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Resurrection Date

Faith Q&A › Metropolitan Youssef › Our Lord and the Faith › Resurrection Date

The question

I saw this article and found it fascinating. Also, I've noticed that our Easter does not always coincide with Passover, which is a bit confusing to be honest. There's a scientist who thinks he may have figured out the exact date of our Lord's crucifixion and resurrection. Here's the article: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/42643674?GT1=43001.

The answer

The Orthodox Churches use a specific formula so that the Feast of the Holy Resurrection always follows the Passover because the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ took place after He entered Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. Western Churches' Easter celebration sometimes precedes the Passover by weeks. The main difference between the Eastern and Western Churches' celebration dates of the Holy Resurrection is based on their use of different calendars. The Western Churches use the Gregorian Calendar and the Orthodox Churches use the Julian Calendar. 

You may also read, the following article on the Diocese website: The Date of the Glorious Feast of the Resurrection at http://www.suscopts.org/resources/literature/159/the-date-of-the-glorious-feast-of-the-resurrection/.

Answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab)

Related questions

Questions answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab) of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Question 1764 on the Diocese’s Q&A site. Questions and answers © Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. All rights reserved.