Mazina aabakomba mituni ngobaita mazuba
aamvwiki akainduluka kulembwa amukkalenda libelesyegwa muzisi zyiliita kuti
nzyabuna Kristu. Kufumbwa ciindi notulanga akkalenda lilikunembo lyesu,lyoonse
kuli ciibalusyo calukamantano akataa Buna Kristu aBukombi bwazilengwa leza oobo
bwaacitika nkaambo kakuleya kasimpe kupati– ooko “kuleya kasimpe” nkwaakali
kaambilizya mwaapositolo Paulu, kwaacitika mumisela mitaanzi yacikombelo cabuna
Kristu akubamba Bbabbelo wamazubaano uuzwide kupyopyongana mulusyomo,
amuzilengwalengwa eezyo zilipeekezya muzina lyokwa Kristu.(1)
Ncintu citeeleleka, pele cuusisya, ncakuti
Bana Kristu bamazubaano beezyeezya kuti eeyo mvwiki iizyibidwe mazubaano,
yakali kuzinguluka kakwiina kulekezya kuzwa Kumalengelo:nyika yoonse
ilisaawngene kubelesya kkalenda lina Gregory kwamyaka iili makumi cisambomwe
alimwi kujanza limwi, zibeela ziindene zyanyika yakumbo, zyakazumina kubelesya
kkalenda lina Juliyasi kwamyaka ili zyuulu zyobile yakainda! Nokuba boobo, kubula
luzyibo lwa kasimpe tacili cintu cikonzya kucinca kasimpe pe; mbuli
mbwaakayungizya kwaambaYahuwah muli Hosiya 4:6: “Bantu bangu balanyonyooka
nkaambo kakubula luzyibo.” Mulimo wamuntu uli woonse ngwa kuliyandawida kuti
ninzi kasimpe akukkala maumi aabo kweendelanya aluzyibo oolo.
Kuswaangana akataa Buna Kristu abukombi
bwazilengwa leza munzila ya Mithraizimu, wakali mulimo wakatola myaanda myaanda
yamyaka. Eelyo niwaamanizya kucitika mulimo ooyu, Nsabata yakasimpe yamulawo
wane yakasweekela mukweezyeezya kwakuti mvwiki yamazubaano yakasikila alindiswe
kakwiina kucinca kuzwa Kumalengelo. Nokuba kuti kuli zibeela zya Cizuminano
Cipya eezyo zyaamba kuti, bana Kristu bakacinamatide zilengwa zyakukomba
zilengwa leza, pele kucinca kupati kwakasobelela kunjila mucikombelo kwiinda
mumakkalenda aamisyobo misyobo. Ikkalenda lina Juliyasi, litobezya zuba lilikke
kalijisi amvwiki iizunguluka kakunyina kulekezya
eelyo lyakaimpene kuzwa ku kkalenda litobezya mwezi azuba antoomwe, eelyo
ndibaali kubelelsya bama Juuda abamaapositolo bana Kristu. Kucita makwebo acisi
cibelesya kkalenda liimpene, cakali cintu cikatazya. Aboobo kuzwa muzyalani
lyamusela mutaanzi kazyedwe Kristu, Ignatius “wakabanda nzila iisumpula kubamba
Nsondo akuleka kubamba Nsabata.” (2)
Bana Kristu baku Loma, bakali bamwi bataanzi kutalika kukomba
kutobezya kkalenda lina Juliyasi kuleka Kkalenda lya Bbaibbele. Eeci
cakaletelezya kuzingwa mizeezo akataa bakomba zilengwa leza. Munsaa myaka
175-178 A.D. Kazyedwe Kristu, Celsus, umwi musongo uyiide waku Loma, wakalemba On
the True Doctrine: A Discourse Against the Christians. (3)
Eeci ncaakalemba kwakali kusampaula buna
Kristu kupati. Eezyo nzyaakalemba “zitondezya buyo asyoonto kucimwa buna kristu ooko bakomba zilengwa
leza nkubaajisi nibaali kubalwana ziindi zimwi” (4) nokuba boobo
wakafubaazya bana Kristu mukutobezya zintu zicitwa abakomba mituni. “Caatobela
ncakuti, nzyaakalemba zyakatondezya kuti bana Kristu balangikaanga mbantu
babyaabi mumeso aabaleli babo ba Loma.”(5)
Nokuba kuti kunyina zyakalembululwa ziciliko
sunu, bunji bwazyo zyakainduluka kwaambwa a Origen, mubbuku lyakwe lya Contra
Celsum. Cimwi ncakalembulula cikondelezya, cijatikizya Mithraizimu abaleza
bazilengwa leza.(6) Ncintu cikondelezya kuti, Origen taakasoleka
kukazya cakaamba Celsus cijatikizya zintu zyeendelana akataa Buna Kristu a
Mithraizimu, pele wakazyeeleba biyo zintu eezyo. (7)
Inzila imwi bana Kristu mbubaali kutambula
zilengwa zyabakomba mituni, yakazinga ba Loma bakali kukomba zilengwa leza.
