Tag Archives: Comparative Theology

Easter for Orthodox Christians

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Post contributed by Fr Ian Wallis, Faith & Spirituality Advisor, Orthodox Church

Easter is more properly known as ‘Pascha’ in the Orthodox Church because the early Church used languages – e.g. Aramaic, Greek, Latin – where ‘pascha’ was the accepted translation of the Hebrew word, ‘pesach’ (= ‘passover’) and the conservative nature of the Church has kept the use of this term.

‘Pascha’ survives in English usage as an adjective, as in a ‘Paschal Candle’, which in many Western churches is a special candle that is blessed at Easter, and then subsequently plays a part in the rite of baptism.

The apostolic preaching interprets the death and resurrection of Christ as a new passover for humanity: ‘For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast, not with the old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.’ (1Corinthians 5, 7,8 AV)

The date of Passover/Pesach (as computed by Jewish authorities) was also instrumental in determining the date of the Christian feast of Pascha: the churches were agreed about this although they did not all celebrate Pascha on the Sunday following Pesach.

When the rabbinic authorities (towards the end of the second century CE) established a new way of computing the date of Pesach – one that specifically disregarded the date of the spring equinox – many Christians questioned the propriety of computing the date of Pascha using a revised date of Pesach i.e. a date computed by a method that was not in use at the time of Christ.

As the Church did not have an agreed method for computing the date of Pascha, it fell to its meeting (known subsequently as the ‘First Ecumenical Council’) at Nicea in 325 CE to decide (amongst other things!) two key elements in the method, as follows:

  • Pascha should be celebrated on the same Sunday by all churches;
  • And the Sunday of Pascha must be the first after the full moon following the spring equinox.

In more recent centuries, the different dates for Easter/Pascha in the Church came about when the Church in the West adopted the New Style/Gregorian Calendar; and the difference arises specifically in fixing the date of the spring equinox, which is a more astronomically correct calculation underlying the Gregorian Calendar. The whole Orthodox Church keeps to the Old Style/Julian Calendar (when computing the date of Pascha) and employs – what has been referred to as – a ‘notional equinox’.

Even before the Gregorian Calendar was adopted, the Church’s forms of worship in the West had developed along different lines from those to be found in the East; and although the basic structure of the eucharist and other services is similar, the style of the ceremonial used in the Orthodox Church is markedly different from that in the Western Church.

Ikon showing Christ in the centre of the image, Adam is shown on his right and Eve is shown on his left, he is surrounded by the diciples and rocks to show Christ's resurrection and emergence from the cave

A traditional ikon for Pascha representing Christ’s resurrection

Outside of church, Orthodox Christians celebrate Pascha in accordance with a variety of local traditions, mainly to do with those foods that should have been abstained from in the Lenten fast, such as eggs, cheese and meat. ‘Pascha’ is also the name given in Russian usage to a special form of cheesecake, which is a key element of their Paschal breakfast.

Ramadhan – 13th April to 13th May

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Ramadhan is the ninth month of the Islamic (Hijri) calendar.

Featuring contributions from: Dr Hasan Gilani, Najiya Slimani, Fiona MacNeill (ed.)

About Ramadhan

Ramadhan1 is the ninth month of the Islamic (Hijri) calendar. The exact dates of Ramadhan vary every year. This is because Islam uses a calendar based on the cycles of the Moon. The lunar year being shorter and each month having 29 or 30 days only, Ramadhan moves forward every year. This year in the UK, Ramadhan will begin on Tuesday 13 April. Since many Muslims still like to rely on the moonsighting to determine the beginning of the month of Ramadhan, there may be a difference of a day in various parts of the world when Ramadhan begins. Across the globe, from approximately 13th April until 13th May 2021, close to one billion people will be observing Ramadhan.

Fasting during Ramadhan is one of the 5 pillars of Islam, along with the Muslim declaration of faith, daily prayer, charity and performing the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca. It is an act of deep personal worship and an exercise in self-restraint. Muslims should not engage in cursing, fighting, or gossiping. It is seen as a way to physically and spiritually de-toxify. It is the month in which the Holy Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH2).

Muslims fast (no eating or drinking) between dawn and sunset. This is called Sawm/Syaam (fasting). For Muslims, it is a very beneficial act of worship as it teaches self-discipline, gratefulness for the bounties they enjoy and reminds them of the suffering of the less fortunate. Muslims often donate to charities during the month.

To prepare for the fast, Muslims eat what is commonly called ‘Suhoor’; a pre-dawn meal of power foods to get them through the day.

