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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 Saviour's
passover. It was therefore necessary to end their fast on that day,
whatever day of the week it should happen to be. But it was not the
custom of the churches in the rest of the world to end it at this time,
as they observed the practice which, from apostolic tradition, has
prevailed to the present time, of terminating the fast on no other day
than on that of the resurrection of our Saviour.
Synods and assemblies of bishops were held on this account, and all,
with one consent, through mutual correspondence drew. up an
ecclesiastical decree, that the mystery of the resurrection of the
Lord should be celebrated on no other but the Lord's day, and that
we should observe the close of the paschal fast on this day only.
There is still extant a writing of those who were then assembled in
Palestine, over whom Theophilus, bishop of Caesarea, and
Narcissus, bishop of Jerusalem, presided. And there is also
another writing extant of those who were assembled at Rome to consider
the same question, which bears the name of Bishop Victor; also of
the bishops in
Pontus over whom Palmas, as the oldest, presided; and of the
parishes in Gaul of which Irenaeus was bishop, and of those in
Osrhoene and the cities there; and a personal letter of Bacchylus,
bishop of the church at Corinth, and of a great many others, who
uttered the same opinion and judgment, and cast the same vote. And
that which has been given above was their unanimous decision.
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