Tertullian ooyo wakapona mumyaka 160-225 katanazyalwa Kristu, Mulembi wabuna
Kristu, wakalemba cintu cikwabilila bana Kristu eeco ciyubununa nzila yakali
kutola busena eelyo Bana Kristu bamwi nibaali kukomba mu Nsondo, abamwi
kabakomba mu Nsabata, alimwi bamwi kabacilamatide ku Nsabata yamu Bbaibbele
iibalwa kutobezya mwezi azuba. Twaambo ntwaakalemba tuyubununa kuti bana Kristu
bakatalika kulanganyigwa aanga mbabaabo batobela Mithraizimu:
Bamwi, bakatonkomene, bayeeya kuti leza wa
Zuba ngoleza wabana Kristu, nkaambo kakuti balapaila kabalangide kujwe
akusekelela pobwe mubuzuba bwa Zuba. Hena webo kuli ncocita cilezya kusika
aawo? Tee kayi bunji bwenu, mukuyandisya kukomba zilengwa leza zyamulengalenga,
ziindi zimwi mucengamikila milomo yenu kuzuba nomwaamba cintu. Ndinywe ncobeni
nomutambula Zuba kuti libe akati
kamazuba aali ciloba aamvwiki, alimwi amumazuba aayo aaitwa kujatikizya ndilyo
. . . . (8)
Ncintu cuubauba kubona bana Kristu bakomba
mu Nsondo mbobanga balibonyaanga mbantu bakomba zilengwa leza. Eezyo zintu
zikonzyana akati ka Kristu a Mithra zibikkilizya zitobela:
• Boonse bobile bakali kutaminina
kuba Mufutuli wabantu
• Kuzyala kuzwa ku mulindu
utoonedwe, akuswaigwa abeembezi bambelele
• Mwiiyi weendeenda; uyiisya
kulijata
• Bakalijisi basikwiiya bali
kkumi ababili
• Maleele
• Kuzyalwa mu Nalupale 25 (9)
• Kutuuzyilwa luumuno lwa nyika
• Kuzikkwa mucuumbwe campako
yabbwe; kubuka mubuzuba bwatatu
• Mufutuli wamukowa wabantu
• Wakalizyibidwe kuti Mweembezi
Mubotu alimwi Mumuni Wanyika; akuzyibwa kuti Ninzila, Nkasimpe a Buumi
• Basyoma muli nguwe
bakasyomezyegwa kupona kutamani
Eelyo bana Kristu nibaatalika kubelesya
kkalenda lina Juliyasi mukukomba, bakomba zilengwa leza bakabona buyo zintu
zisyoonto kapati zibaandaanya kuzwa kubuna Kristu, pele buyo kukaka kwa bana
Kristu kuumpila muleli tununkilizyo, eeco ncecaaba mulandu wakusola kugwisya
mfulumende. Cimwi caakaamba Tertullian cilaa mulimo, ciyubununa kwiimpana
akataa Bana Kristu, bamwi nibaali kukomba mu Nsondo, bamwi bakakomba mu
Mujibelo akutondezya kuleya kuzwa kucilengwa caba Juuda (bana Kristu
baapositoli aciindi eeco aabo bakacili kubamba Nsabata ya kkalenda lya
Bbaibbele):
Inga twayeeyelwa kuba baku Pesiya [Bantu ba
Mithraizimu], antela . . . Nkaambo kakuti, cilizyibidwe kuti notupaila tulanzya
kujwe . . . Mbweenya, abwalo kuti twabamba buzuba bwa Zuba kuti tusekelele muli
mbubo (mukaambo kali kulaale akukomba Zuba), tuli abusena bwabili kuli baabo
babamba buzuba bwa Saturn, abalo bapindula cilengwa caba Juuda kabatakubwene
kuti bacita boobo. (10)
Eeci caamba kuti kukomba Mujibelo akwalo
nkuleya kuzwa kucilengwa caba Juuda cakukomba mubuzuba bwa ciloba bwakkalenda
lyakumatalikilo.
