The Modern Focus on Fashion
African Americans will celebrate the religious holiday of Easter this weekend. Many of us only think about buying new clothes for this spring festival. However, buying new clothes for Easter is like Santa Claus bringing toys for Christmas. It holds no real religious significance.
It always confuses me to see people focus so heavily on economic rituals. We often ignore the actual traditions. In my life, I have never heard white people discuss getting new clothes for Easter. Maybe this is an exclusive trend for our community. We are a highly creative and stylish people. This century-long fad might belong entirely to African-Americans.
Commercialization and Our Community
Fashion designers already recognize our buying power. They know a sizable portion of our community finds self-esteem through clothing. In a recent Forbes Magazine interview, Tommy Hilfiger discussed these consumers. He noted that many would rather own a Rolex than a house. Unfortunately, he is telling the truth.
I do not want to ruin the party. Let us shift our focus away from modern shopping habits. Instead, we can look at the vital ancient role Black people played in shaping Easter.
Pope Victor I and Early Church Reform
Many people do not know that Easter underwent significant reforms. An African Pope named Victor I drove these massive changes. The Catholic Church has seen four Black Popes in its history. Three were pure Africans, and one had mixed African and European parents.
These four historical figures are Victor I, Melchiades, Gelasius I, and Adrian. Melchiades famously brought Christianity to its final triumph over the Roman Empire. However, let us turn our attention back to Victor I.
Unifying the Easter Festival
Victor I noticed a disturbing trend among early Christians. One group observed the fast of Lent and mourned the passion of Christ. At the same time, other Christians joyously celebrated the resurrection. Victor determined to stop this division. He wanted to bring complete unity to the Easter Festival.
To fix this, he tried to persuade Asiatic Christians to follow the general practice of the Western church. Victor ordered Polycrates to hold a council of Asiatic Bishops. He wanted them to adopt the Western custom. Polycrates sent their final decision back to Victor and the Church of Rome.
Next, Victor called a meeting of Italian Bishops in Rome. Historians record this as the earliest known synod. He also wrote to leading Bishops across various districts. He urged them to gather their local Bishops and discuss the Easter Festival.
Establishing Sunday as Easter
Letters and responses soon flooded in from all congregations. These letters all confirmed that churches observed Easter on a Sunday. Victor then commanded the Asiatic Christians to abandon their old customs. He told them to accept the majority ruling and celebrate Easter on Sunday.
He warned that failure to obey would result in strict punishment. He threatened to excommunicate all Christians in Asia who refused. Naturally, this harsh ruling met with some heavy resistance.
You can learn more about this history from History Hub in their short video: Pope Victor Iā¤ļøUnifier of Easter and Language#facts#the#history#churchhistory#popeš.
A Lasting Legacy
His ruling did not become universal until the middle of the third century. Unfortunately, Victor did not live to see his massive success. He died in 199 AD. The church buried him in the Vatican near St. Peter.
Today, the Roman Church remembers him fondly for his Easter ruling. They name him in the canon of the Ambrosian Mass. Scholars also say he was the first person in Rome to celebrate the Holy Mysteries in Latin.
If you want to dive deeper, you can watch AFRICAN POPES IN ROME by WATCHINGTV08. You might also read African Presence in Early Europe compiled by Ivan Van Sertima or The Saints go Marching In by Robert Fulton Holtzclaw. These books make better purchases than a new Easter outfit! I will stop here, though. Recommending a book over an outfit could get me in trouble.
Originally published by Cinque Brown / African-American Literary Book Club.