More on the two Easters

Given my composite western-Byzantine roots, when I was growing up, we always celebrated Easter twice, the second time with my paternal relatives. Even today there is a big family gathering at my aunt and uncle's house near Chicago. I wish we could be with them for the occasion.

Here is Sean Gonsalves, writing for the Cape Cod Times, explaining in not too great detail why the Orthodox celebrate Easter so much later than westerners this year. He cites some statistics of which I was not aware:

The Antiochian Orthodox Church in America, for example, has seen its numbers grow from 65 parishes throughout the United States 30 years ago to 300 parishes today. A major part of that growth has been Protestant Christians converting to orthodoxy.

"St. Michael's was just a mission two years ago. Now we are a full parish representing 70 families of many ethnic groups - Lebanese, Syrian, Russian, Ukrainian, Greek, and many converts." In fact, [the Rev. Nicholas] Manikas said, half of the clergy in American Orthodox churches are converts from other Christian denominations.

If an autocephalous North American Orthodox Church ever comes into existence, it will probably be led by the Antiochian Orthodox, who are least blighted by the various ethnic nationalisms to which the Orthodox on this side of the pond are so prone.