Mutayeeyi kuti nkaambo bamwi bana Kristu
bakatambula kkalenda lyabakomba zilengwa leza azilengwa zyabo kuti ooku kucinca
kwaacitika kakunyina kutongooka kuzwa kubana Kristu bamwi pe. Bana Kristu
baapositoli, aabo bakazuunyene muziiyo zyabaapositoli abamwi basololi bamuuya,
baakalala kapati nibaabona bukombi bwamituni kabuyaa kunjila mu ekklesia. Kucimwa bana Kristu
kwakali mpobwiindide kulutila ncobeni. Mulimo wa Tertullian, wakulemba Apologeticum,
wakali wakukwabilila buna Kristu kuzwa kukutundululwa abakomba mituni.
Kaambo keni ncotubelesyela bbala lya Ekklesia
kutali lya cikombelo eelyo notwaamba basyomeka bokwa Yahuwah mu makani
aankamu ya WLC nkakuti, ibbala lya
“cikombelo” talyaambi bwini mbulyaali kwaamba bbala litaanzi lyaci Giliki,
“Ekklesia.” Mucizuminano Cipya coonse, Ekklesia caamba baabo Bakaitilwa
Kuzwa Anze. Ibbala lya “cikombelo,” eelyo likulwaizya kubunganya nkamu, aboobo
ndibbala lilubide kusandululwa alimwi tiilyakeelede kubelesyegwa pe. Bana
Kristu mbambabo ncobeni Baitilwa Kuzwa Anze.Batobeli ba Kristu
bamasimpe mbambabo ncobeni Bakaitilwa Kuzwa Anze kuzwa mumbunga zyabupaizi
azikombelo zya Bbabbuloni uuwide. Eelyo lwiito lwakuyaamuka Bbabbuloni
nolumvwidwe, kunyina naba omwe uceelede kupiluka ku zikombelo zyaku Bbabbuloni
amisyobo yiindene yabupaizi.
Tertullian, ooyo wakalaa cipego cabusongo
akuyandisya twaambyo tweeleba cintu, wakatondezya musyobo ooyo bapati bankuta
mbubaali kupenzyegwa bana Kristu kweelanya abasimilandu. (11)
Similandu wakali kutundululwa kusikila wazumina mulandu ngwaakacita,
bana Kristu aabo bakazumina kuba “BanaKristu” bakali kutundululwa akupenzyegwa
kusikila bakaka kuya kumbele kuba banakristu. Banakristu bakali
kutamikizyigwa kucita zitondwa mumukwasyi akulya bana bavwanda, nokuba kuti
eeyo milandu tiiyakajanwa kuti yakalicitidwe ncobeni. Kuyungizya boobo,
Tertullian wakabona kuti, bakomba zilengwa leza (aabo bakasulaika bana
mbubaataali kuyanda) bakali babbivwe kapati cakuti , zitondwa zyamumukwasyi
kuli mbabo cakali cintu cicitika nokuba kuti tacizyibidwe!
