The Ancient Witnesses

144 • The Ancient Witnesses: A Journey to Discover Our Sacred Roots

“What’s the big deal about yeast anyway?” said Preacher. “That’s what I want to know!” said Cesar. “It’s the mystery of Pascha ,” I repeated, “just like Mentor says.” “Why guess?” said Father Greg. “The witnesses are here to help.” “Is there a witness that can help us with this question, Mentor?” I asked. “There is a book in the reading room that will help,” he replied. We followed Mentor back to the reading room where he pulled a book entitled On Pascha from the shelf. “You will be joining the Passover celebration led by Bishop Melito of Sardis,” he said. 44 “That’s fantastic!” said Father Greg, who told us a little about ancient Passover meals. We arranged ourselves around the table and put our heads down again. In a few moments I found myself in a darkened basilica or church, lit only by candle light. Small groups of ancient worshipers were seated around low tables set with flat bread and various small vessels. I was hungry and wanted to break off a piece of flat bread and eat it, but I waited. Near the altar, someone was reading aloud the story of Exodus in Hebrew, which began, “ Hachodesh hazeh lachem rosh : This month shall be for you the

44 The churches led by Bishop Melito celebrated Easter on the Jewish feast day of the Passover (the fourteenth of the Jewish month Nisan), rather than on the traditional Sunday following Passover used by most Gentile Christians in Rome at that time. They were called “quartodecimans” after the Latin term for fourteen.