The Early Christians
n“The early
development of the celebration of Easter and the attendant calendar disputes were largely a result of
Christianity's attempt to emancipate
itself from Judaism. Sunday had
already replaced the Jewish sabbath early in the second century, and despite efforts in Asia Minor to
maintain the Jewish passover date of
14 Nisan for Easter [or, rather,
the true Passover] (hence the name Quartodecimans
[meaning ‘Fourteeners']), the Council of Nicaea adopted the annual Sunday following the full moon
after the vernal equinox (March 21)”
-
R.K. Bishop quote, Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, 1984, Editor: Walter
Elwell, "Easter".