Tacili cintu ceelede kubana Kristu
bamazubaano, tabeelede kubeteka baabo bakainda mukutundululwa akupenzyegwa
kupati mumazuba aakainda. Nokuba boobo ceelede kuteelelwa kuti 
bukombi bwa
mituni bwakabamba nzila zyakunjilila mubuna Kristu kakuli kuzwangana akutikaika
kwabulowa bwabana Kristu aabo bakajaigwa. Aabo baakaka kulosya nokaba kanunkilizyo
kuti balemekezye muleli “wabulemu” kanjikanji bakali kusinikizyigwa kubweza
janza lizwide lya tununkilizyo tuvweledwe amasizi aabbebba mulilo. Kuti naa
muntu ooyo naakalosya tununkilizyo ooto tuyaka mulilo nkaambo kakupya kutunwe
nokuba kulosya nkaambo kakuti tunwe twakamanina kupidilizya, bakomba zilengwa
leza bakali kusekelela kuti kulemekezya kweelede lino kwapegwa kumuleli. (12)
Bana Kristu bakali kulangilwa kwaabila
tununkilizyo kuli baleza baba Loma. “Mipailo kuzilengwa leza zyamulengalenga mumazuba
ngozyaapedwe, cakali cibeela cakukomba zilengwa leza zyamulengalenga.” (13)Bamwi bayiide bamazubaano balazumina kuti, “Inzya eelyo Nsabata yabuzuba
bwaciloba niijanwa kubelesya kkalenda lya Bbaibbele, isikila mumazuba
aayindene; pele coonse ncayanda kuli ndiswe Yahuwah nkubamba buzuba bwa
ciloba bwa Nsabata kufumbwa kkalenda libelesyegwa.” Lusyomo lwamusyobo ooyu
luyubununa kubulila luzyibo lwazintu ziyandika. Mumvwiki yabaleza bazilengwa
leza kuli baleza bali ciloba balibonya aabo bana Kristu baapositoli mbibaazyi
kuti baiminina kukomba madaimona. Mangwalo alizumenene kuti kukomba zilengwa
leza nkukomba madaimona: “Pele Ime ndaamba kuti, zintu eezyo Banamasi [bakomba
zilengwa leza] nzyobatuuzya, batuuzyila madaimona kuleka Yahuwah: alimwi Ime
inga nsyeeyanda kuti nywebo mukombe madaimona.” (14)
Cifwanikiso cilaatala aawa (15) cijanwa
mubbuku lya Tortures and Torments of Christian Martrys akutondezya muna
Kristu, mucifwanikiso A, kasinikizyigwa kubweza masizi aayaka mulilo.(16)
Mabala aali mujungusi lya cifwanikiso aamba kuti: “Uujayigwa janza lyakwe
kalizulide tununkilizyo tuvweledwe masizi aayaka mulilo, alimwi nkaambo
kakuumpwa natapaula tununkilizyo, waambwa kuti wapa cituuzyo ku mutuni.”
Myeengwe iikoya ndabo iikosolana boobu X, yiiminina leza daimona wacilengwa
leza wiitwa zina lya Jupiter.(17) Kunyina muna Kristu wamasimpe,
kuti kayanda kuvwuna buumi bwakwe wakalikukonzya kutuuzya tununkilizyo mubuzuba
bwa leza ooyu, nokuba bwa Saturn – nokuba kuti buzuba bwa ciloba bwa Nsabata
mumwezi ooyo nibwakali kusikila mubuzuba bwa Saturn. Kucita boobo inga nicaapa
kuti alangikaanga wazumina kuti Saturn ngo “leza” wabuzuba oobo.
Nzila zyama Kkalenda zijatikizya tunji
kwiinda mbozyiteelelwa. Buzuba bwini muntu nakomba mbobuyubununa Leza ooyo
ngwakombwa. Bana Kristu bataanzi bakalizyi kabotu kuti kukomba ooko kuyeeme
akkalenda lyabakomba zilengwa leza, kwakali kupa bulemu kuli leza mutuni.
Kukomba mubuzuba bwa kkalenda litobezya mwezi azuba antoomwe lya Mulengi,
bakali kulitondezya kutobela Eloah wa Kujulu.
Kuzumina kkalenda lyabakomba zilengwa leza kwa
Bana Kristu tiikwaacitika mubuzuba bomwe bwalo pe. Bamwi bana Kristu bakalezya
mukampango komwe, alimwi bamwi mukampango kambi. Bamwi bakalamatila kkalenda
litobezya mwezi azuba, kakuli bamwi bakatobela Nsabata
iitobezya mwezi, pele kabatobela aNsondo ayalo. Alimwi bamwi
bakabamba oonse obile mazuba aa Mujibelo amu Nsondo, kakuli bamwi kabakomba mu
Nsondo buyo. Kupyopyongana kwamusela omwe kwakaya kumbele mumusela uutobela.
