§ 80. THE CYCLE OF PENTECOST. 407
^Id custom, and tliiis fell into conflict with the Anglo-Saxon. The introduction of the improved Gregorian calendar in the "Western chnrcli in 1582 again produced discrepancy; the Eastern and Russian church adhered to the Julian calendar, and is consequently now about twelve days behind us. Ao cording to the Gregorian calendar, wliich does not divide the months with astronomical exactness, it sometimes happens that the Paschal full moon is put a couple of hours too early, and the Christian Easter, as was the case in 1825, coincides with the Jewish Passover, against the express order of the council of Nicsea.
§ 80. The Cycle of Pentecost.
The whole period of seven weeks from Easter to Pentecost bore a joyous, festal character. It was called Quinquagesima, or Pentecost in the wider sense," and was the memorial of the exaltation of Christ at the right hand of the Father, His repeated appearances during the mysterious forty days, and His heavenly headship and eternal presence in the church. It was regarded as a continuous Sunday, and distinguished by the absence of all fasting and by standing in prayer. Quinquagesima formed a marked contrast with the Quadragesima which preceded. The deeper the sorrow of repentance had been in view of the suffering and dying Saviour, the higher now rose the joy of faith in the j-isen and eternally living Redeemer. This joy, of course, must keep itself clear of worldly amusements, and be sanctified by devotion, prayer, singing, and thanksgiving ; and the theati'cs, therefore, remained closed through the fifty days. But the multitude of nominal Chiistians soon forgot their religious impressions, and sought to compensate their previous fasting with wanton merry-making.
The seven Sundays after Easter are called in the Latin church, respectively, Quo,slmodo-geniti, Misericordia Domini. Jvlilate., Cantate., BogaU (or, Vocem jucunditatis), Exaudi
* UtvT etcuffTT). Comp. the author's Hist, of the Apost. Cb, § 64.
?i08 THLKD PEKIOD. A.D. 311-590.
and Pentecnste. In the Eastern clinrcli tlie Acts of the Apostles are read at this season.
Of the fifty festival days, the fortieth and the fiftieth were particularly prominent. Tlie fortieth day after Easter, always a Thursday, was after the fourth century dedicated to the ex altation of Christ at the right hand of God, and hence named Ascension day.' The fiftieth day, or the feast of Pentecost in the stricter sense," was tlie kernel and culminating point of this festival season, as Easter day was of tlie Easter cycle. It was the feast of the Holy Ghost, who on this day was poured out upon the assembled disciples with the wdiole fulness of the accomplished redemption; and it was at the same time the birth-day of the Christian church. Hence this festival also was particularly prized for baptisms and ordinations. Pentecost corresponded to the Jewish feast of that name, which was primarily the feast of first-fruits, and afterward became also the feast of the giv^ing of the law on Sinai, and in this twofold import was fulfilled in the outpouring of the Holy Ghost and the founding of the Christian church. " Both revelations of the divine law," writes Jerome to Fabiola, "took place on the fiftieth day after the passover ; the one on Sinai, the otlier on Zion ; there the mountain was shaken, here the temple ; there, amid flames and lightnings, the temjjest roared and the thunder rolled, here, also Avith mighty wind, appeared tongues of fire; there the sound of the trumpet pealed forth the words of the laio^ here the (;ornet of the gospel sounded through the mouth of the apostles."
The celebration of Pentecost lasted, at least ultimately, three days or a whole week, closing with the Pentecostal Octave, which in the Greek chm'ch (so early as Chrysostom) was called the Feast of axl Saints and Maettks,' because tihe martyrs are the seed and the beauty of the church, llie Latin church, on the contrary, though not till the tenth century, dedicated the Sunday' after Pentecost to the Holy TRiNn-r,
* Diea ascrnaionia ; eopr)/ ttjs a.vaX'f]^^/ (mi ,
• Dies peutccosies ; tt e vt fKoffrv, rjfxepa Ton Xlvexifiaroi,
' Kv p laKT) r oiv ayiav ti di/rwy fxapTvprjaavrwi', The Wostcm churcl kept a similar feast on the first of November, but not till the eighth century