Can Muslims be exempt from fasting?

Pregnant and menstruating women, elderly people, those who are ill, have to take ingested medication or those that are travelling do not have to fast. Children are not expected to fast until they reach puberty.

Complex infographic poster with several sections. Repeats information outlined in text graphically.

Source: MyUS.com

Practices and Observances

Muslims use this opportunity to make extra spiritual efforts and try to give up bad habits. It is a special season for prayer, charity and good deeds.

Many Muslims try to read the whole of the Qur’an at least once during Ramadan. They will also attend special night prayers (Taraweeh) in Mosques during which the Qur’an is read.

Some Muslims take this opportunity to perform Umra (optional pilgrimage to Makkah KSA3) and visit the Prophet’s Mosque in Madina (KSA) and spend as many days/night as possible for worship and spiritualty.

Hundreds of people sit at long tables eating a Iftar dinner

An Iftar dinner at the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey

They will also try to get together with family and friends (wherever possible) especially on the occasion of breaking the fast and have a collective meal at sunset by preparing and sharing various dishes. They will also help people in need by setting a Ramadan Table wherever people of all religions are welcome to share Iftar4 (break the fast at sunset). Iftar dishes can be very colourful and rich and prepared with care, however most Muslims will traditionally break the fast with a few dates and milk or water before going for anything between the traditional Harira (Moroccan soup) in North Africa to Samosas and Bajias (Pakoras/Bhajees) in the Asian continent alongside many local savouries and sweet drinks and dishes.

Large crowds of people in rows stand outside Jama Masjid mosque in Delhi India during Eid

Jama Masjid of Delhi, one of the largest mosques in India during Eid.

How to respectfully recognise Ramadhan

Many Muslims are accepting and welcoming of others around them who are not observing Ramadhan and it is OK to eat or drink next to someone who is fasting. Muslims welcome questions about Ramadhan.

It is always good practice to greet and express good wishes at this time of the year, whether just before Ramadhan or in the first few days of the month. Muslims do culturally exchange best wishes and congratulate each other by saying “Ramadan Kareem / Happy Ramadan!”

In general Muslims don’t expect any “special treatment” during fasting as they are religiously encouraged to incorporate fasting in their normal daily activities, however it is good practice to ask Muslims colleagues if they need work to be adapted to their “focus hours”. They will highly appreciate it and it will boost collaboration at work.

At the time of Eid, saying “Eid Mubarak” is a good way of congratulating Muslims on the occasion of Eidul-Fitr.

Remember that not all Muslims fast (for medical reasons for example) so if you see a Muslim not fasting, avoid asking them in public.

Celebration illustration showing a latern at night hanging above a skyline of mosque onion domes

An example of a Ramadan Kareem image for Muslims to send via social media.

Comparative Theology

Quran says: “O you who believe! fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard (against evil)”.

In other religions, there are various forms of fasting, as fasting is widely recognised as a practice for spiritual purification, increasing awareness, or self-discipline. In Islam, fasting is an act of worship, whereby a Muslim draws closer to God by abandoning food, drink, and sexual intercourse from dawn to sunset.

Jews observe ten days of repentance starting with Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) and ending with Yom Kippur. Check out the recent Talk it out blog post about Passover/Pesach for more information about Judaism.

Lent is a forty-day period of fasting which is observed by the Roman Catholic, Anglican, and the Orthodox Church. Read the recent Talk it out blog post about fasting for Orthodox Christians.

How do Muslims mark the end of Ramadan?

Laylat al-Qadr  – The Night of Power/Destiny

The final 10 days of Ramadhan are marked by lots of worship as Muslims seek to have their prayers answered on “Laylat al-Qadr” (The Night of Power/Decree) which is considered the holiest night of the year for Muslims and can fall on any ‘odd’ numbered day within the last 10 days. This night commemorates the night that the Qur’an (the literal word of God which was relayed to humanity through the Prophet) was first revealed by Allah (God) to the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) through the angel Gabriel. It is believed to have taken place on one of the final 10 nights of Ramadan in 610 CE, though the exact night is not specified in the Qur’an. This night is believed to be a night whereby good deeds are multiplied. (The night of Laylat al-Qadr is better than 1000 months as stated in the Qur’an).

The observance of Laylat al-Qadr holds additional significance to Muslims as a night in which the angels descend to earth leading to a night of peace, forgiveness, blessings and divine guidance (qadar) until dawn. It is commemorated with solemnity, devotion and prayer. Some observers spend the final 10 days in the mosque in retreat (I’tikaf).