Muntaamu ili yoonse yabupoopo, yakutambula
misyobo yakukomba zuba, akukazya kukomba mu Nsondo, kwakali kukazyana akataa
bana Kristu bakasimpe. Aabo bakali kusyomeka kuli Kristu ajwi lisalala lyokwa
[Yahuwah], bakaya kumbele kubamba Nsabata ya [Simalelo] kweendelanya mbuli
mulawo, alimwi kweendelanya ajwi lyokwa [Yahuwah], eelyo libikka Nsabata kuti
ncitondezyo ca [Yahuwah], Mulengi wamajulu anyika, wiimpene ali baleza boonse.
Aaba bakaya kumbele kukazya misyobo yoonse yakukomba zuba. Bamwi bakatobela
nzila eeyo, kapati aabo bakali Kujwe, akubamba Nsabata a Nsondo. Pele aabo
bakali kumbo bakali kulelwa a Loma akweendelezyegwa a cikombelo ababbishopo
baku Loma, bakazumina buyo Nsondo ilikke akwiibamba. (18)
Nkaambo kakuti makkalenda akaliimpene, eeco
cakajatikizya zibeela zyabuumi zyoonse. Aabo batakayandide mumyoyo yabo
kutobela kasimpe kasalala, bakalilekelela akutobela zilubide. Basicikolo
basyoma kuti Eusebius waku Caesarea, wakali mulembi mutaanzi wakalemekezya zina
lyabukombi bwazilengwa leza lya “Nsondo” kuti lyuubaubile bana Kristu. Walo
wakati kwaamba buzuba bwa dies Solis, Nsondo:”muli mbubo Zuba lya
Bululami lyakaimpukila amiiya yesu.” (19) Wakaya kumbele kulemba
kuti wakabona “busyu bwa bulemu bwa Kristu, akubona buzuba bwa mumuni Wakwe.” (20)
Cilembedwe ncibakaamba banaKristu mbubaapinduka kuya kukkalenda lyabakomba
zilengwa leza, cakayobolwa akulembwa
muzyuumbwe zinjaanji. Cimwi cabuna Kristu cilembedwe cijatikizya dies
Mercurii (Buzuba bwa Mercury. Buzuba nicaalembwa eeco, busyomwa kuti bwakali A.D 291 nokuba 302 (21)
Acimwi cilembedwe cabuna Kristu cakai cakuti, cimwi cakaindi loko cakajanwa ku
Loma, caambilizya dies Veneris (Buzuba
bwa Venus). Caandaanya cilembedwe eeci ncakuti cililembedwe buzuba buna
Juliyasi abuzuba bwa kkalenda litobezya mwezi azuba antoomwe! Buzuba A.D 269,
caamba kuti:
Mukulailila kwa Claudius a Paternus,
mubuzuba bwa Nones bwa Vwumbi Pati, mubuzuba bwa Venus, alimwi mubuzuba bwa
makumi obile abwane bwamwezi uutobezya mwezi, Leuces wakabikka ciibalusyo eeci
amwanaakwe muyandisi Severa, aku Muuya Uusalala Wako. Wakafwa kalaa myaka 55,
myezi 11 amazuba aali kkumi yakuzyalwa.(22)
Buzuba bwa “Nones” ngu Vwumbi Pati 5, oobo
bwakasikila mubuzuba bwa Venus, Bwasanu (Friday). Mumwezi ooyo, oobo buzuba
bwakali kweendelana abuzuba bwa makumi obile abwane bwamwezi, nokuba bwa
“Buzuba Bwabili” mumvwiki ya Bbaibbele.
