For many believers, the date of the main Christian holiday — the Bright Resurrection of Christ — may seem like a mystery. Unlike Christmas, which is celebrated on the same day, Easter 'moves' in the calendar every year. In 2027, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) will celebrate this holiday on May 2. But exactly how is this date calculated, and why does it not stay in one place?
The secret of the movable feast
Easter is a movable feast, which means the date needs to be calculated individually each year. For this, an ancient method known as 'computus' is used. It is unique in that it synchronizes the indicators of the lunar and solar calendars.
The single basic rule followed by Christians sounds like this: Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox. In the church calendar, this day is conventionally fixed on March 21.
Calendar disagreements
Despite the unity of the original rule, the dates of celebration often differ between Orthodox and Catholics. The reason for this is the use of different Paschals — calculation methods.
As noted by the OCU press service, the dates fully coincide for those who follow both the 'new' (Gregorian) and 'old' (Julian) calendars. However, the historical division of Christianity led to the Catholic and Orthodox Churches beginning to use different systems of timekeeping.
The key factor in the discrepancy was the difference in calculating the spring equinox. Due to the 13-day difference between the calendars, the moment of the full moon and, consequently, the date of Sunday shift.
Historical context
The foundation for the calculation was laid back in 325 AD at the First Ecumenical Council. It was then decided that all Christians should celebrate the Resurrection of Christ according to a single formula: the first Sunday after the first full moon following the day of the spring equinox.
At that time, the Church was united, and it was to this formula that the ancient Paschal cycle was tied, elements of which are still used today. Modern disagreements arose later, when unified Christianity divided, and each denomination began to rely on its own calendar system.
Calendar for 2027
For Ukrainians following OCU traditions, preparation for the main holiday of 2027 will begin as early as March. Great (Lenten) Fast will start on March 15 and last until May 1. It is during this time that believers prepare spiritually for the meeting with the Resurrection.
The Bright Resurrection of Christ in 2027 falls on Sunday, May 2. Knowing the calculation features and historical reasons for the date shifts, everyone can plan their holiday days and spiritual preparation in advance.