | | == Date of Resurrection Sunday == |
| | Unlike [[Christmas]], which falls on a specific calendar date (December 25 in the Roman Catholic and Protestant traditions; January 8 in the Orthodox ones), Easter/ | | Unlike [[Christmas]], which falls on a specific calendar date (December 25 in the Roman Catholic and Protestant traditions; January 8 in the Orthodox ones), Easter/ |
| − | Resurrection Sunday is considered a "moveable feast" in Christian liturgy, as its date depends on astronomical events. | + | Resurrection Sunday is considered a "movable feast" in [[Christian]] liturgy, as its date depends on astronomical events. |
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| | The First [[Council of Nicaea]] in 325 AD set only two rules for its calculation: 1) that the date would be independent of the Hebrew calendar used by the Jews and 2) that it be held on a uniform date throughout all Christian churches. | | The First [[Council of Nicaea]] in 325 AD set only two rules for its calculation: 1) that the date would be independent of the Hebrew calendar used by the Jews and 2) that it be held on a uniform date throughout all Christian churches. |
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| | *The Metonic Cycle, a period of approximately 19 years when the phases of the Moon recur at the same time, would then be used to determine when the Paschal full moon event took place, and from that date the date for Easter/Resurrection Sunday would be derived. | | *The Metonic Cycle, a period of approximately 19 years when the phases of the Moon recur at the same time, would then be used to determine when the Paschal full moon event took place, and from that date the date for Easter/Resurrection Sunday would be derived. |
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| − | However, Eastern Orthodox churches use the Julian calendar to determine the date of the Paschal full moon, while Western churches use the Gregorian calendar. This results (most years) in differing dates for the two Christian branches.<ref>This is because the Julian calendar adds a leap day every four years without interruption, while the Gregorian calendar modifies that to maintain consistency within the seasons, to skip the leap day in years evenly divisible by 100 (e.g. 1900), except that if the year is evenly divisible by 400 (e.g. 2000) the leap day is retained.</ref> Due to the complexity of the calculations, many websites exist which perform the calculation for both Orthodox and Western churches; one is provided in the External Links below which can also be used to determine the date of Passover. | + | However, Eastern Orthodox churches use the Julian calendar to determine the date of the Paschal full moon, while Western churches use the Gregorian calendar. This results (most years) in differing dates for the two Christian branches.<ref>This is because the Julian calendar adds a leap day every four years without interruption, while the Gregorian calendar modifies that to maintain consistency within the seasons, to skip the leap day in years evenly divisible by 100 (e.g. 1900), except that if the year is evenly divisible by 400 (e.g. 2000) the leap day is retained.</ref> Due to the complexity of the calculations, many websites exist that perform the calculation for both Orthodox and Western churches; one is provided in the External Links below, which can also be used to determine the date of [[Passover]]. |
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| | '''{{before on after|2022|04|17|The next Easter/Resurrection Sunday will be on April 17, 2022.|Easter/Resurrection Sunday is today, April 17, 2022.|{{before on after|2023|04|09|The next Easter/Resurrection Sunday will be on April 9, 2023.|Easter/Resurrection Sunday is today, April 9, 2023.|{{before on after|2024|03|31|The next Easter/Resurrection Sunday will be on March 31, 2024.|Easter/Resurrection Sunday is today, March 31, 2024.| }}}}}}''' | | '''{{before on after|2022|04|17|The next Easter/Resurrection Sunday will be on April 17, 2022.|Easter/Resurrection Sunday is today, April 17, 2022.|{{before on after|2023|04|09|The next Easter/Resurrection Sunday will be on April 9, 2023.|Easter/Resurrection Sunday is today, April 9, 2023.|{{before on after|2024|03|31|The next Easter/Resurrection Sunday will be on March 31, 2024.|Easter/Resurrection Sunday is today, March 31, 2024.| }}}}}}''' |