The Paschal Controversy (The Passover Controversy): Difference between revisions

The '''Paschal controversy''' ['''Passover controversy'''] refers to the disputes that arose in the 2nd–4th centuries, caused by the conflicting insistence on the date of the Holy Supper between the Eastern and Western churches. '''Pascha''' [πασχα]<ref>[https://biblehub.com/greek/3957.htm 3957. pascha], ''Bible Hub''</ref> is a transliteration of the Hebrew word Pesach (פֶּסַח) into Greek; Pesach refers the '''Passover''', the day when the Israelites were liberated from Egypt. After three times of disputes, the biblical [[Passover]], which is to have the Holy Supper on the fourteenth day of the first month by the sacred calendar, was abolished, and it was decided to have the Holy Supper on the day of [[Jesus Christ|Jesus]]’ [[resurrection]]. Accordingly, many theologians define the Paschal controversy as the controversy over the correct date for [[Day of Resurrection|Resurrection Day]], which is known as Easter, and call it the '''Easter controversy'''.<ref>[https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05228a.htm Easter Controversy], ''New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia''</ref> However, this is far from the historical fact because church history was recorded according to the insistence of the Western Church that had won the Paschal controversy.<ref>Paschal Controversies, A Religious Encyclopædia Or, Dictionary of Biblical, Historical, Doctrinal, and Practical Theology. Based on the Real-encyklopädie of Herzog, Plitt, and Hauck · Volume 3, 1891, pg. 1754</ref>

In church history, we can confirm that the controversy originated from the disputes over the date of the Holy Supper.{{quote|A difference had arisen between East and West. In Asia the all-important '''date''' was the 14th Nisan . . . . . . Christians were accustomed to fast until three in the afternoon and then celebrate the '''Eucharist'''. In the West, however, the fast was maintained until the Sunday following the 14th Nisan and then only was the '''paschal Eucharist''' celebrated, on the ground that that was the day of the week upon which the Lord rose from the dead.|J. W. C. Wand, ''A History of the Early Church to A.D. 500'', p. 83}}

It is a dispute over the date of the Passover between Polycarp, the bishop of the church in [[Smyrna]] (Eastern Church), and Anicetus, the bishop of the church in Rome, around AD 155.<ref name=":0">A HISTORY OF THE EARLY CHURCH TO A.D. 500, J. W.C. WAND, pgs. 82–83</ref> When Polycarp visited Rome, he told Anicetus that he had been keeping the Passover every year with John, a disciple of Jesus, and other apostles. He emphasized the importance of observing the Passover on the fourteenth day of Nisan, the first month, according to the tradition of Jesus and the apostles. However, Anicetus said that he should preserve the customs of his former bishops. Eventually, the two could not persuade each other, and decided to follow the traditions of their own former bishops.<ref>Chapter XIV. Circumstances related of Polycarp, an apostolic man, Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius, pg. 141, Isaac Boyle, 1850</ref><ref>The Bishops of Rome in the First Two Centuries, Saint peter and the popes, Michael M. Winter, 1960, pp. 129–130</ref>