Easter Even.—The day between Good Friday and Easter Day is so called and commemorates the Descent of our Blessed Lord's soul into Hell (the place of departed spirits), while His Body rested in the grave. "There has ever been something of festive gladness in the celebration of Easter Even which sets it apart from Lent, notwithstanding the Fast still continues. To the disciples it was a day of mourning after an absent Master, but the Church of {93} the Resurrection sees already the triumph of the Lord over Satan and Death." Baptism is wont to be administered on Easter Even, because this was one of the two great times for baptizing converts in the Primitive Church, the other being Pentecost or Whitsun Day.
Easter Monday and Tuesday.—It was a very ancient custom of the Church to prolong the observance of Easter, as the "Queen of Festivals." At first the Festival was observed through seven days, and the Code of Theodosius directed a cessation of labor during the whole week. Afterwards the special services became limited to three days, the Council of Constance, A.D. 1094, having enjoined that Pentecost and Easter should both be celebrated with three festival days. This is now the custom of the Anglican Communion, which provides Collect, Epistle and Gospel not only for Easter Day, but also for Easter Monday and Easter Tuesday.
Easter Tide.—The weeks following Easter Day and reaching to
Ascension Day are so called. They commemorate the forty days our
Lord spent on earth after His Resurrection, commonly called THE
GREAT FORTY DAYS (which see).
Eastern Church.—The collective term by which is designated the Churches which formerly made part of the Eastern Empire of Rome. The Greek, Russian, Coptic, Armenian, Syrian and other eastern churches are those usually included in this Communion. But in strictness, the term "Eastern" or "Oriental Church" is applied only to the Graeco-Russian Church in communion with the Patriarch of {94} Constantinople. The great Schism whereby the communion between the East and the West was broken took place, A.D. 1054.
Eastward Position.—(See EAST, TURNING TO.)
Ecclesiastical Year.—(See CHRISTIAN YEAR.)
Ecumenical.—From a Greek word meaning general or universal. The name is given to certain councils composed of Bishops and other ecclesiastics from the whole Church. A Council to be ecumenical must meet three requirements: (1) It must be called of the whole Catholic Church; (2) it must be left perfectly free, and (3) it must be one whose decrees and definitions were subsequently accepted by the whole Church. It is commonly believed that there have been only six great Councils of the Church that satisfy these conditions. For a list of them see COUNCIL.
Elder.—This is the English translation of the Greek word Presbuteros, meaning Presbyter or Priest, the title of one admitted to the second Order of the Ministry. It has been pointed out that "in Scriptural usage and in Church History such a person as a lay Elder is an impossible person; the words contradict each other. The first hint of such an office was given by Calvin." (See PRIEST.)
Elements.—The bread and the wine in the Holy Communion, and the water in Holy Baptism are so-called.
Ember Days.—The Ember Days are the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday after the First Sunday in Lent; Whitsun Day; the 14th of September and the 13th day of December, and are regarded as the Fasts {95} of the four seasons. The time of their observance was definitely fixed by the Council of Placentia, A.D. 1095. Their origin is ascribed to Apostolic tradition. The derivation of the name Ember is uncertain. Some trace it to the Saxon word ymbren, meaning a "circuit," because they are periodically observed. Others derive it from the Anglo-Saxon word aemyrian, meaning "ashes," because these days are appointed to be kept as fasts, and ashes, as a sign of humiliation and mourning, were constantly associated with fasting. The Ember Days are appointed to be observed at the four seasons named because the Sundays following are the set times for Ordination to the Sacred Ministry. For this reason one of the two prayers, entitled, "For those who are to be admitted into Holy Orders," is to be read daily throughout the week.