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Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center

ResurrectionFeast of Feasts Holy and Glorious Pascha Date

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Rule to Determine the Date of Feast of Feasts Holy and Glorious Pascha

The rule is that:

  • Feast of Feasts Holy and Glorious Pascha is the first Sunday after the first ecclesiastical full moon that occurs on or after March 21.
  • This particular ecclesiastical full moon is the 14th day of a tabular lunation (new moon)
  • Orthdox only - must be after the Jewish Passover
  • The Vernal Equinox is fixed as March 21.

Then, the earliest possible date for Feasts of Feasts Holy and Glorious Pascha is March 22 and the latest possible date is April 25.

The lunar cycles used by the ecclesiastical system are simple to program. The following algorithm will compute the date of Feast of Feasts Holy and Glorious Pascha in the Gregorian Calendar system.

The algorithm uses the year, y, to give the month, m, and day, d, of Easter. The symbol * means multiply.

Please note the following: This is an integer calculation. All variables are integers and all remainders from division are dropped. For example, 7 divided by 3 is equal to 2 in integer arithmetic.

c = y / 100
n = y - 19 * ( y / 19 )
k = ( c - 17 ) / 25
i = c - c / 4 - ( c - k ) / 3 + 19 * n + 15
i = i - 30 * ( i / 30 )
i = i - ( i / 28 ) * ( 1 - ( i / 28 ) * ( 29 / ( i + 1 ) )
* ( ( 21 - n ) / 11 ) )
j = y + y / 4 + i + 2 - c + c / 4
j = j - 7 * ( j / 7 )
l = i - j
m = 3 + ( l + 40 ) / 44
d = l + 28 - 31 * ( m / 4 )

For example, using the year 2010,
y=2010,
c=2010/100=20,
n=2010 - 19 x (2010/19) = 2010 - 19 x (105) = 15, [see note above regarding integer calculations]
etc. resulting in Easter on April 4, 2010.

The algorithm is due to J.-M. Oudin (1940) and is reprinted in the Explanatory Supplement to the Astronomical Almanac, ed. P. K. Seidelmann (1992). See Chapter 12, "Calendars", by L. E. Doggett.

Melkites use both the Julian Calendar and the Gregorian Calendar. to determine the date of Pascha.

The Patriarch / Batriyark - uses the Julian Calendar with the approval of His Holiness Ioannes Paulus II (John Paul II), Pope.

The Patriarch / Batriyark celebrates Pascha on the same day as the Orthodox. This practice began in 2002 with the approval of His Holiness Ioannes Paulus II (John Paul II), Pope. The Orthodox use the Julian Calendar.
From 1858 to 2001, the Patriarch / Batriyark celebrated Pascha on the same day as the Pope. The Latin Catholics use the Gregorian Calendar.
Syrian Catholics and Orthodox to Mark Easter on Same Day in Syria, press release from ZENIT.

Countries where the dominate Christians are Orthodox - uses the Julian Calendar

Melkites in countries where the dominate Christians are Orthodox celebrate on the same day as the Orthodox . The Orthodox use the Julian Calendar.

Countries where the dominate Christians are Latin - use the Gregorian Calendar

Melkites in countries where the dominate christians are Latin Catholics celebrate on the same day as the Latin Catholics . The Latin Catholics use the Gregorian Calendar.

Resources to Learn the Specific Date of Feasts of Feasts Holy and Glorious Pascha

Melkite Pascha date is the same date as the Orthodox Pascha date

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

Melkite Pascha date is the same date as the Latin Pascha Catholic Date

Two Sources:

Specific Date of the Feasts of Feasts Holy and Glorious Pascha, 2001-2010

Feasts of Feasts Holy and Glorious Pascha Date for Patriarch / Batriyark, Faithful in Orthodox Dominated Countries, and Faithful in Latin Catholic Dominated Countries for the years 2001-2010.

Feasts of Feasts Holy and Glorious Pascha Cycle in Latin Catholic Dominated Countries, 2001-2010

Some important dates in Feasts of Feasts Holy and Glorious Pascha Cycle in Latin Catholic Dominated Countries for the years 2001-2010.

Proposal of His Holiness Ioannes Paulus II (John Paul II) for one Feast of Feasts Holy and Glorious Pascha date for all Christians

"POPE AGAIN PROPOSES ONE EASTER DATE FOR ALL CHRISTIANS Calendars of Eastern and Western Churches Do Not Coincide", an article from Zenit.org


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Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center
Martha Liles
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Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center is dedicated to my cousins: Bucky (Richard C. Liles) and Shirley (Shirley Jean Liles Buck). Bucky fell asleep in the Lord on Dec. 12, 2000 and Shirley fell asleep in the Lord on Nov. 8, 2001.
O God of all spirits and of all flesh, who have destroyed death, overcome the devil, and given life to the world: grant, O Lord, to the souls of your servants Bucky and Shirley, who has departed from this life, that it may rest in a place of light, in a place of happiness, in a place of peace, where there is no pain, no grief, no sighing. And since You are a gracious God and the Lover of Mankind, forgive him/her every sin he/she has committed by thought, or word, or deed, for there is not a man who lives and does not sin : You alone are without sin, your righteousness is everlasting, and your word is true. You are the Resurrection and the Life, and the repose of your departed servants Bucky and Shirley. O Christ our God, and we send up glory to You, together with your eternal Father and your all-holy, good and life-givng Spirit, now and always and for ages upon ages. Amen.

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