During this process, Constantine found it no difficult matter to integrate his old ways -- Mithraism, pagan holidays, rituals, and festivals -- into his new state religion. This includes replacing God's Passover with Easter (named after a pagan goddess), replacing God's Sabbath with Constantine's favorite day, the day of the sun, to name just a few. Admittedly, some of these teachings were already infiltrating the body of Messiah by this time; Constantine merely made it official.
On the venerable day of the Sun let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed. In the country however persons engaged in agriculture may freely and lawfully continue their pursuits because it often happens that another day is not suitable for grain-sowing or vine planting; lest by neglecting the proper moment for such operations the bounty of heaven should be lost.
-Constantine, dies Solis decree, 320CE
Constantine was also fiercely racist; his hatred and contempt for Jews survive in his writings and decrees to this day.
Unfortunately and sadly, Christianity looks to Constantine and his first Nicaean council and resulting Nicaean Creed as a basic doctrine and statement of faith, even to this day.
If more people read some of transcripts from Nicaea, we'd be less accepting of the trademarks of western gentile Christianity -- Easter, Lent, Christmas, Sunday sabbath. Don't take my word for it, below is a Nicaean transcript regarding Passover, and whether to replace that "despicable, ugly Jewish festival" with something more, errmmm, Christian. You know, something on the day of the sun.
Be forewarned: this central Christian doctrine contains racist language directed towards Jews.
When the question relative to the sacred festival of Easter arose, it was universally thought that it would be convenient that all should keep the feast on one day; for what could be more beautiful and more desirable than to see this festival, through which we receive the hope of immortality, celebrated by all with one accord and in the same manner? It was declared to be particularly unworthy for this, the holiest of festivals, to follow the customs (the calculation) of the Jews who had soiled their hands with the most fearful of crimes, and whose minds were blinded. In rejecting their custom we may transmit to our descendants the legitimate mode of celebrating Easter; which we have observed from the time of the Saviour’s passion (according to the day of the week).We ought not therefore to have anything in common with the Jew, for the Saviour has shown us another way; our worship following a more legitimate and more convenient course (the order of the days of the week: And consequently in unanimously adopting this mode, we desire, dearest brethren to separate ourselves from the detestable company of the Jew. For it is truly shameful for us to hear them boast that without their direction we could not keep this feast. How can they be in the right, they who, after the death of the Saviour, have no longer been led by reason but by wild violence, as their delusion may urge them? They do not possess the truth in this Easter question, for in their blindness and repugnance to all improvements they frequently celebrate two Passovers in the same year. We could not imitate those who are openly in error.
How, then, could we follow these Jews who are most certainly blinded by error? For to celebrate a Passover twice in one year, is totally inadmissible.
But even if this were not so it would still be your duty not to tarnish your soul by communication with such wicked people (the Jews). You should consider not only that the number of churches in these provinces make a majority, but also that it is right to demand what our reason approves, and that we should have nothing in common with the Jews.[1]
Thus, for the last 1700 years, Christians think of Passover as something "Jewish", despite all the apostles, Paul, and Messiah himself keeping God's festival of Passover. We instead celebrate Jesus' resurrection on a day named after a pagan fertility goddess, Easter.
It's no wonder most Jews don't believe in Messiah; these early Christians were so anti-Jewish, they would likely die in horror to find Messiah himself was a Jew.
After the council of Nicaea, Christianity steadily diverted from its Hebrew roots and abandoned most everything the early Messiah-followers were accustomed to: Sabbath keeping, celebrating God's festivals, keeping Torah. It truly became a new religion because of these men, as opposed to "The Way" sect of Judaism it started out as.
To this day, most Christians are still convinced such things are "Jewish" and have no place in the life of a Christian. It is my goal to refute such anti-semitic lies, bring clarity, and restore the Hebrew roots of the modern religion of Christianity.
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footnotes:
1. Gleaned from Dr. Henry R. Percival’s “The Nicean and post Nicean Fathers”. Vol. XIV Grand Rapid: Erdmans pub. 1979,pgs. 54-55