Eid ul-Fitr – Festival of Breaking the Fast

Eid ul-Fitr marks the end of a month of fasting from dawn to sunset, as well as spiritual reflection and prayer. The day starts with morning prayers, wearing best attire and a big meal is usually the main event, but there’s lots of ways other people celebrate too.

Eid ul-Fitr is the festival day, one of the most important, similar to how important Christmas is for Christians.

Gifts can be exchanged, especially to young children who receive clothes and money.

A celebratory illustration for Eid showing a plate of food next to a lantern with the night sky and a mosque in the background of the image

An example of an image for social media celebrating Eid.

Further reading

Resources and events

Many mosques will remain open this year during Ramadan for prayers. They will continue to observe safety guidance by wearing face masks and respecting social distancing.

Every year, Muslims break their fast together in the mosque and share dishes. This year they will get together to break the fast with something light and pray together but without sharing food. They will then have the full meal in their homes with their families.

However, the night prayers will be shorter than usual. Many online programs take place to allow people to take part in various religious activities and lectures from home. Many Mosques in Sussex will have daily Zoom activities.

Any Questions?

Members of the network have said that they are happy to answer questions from the university community about Ramadhan. Please submit your question using the comments area below or contact Fiona MacNeill via teams/email (internal questions from staff/students only).

  1. Arabic: رَمَضَان , also spelled Ramazan, Ramzan, Ramadhan or Ramathan. ↩
  2. Peace be upon him. A phrase attached to holy figures in Islam. See this page of Wikipedia for information. ↩
  3. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ↩
  4. Also known as ftoor ↩
  5. Egyptian Islamic advisory, justiciary and governmental body. For information see this Wikipedia page. ↩
  6. News and blogging site based in Amman, Jordan. ↩

Passover – sundown 27th March, until nightfall 4th April

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Pesach – Nissan 15-22, the Hebrew Calendar dates (27 March – 04 April)

Featuring contributions from: Raf Salkie, Rebecca Graber, Josh Newman, Fiona MacNeill

Pesach is almost certainly the most celebrated festival in the Jewish calendar – and celebrated almost entirely at home.

Pesach (/ˈpɛsɑːx, ˈpeɪsəx /, English Passover) is a Jewish holiday which celebrates the escape of the Hebrew slaves from ancient Egypt.  The highlight is the evening Seder (SAY-duh, meaning ‘order’), which is a combination of a religious service and a celebratory meal.  The service retells the story of the Exodus from Egypt over several obligatory glasses of wine.  The Seder is a family event, centred round children.

During the Seder various symbolic items are assembled on a plate.  The pictures included below show a traditional Seder Plate with explanations, and a similar plate with some extra new traditions.

Line drawing of traditional Seder plate with written descriptions included in the caption

Descriptive text in this image: The traditional seder plate includes: a roasted egg representing a new life after Egypt. Parsley, a spring vegetable and sign of new life. Charoset (a mix of apples cinnamon, nuts and wine), the mortar used making bricks as slaves. Salt water, the tears of the slaves. Lamb bone, the sacrifice on the last night. Matzah (unleavened bread), as there was no time in the escape to let it rise.

As a point of clarity in relation to the illustration above. The lamb, as the source of the lamb bone, would traditionally have been slaughtered before Passover begins. In the story, the blood of the lamb was daubed on the doorways of the Hebrews’ homes to let the Angel of Death know to ‘pass over’ these homes while enacting the 10th plague, the death of first born sons. The 10 plagues are key to the Judeo-Christian story of Moses or Moshe. For a brief refresh read this article (Gill, 2021; SEE also Shemōt the second book of the Torah, known as the Book of Exodus in the Christian Old Testament).

Illustration of a non-traditional Seder place with descriptions included in the caption

Descriptive text in this image: What’s on your Seder plate? Bitter herb, often romaine lettuce. Bitter herb, often horseradish. Shank bone. Hard-boiled egg, often roasted. For vegans flower or seed replaces the egg. For vegetarians and vegans, roasted beetroot, replaces the shank bone. Charoset (mixture of chopped nuts and apples, wine and cinnamon). Parsley or boiled potato for dipping in salt water. New traditions: some celebrants have introduced additions to their Seder plates: orange in support of LGBT inclusion; olive in support of peace between Israelis and Palestinians; artichoke in support of interfaith families; tomato in support of farmworker’s rights.

