Could someone absolve me of my guilt?

[Critters2]

I was supposed to meet a friend for his church's Good Friday service tonight, but between storms, not getting on the road when I had originally planned because I had a funeral today, and my driving phobia (see Lounge phobia thread), I'm not going to get there. I've left two messages on his voicemail, and not heard back. He's the cantor or whatever the Orthodox equivalent is, and wanted me to hear his work in the service. I feel really bad about this. Even if I left right now, I wouldn't get there on time.

Could anyone here assuage my guilt? I'd be grateful!

[GCP]

1. Wasn't Good Friday weeks ago?

Is this a different Good Friday?

[Critters2]

2. Orthodox Good Friday.

It's today. Pascha, or Orthodox Easter, is the day after tomorrow.

[KitchenWitch]

3. Maybe you can go to another service that he will be performing in?

:hug:

I think your friend would rather you be safe, than risking too much to get to the service.

[Fleshdancer]

4. I'm sure your friend would prefer you to be safe and off the road

Besides, it's not like this is the last time he'll be doing whatever it is he does, right?

Rain checks mean more when it's raining. :D

[Critters2]

12. That's what he said, too.

He's singing at a Greek Festival in a few weeks. I'm going to that. And next year, he said, their Easter is our low Sunday, which I usually take off. So, I'll be able to go to his Pascha service, which is a really big deal. So, it's all good.

[fizzgig]

5. i just looked at the radar and don't blame you at all

it looks ugly out there

[Critters2]

9. A severe storm watch AND a tornado watch.

I think I have an excuse!

[Critters2]

6. Yay! He just called, and said

"You can't seriously be thinking I'd want you to drive in this weather!" He said his church's Greek Festival is coming up in a few weeks, and he'll be singing at that. So, I'm planning to go then.

And I can hear my mother saying "You always worry too much!".

Thanks, Loungers, for your help!

[KitchenWitch]

7. OOOHH. I loves me the Greek festivals!

:D

[hippywife]

14. Oooh!

Me, too! Good food and pastries! Yum! :9

How's the little one's leg coming along? :hi:

[KitchenWitch]

16. She is doing very well.

The cast is coming off next Thursday.

She is getting tired of having it on.

[hippywife]

18. The novelty of

the added attention wears off soon, doesn't it? :D

Glad she's doing well.

[WannaBeGrumpy]

8. I do absolve thee....

that is all! :hi:

[Critters2]

10. Thank you

[WannaBeGrumpy]

15. Anytime....I am quite the absolver!

:hi:

[Parche]

11. Every Friday Is GOOD Friday

Its beverage time tonight.....does that absolve guilt?
:woohoo: :woohoo:

:hi:

[Critters2]

13. Maybe a little ouzo in honor of our Greek Orthodox brethren.

Oopa!

[hippywife]

17. Okay, and somewhat within the tradition

of the sect, even if not exactly:

"Dominus noster Jesus Christus te absolvat; et ego auctoritate ipsius te absolvo ab omni vinculo excommunicationis (suspensionis) et interdicti in quantum possum et tu indiges. Deinde, ego te absolvo a peccatis tuis in nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen."

[GoddessOfGuinness]

19. He is probably so overwhelmed by the season

that he'll be relieved to sleep instead of having a visitor.

What I want to know is why western Christians had their Easter before Passover...I don't get it. :shrug:

[Critters2]

20. I know. It's so whacky.

It was set by the Council of Nicea, largely in reaction to the church's becoming more non-Jewish than Jewish in its composition. The date of Easter was not set at the time of the council, and a lot of Christians thought it needed to be standardized.

There were those who argued that it should coincide with Passover--mostly Christians of Jewish background. But these were a distinct minority by the time of the council. The larger, formerly pagan, contingent, was more concerned that Easter always fall on a Sunday, as a memorial of the first Easter. This might not happen if they used the Jewish calendar and dated it to coincide with Passover. So, the decision was made that Easter would always fall on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox. Most years, this is close to Passover. This year it was very early, about as early as possible (two days after the Equinox), and nowhere near Passover.

Many (but not all) Orthodox Christians use a dating system that draws on something called "the ecclesiastical full moon, which has something to do with use of the Julian, rather than Gregorian, calendar. I don't honestly understand it. Here's a site with some info: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Eastern-Orthodox-1456/eastern-orthodox-easter.htm

Confused? Me, I just open the calendar and hope the publisher knows what s/he is talking about!