Why do the Easters of the Eastern and of the Western Christian traditions differ?
Some years (such as in 2007) they coincide. That year, Easter was April 8, east or West. But that only makes the usual disparity more maddening.
The World Council of Churches takes the matter very seriously. "It has long been recognized that to celebrate this fundamental aspect of the Christian faith on different dates," the WCC Has said, "gives a divided witness and compromises the churches' credibility and effectiveness in bringing the Gospel to the world."
The formula applied in both traditions in the same. Easter is the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox.
But for the Orthodox the term "full moon" means the actual astronomical full moon. For the western churches, that of Rome and its offspring alike, the full moon involved is the "ecclesiastical" full moon, based on tables created by the Church.
There is also a difference over the precise meaning of the term "equinox." There is also the relationship of Easter with the Jewish Passover to consider in a full account. It all gets very confusing.
Happy Easter, though, for all who are celebrating today.
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