Practices and observances

The story of Pesach is the foundation story of Judaism and is absolutely central to the first five books of the Hebrew Bible (the Torah): the divinely driven escape from slavery that takes the Hebrews into the desert and to the revelation on Mount Sinai where Torah is handed to Moses*. This is officially marked 50 days later on Shavuot (on 17/18th May in 2021).

The story told at the Seder is in the first person: Jews say we were slaves in Egypt – and explain the story to the children. It is common, as illustrated by the ‘new traditions’ of the illustrated Seder plate above, to discuss oppression in current society and to think about how to fight against slavery – real and metaphorical – in the world today.

For the eseven or eight days of Passover, observant Jews eat matzah (a crisp, unleavened bread), and do not eat bread or anything made with a number of grains other than matzah.  Fortunately, meat, fish, cheese, vegetables, nuts, crisps and chocolate are allowed.  There is a tradition of making biscuits and cakes out of ground almonds, potato flour or desiccated coconut.

Pesach is one of the three festivals that even many non-observant Jews celebrate (the other two are Rosh Hashanah [New year] and Yom Kippur [Day of Atonement], which fall close to each other in the Autumn).  Pesach is celebrated in Spring: this year Seder is on Saturday 27 March and Passover ends on 4 April.

First-born males traditionally fast on the day before the Seder meal.  Since fasting on Saturday, the Sabbath, is not permitted, this year the Fast of the First Born is held on Thursday 25 March.

Ashkenazi, Sephardic and Israeli Jewish customs

Key points about differences in observances:

  • Passover is a seven day festival, although in the diaspora (outside Israel) most Jews observe an extra day – and celebrate a second Seder on the second night.
  • Observances of which foods are permitted on Passover differ slightly with Ashkenazi (European) Jews refraining from eating nuts, beans and rice, and Sephardic (Spanish and Portuguese) Jews being permitted these foods.
  • It is considered a mitzvah (good deed) to welcome strangers to a Passover seder.

How to respectfully recognise Passover/Pesach as someone who is not Jewish

If you have friends or colleagues who you know are practicing Jews you can wish them a Happy Passover. It is respectful to do this in a one-to-one or via a private written message (during the current lockdown). This year you may wish to do this earlier as the Fast of the First Born, as noted above, starts on 25th March, otherwise the 27th March is fine. If you wish to say ‘Good Holiday’ in Hebrew you can say the phrase: Chag Sameach (pronounced: Chag Sa-May-ach, the ch is like the end of the word loch, this phrase in Hebrew: חג שמח). You can also post a message on social media in a general way, but it is important not to tag people as practice and beliefs can be private and this should always be considered. Also, if you are selecting an image for your social media post, keep it simple with a text-based greeting and visual reference to the Seder. There are some nice examples at this site (although there are also some to avoid on this site too!). If you are invited to a Passover Seder, this is an honour and it is important to listen and learn from the stories shared as part of the meal and to thank your hosts for their trust and hospitality.

Comparative Theology

The foundation story festival of Passover occurs at the same time as the foundation story festival of Easter in Christianity. In the ‘Synoptic Gospels‘ (2021) the Last Supper is traditionally thought to be a Seder. This may explain why in the Western churches the bread shared at the eucharist is unleavened. In John’s gospel Jesus dies at the same time that the Pascal Lamb (from the word Pesach) is slaughtered.

Further reading

In Nazi Concentration Camps, some Jews tried hard to observe Pesach despite the terrible conditions.  Two moving stories are told here:

The Story of a Prayer: A Seder in Bergen-Belsen

A Seder in Dachau: How a “Rebbe” Created Hope in the Most Dire of Circumstances

Passover resources and event

Helpful resources for Pesach from Chabad.org

The British Shalom-Salaam Trust is hosting an event on Tuesday, 30th March at 7.00pm which is open to all. This event will be held on Zoom and for more details please visit the BSST’s Facebook page.

OneTable provides advice for celebrating Passover solo if you are in a situation where you need to self-isolate or cannot be with family and friends.

References

Gill, N.S. (2021, January 26). The 10 Egyptian Plagues. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/plagues-of-egypt-ancient-jewish-history-118238 (Accessed: 14 March 2021).

‘Synoptic gospels’ (2021) Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synoptic_Gospels (Accessed: 14 March 2021).

*Interestingly, Moses is not mentioned in the Seder — it says repeatedly says that God led Jews out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and that God gave the Ten Commandments on Sinai, but Moses is never mentioned by name.  Why Moses is absent, in some versions of the Seder he gets one passing mention, has been a topic of much discussion. For one discussion see this web page.