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Easter 2008
Easter 2008 and when is easter? What do Christians Celebrate on Easter?
On Easter 2008 Sunday, Christians celebrate the resurrection of the Lord, Jesus Christ. It is typically the most well-attended Sunday service of the year for Christian churches.
Christians believe according to Scripture, that Jesus came back to life, or was raised from the dead, three days after his death on the cross. As part of the Easter 2008 season, the death of Jesus Christ by crucifixion, is commemorated on Good Friday, always the Friday just before Easter and now in Easter 2008 too.. Through his death, burial and resurrection, Jesus paid the penalty for sin, thus purchasing for all who believe in him, eternal life in Christ Jesus.
In Western Christianity, Easter 2008 marks the ending of Lent, a 40-day period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline in preparation for Easter 2008.
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday in Easter 2008. Eastern Orthodox churches observe Lent or Great Lent, in Easter 2008 during the 6 weeks or 40 days preceding Palm Sunday with fasting continuing during the Holy Week of Easter 2008. Lent for Eastern Orthodox churches begins on Monday and Ash Wednesday is not observed.
Because of Easter 2008 pagan origins, and also because of the commercialization of Easter 2008, many Christian churches have begun to refer to it as Resurrection Day.
The biblical account of Jesus' death on the cross, or crucifixion, his burial and his resurrection, or raising from the dead, can be found in the following passages of Scripture: Matthew 27:27-28:8; Mark 15:16-16:19; Luke 23:26-24:35; and John 19:16-20:30.
In Western Christianity, Easter 2008 is always celebrated on the Sunday immediately following the Paschal Full Moon. I had previously, and somewhat erroneously stated, "Easter 2008 is always celebrated on the Sunday immediately following the first full moon after the vernal (spring) equinox." This statement was true in 325 AD, when it was established by the Council of Nicea.
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