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The Roman monks who had been sent by
Gregory the Great to convert the "English" to Christianity, found that the
missionaries from Ireland observed Easter at a different time from that which
had been appointed by the Roman church. After years of controversy it was agreed
that a synod should be held where the difficulty might be settled. Bede thus
describes the arguments advanced by both sides and gives an account of the
victory of the Roman party.
The Controversy over the Date of Easter
[Bishop Colman spoke for the Scots (i.e. Irish) and said:] The Easter which I
keep I received from my elders, who sent me hither as bishop; all our
forefathers, men beloved of God, are known to have kept it after the same
manner; and that this may not seem to any contemptible or worthy to be rejected,
it is the same which St. John the Evangelist, the disciple beloved of our Lord,
with all the churches he presided, is recorded to have observed." . . .
Then Wilfrid was ordered by the king to speak for the Roman practice: " The
Easter which we observe we saw, celebrated by all at Rome, where the blessed
apostles, Peter, and Paul, lived, taught, suffered, and were buried - we saw the
same done in Italy and in France, when we I traveled through those countries for
pilgrimage and prayer. found that Easter was celebrated at one and the same time
in Africa, Asia, Egypt, Greece, and all the world, wherever the Church of Christ
is spread abroad, through the various nations and tongues ; except only among
these and their accomplices in obstinacy, I mean the Picts and the Britons, who
foolishly, in these two remote islands of the world, and only in part even of
them, oppose all the rest of the universe. . . .
You certainly sin if, having heard the decree of the apostolic see, and of
the universal Church, and that the same is confirmed by Holy Writ, you refuse to
follow them; for, though your fathers were holy, do you think that their small
number, in a corner of the remotest island, is to be preferred before the
universal Church of Christ throughout the world ? And though that Columba of
yours (and, I may say, ours also, if he was Christ's servant) was a holy man and
powerful in miracles, yet should he be preferred before the most blessed prince
of the apostles, to whom our Lord said, 'Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I
will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I
will give up to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven'?"
When Wilfrid had spoken thus, the king said, "Is it true, Colman, that these
words were spoken to Peter by our Lord?" He answered, "It is true, O king!" Then
said he, "Can you show any such power given to your Columba?" Colman answered, "
None." Then added the king, " Do both of you agree that these words were
principally directed to Peter, and that the keys of heaven were given to him by
our Lord?' They both answered, , We do." , Then the king concluded "And I also
say unto you, that he is the doorkeeper, whorl I will not contradict, but will,
as far as I know and am able in all things obey his decrees, lest when I come to
the gate of the kingdom of heaven there should be none to open them he being my
adversary who is proved to have the keys." The king having said this, all
present, both great and small gave their assent and, renouncing the more
imperfect institution, resolved to conform to that which they found to be
better.
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