Pat Naughtin wrote in USMA 23260:
I doubt that Constantin had much to do with it. The days of the week go way back to before the time of Moses and there is no reason to believe that their seven day cycle has been upset.Isn't the Roman Emperor Constantin important to this discussion. As I understand it, Constantin made a deal with the followers of Jesus to make their religion the state religion around the year 300 CE.However, Constantin also believed in not taking any chances so he maintained his personal beliefs in his own favourite god, Sol Invictus - the god of the invincible sun. By the way the annual feast day of Sol Invictus was the winter solstice - that proved each year that the sun was invincible - which occurred about December 25th). Because of the importance of Sol Invictus, his day, Sunday, was reinforced as the 'first' day of each week.
Hebrew English French German
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first day Sunday Dimanche Sonntag
second day Monday Lundi Montag
third day Tuesday Mardi Dienstag
fourth day Wednesday Mercredi Mittwoch
fifth day Thursday Jeudi Donnerstag
sixth day Friday Vendredi Freitag
seventh day Saturday Samedi Sonnabend
The names of the days in English, French and German obviously came from pre-Christian times, but their correspondence with the Hebrew names is solid.
The German Mittwoch is proof that Sunday is regarded as the first day of the week. There is also no doubt that Saturday is the Hebrew Sabbeth.
Joseph B. Reid
17 Glebe Road West
Toronto M5P 1C8 Telephone 416-486-6071
