The Ancient Witnesses

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

subject of Christ’s resurrection, for example, he began by emphasizing “our Christian Passover in contrast to the Jewish customs” because “in contrast to the Jewish commemoration of Passover, God was doing a new thing as a sign pointing to Christ’s return.” Likewise, about the Passover he explained that, “Today’s feast, brothers, does not connect the old with the new, nor does it keep the flesh of the lamb for tomorrow, but while it makes the past a partner with the present in solemn devotion, and joins our Passover with the Jewish Passover, it weans the infants newly regenerated, because as the Apostle says, “The old has passed away, and see all things have been made new.” 111 Chrysologus strongly emphasized the radical new thing God was doing. He spoke of the Christian commemoration of Easter as “today’s feast,” and he referred to newly baptized believers as the “newly regenerated.” “Today’s feast,” he added, “does not connect the old with the new, nor does it keep the flesh of the lamb for tomorrow.” 112 In this way the Bishop interpreted the warning in Exodus not to allow any of the Passover lamb to remain until the next day. The Resurrection In the place of the annual Jewish festivals, Chrysologus emphasized the Church year calendar.

111 2 Cor.5:17. Peter Chrysologus, Sermon 73 in the Fathers of the Church vol. 110, 12.

112 See Exodus 12:10.