Polycrates of Ephesus (130 – 196 AD) is best known for his letter addressed to the Roman Bishop Victor who was attempting to find a consensus about the proper date to celebrate Easter. The Church historian Eusebius (265 - 339 AD) wrote, A question of no small importance arose at that time. For the parishes of all Asia, as from an older tradition, held that the fourteenth day of the moon, on which day the Jews were commanded to sacrifice the lamb, should be observed as the feast of the Saviours Passover...But it was not the custom of the churches in the rest of the world...But the bishops of Asia, led by Polycrates, decided to hold to the old custom handed down to them. He himself, in a letter which he addressed to Victor and the church of Rome, set forth in the following words the tradition which had come down to him.... Here is what Eusebius records that Polycrates wrote, We observe the exact day; neither adding, nor taking away....among these are Philip, one of the twelve apostles, who fell asleep in Hierapolis; and his two aged virgin daughters, and another daughter, who lived in the Holy Spirit and now rests at Ephesus; and, moreover, John, who was both a witness and a teacher, who reclined upon the bosom of the Lord, and, being a priest, wore the sacerdotal plate. He fell asleep at Ephesus. And Polycarp in Smyrna, who was a bishop and martyr; and Thraseas, bishop and martyr from Eumeneia, who fell asleep in Smyrna. Why need I mention the bishop and martyr Sagaris who fell asleep in Laodicea, or the blessed Papirius, or Melito the Eunuch who lived altogether in the Holy Spirit, and who lies in Sardis...all these observed the fourteenth day of the passover according to the Gospel, deviating in no respect, but following the rule of faith. TODAY (Resurrection Sunday) AS DECREED BY THE LATER CATHOLIC CHURCH, IS NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH WHAT THE APOSTLES DID. STRANGE THAT TO SOME, WHAT THE APOSTLES ACTUALLY DID DOESNT SEEM TO MATTER....
Posted on: Sun, 20 Apr 2014 15:17:41 +0000
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