Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Relating to Passover: Pertaining to the Jewish festival of Passover, which commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.
   • Relating to Easter: Pertaining to the Christian festival of Easter, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The family gathered for the paschal meal, reading from the Haggadah. (This describes the ritual meal of Passover.)
  • The priest discussed the significance of the paschal candle during the Easter Vigil service. (This refers to a candle used in Easter ceremonies.)
  • Theological texts often explore the connection between the paschal lamb of the Old Testament and the sacrifice of Christ. (This uses the term in a comparative religious context.)

Advanced Usage

• "Paschal mystery": In Christian theology, this term refers to the suffering, death, resurrection, and glorification of Jesus Christ.
  • The core of Christian faith is the celebration of the paschal mystery.
• "Paschal full moon": The ecclesiastical full moon used in calculations to determine the date of Easter.
  • The date of Easter is set as the Sunday following the paschal full moon.

Variants and Related Words

• Paschal Lamb (noun phrase):
  • Literal: The lamb sacrificed and eaten during the Jewish Passover (from the Book of Exodus).
  • Figurative (Christianity): A title for Jesus Christ, symbolizing his sacrifice.

    • In the Eucharist, Christians partake in the Paschal Lamb.

Synonyms

• Passover (when used as an adjective in a Jewish context): e.g., .
• Easter (when used as an adjective in a Christian context): e.g., .

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Paschal greeting": A traditional Easter greeting in some Christian cultures, often "Christ is risen!" with the response "He is risen indeed!"
  • The congregation exchanged the paschal greeting at the dawn service.

Adjective

1. of or relating to Passover or Easter
   • paschal lamb