Ooku kucenguluka kuzwa kubuna kristu bwa
baapositoli, kuya kubuna Kristu buvwelene a milazyo yakkalenda lya bakomba
zilengwa leza kwakaboolela mukaambo kakubula luzyibo luliko mazubaano
kujatikizya kkalenda lyakasimpe lya Mulengi. Imvwiki yabukombi bwazilengwa leza
iizinguluka kakwiina kulekezya isikila buyo aciindi cimwi kupiluka mumisela
iili musyule, kutegwa yaambwe kuti yakaliko lyoonse. Twaambo twamisela
tujatikizya kkalenda lina Juliyasi, twakalubwa alimwi lino tubelesyegwa
ntwaambo “tutabilila” Mujibelo kuti nje Nsabata ya Bbaibbele: ooku nkokwaamba
kuti imvwiki yamazubaano iina Gregory yakali kuzinguluka lyoonse mumazuba aali
ciloba aboobo mvwiki azyalo zyakali kwiinduluka kuzinguluka. Mujibelo, aboobo, mweelede
kuba nje “Nsabata yabuzuba bwa ciloba” ya mulawo wane.
Bakatolika a Basikukazya bakomba mu Nsondo,
buzuba butaanzi bwa mvwiki iina Gregory, “mbobumboni” bwakuti Nsabata mbuzuba
bwini bwa ciloba bwa Nsabata ya Bbaibbele. “Kuti Mujibelo kiitali Nsabata
yamasimpe, nkaambo nzi Saatani ncanga walikatazya kubaa bantu bakomba mu
Nsondo?” Ooku kweenwa munzila zyobile eezi kwakayumya kutondezya kuti aabo
babamba Nsabata ya Mujibelo beezyeezya kuti Mujibelo nje Nsabata yamu
Bbaibbele. Nokuba boobo, tusimpe twamisela tulamunika mumusinze wakulubila
azilengwa zyabantu akutondezya bukombi bwazilengwa leza oobo buli mumazuba aakukomba aamazubaano,
Nsondo a Mujibelo.
(1) R. L. Odom, Sunday in Roman Paganism, (New York: TEACH Services, Inc., 2003), p. 202.
(2) Eviatar Zerubavel, The Seven Day Circle, (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1985), p. 22; Ignatius, Epistle to the Magnesians,(The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Grand Rapids, Michigan: W. B. Eerdmans, 1956, James Donaldson and Alexander Roberts, eds.), Vol. 1, pp. 59-65.
(3) See On the True Doctrine, translated by R. Joseph Hoffmann, (New York: Oxford University Press, 1987).
(4) “Celsus the Platonist,”Catholic Encyclopedia, NewAdvent.org.
(5) Odom, op. cit., p. 54.
(6) Origen, Against Celsus, book 6, chapter 22 in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1913), Vol. 4, p. 583.
(7) Ibid.
(8) Tertullian, Ad Nationes, Book 1, Chapter 13 in J. P. Migne, Patrologiæ Latinæ Cursus Completus, (Paris, 1844-1855), Volume 1, columns 369-372.
(9) While Christ was not born on Dec. 25, it remains modern Christendom’s “official” birthday for the Messiah.
(10) Tertullian, Apologia, chap. 16, in J. P. Migne, Patrologiæ Latinæ, Vol. 1, cols. 369-372; standard English translation in Ante-Nicene Fathers, (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1913), Vol. 3, p. 31.
(11) For further research, see www.tertullian.org.
(12) Antonio Gallonio, De SS. Martyrum Cruciatibus, 1591. Published in English: Tortures and Torments of the Christian Martyrs, A. R. Allinson, trans., (London: Fortune Press, 1903), p. 143. The intent of the book was the “edification of the faithful” and published with the approval of the Roman Catholic Church.
(13) Odom, op.cit., p. 158.
(14) I Corinthians 10:20
(15) This illustration was a copper-plate engraving done by Antonio Tempesta of Firenza (Florence) taken after the designs of Giovanni de Guerra of Modena, painter to Pope Sixtus V.
(16) Gallonio, Tortures and Torments of the Christian Martyrs, op.cit., p. 138.
(17) Jupiter’s Day, dies Jovis, corresponds to the modern Thursday.
(18) A. T. Jones, The Two Republics, (Ithaca, Michigan: A. B. Publishing, Inc., n.d.), pp. 320-321.
(19) Eusebius, Commentary on the Psalms, Psalm 91 (Psalm 92 in A.V.), in J. P. Migne, Patrologiæ Græccæ Cursus Completus, (Paris, 1856-1866), Volume 23, column 1169.
(20) Eusebius, Proof of the Gospel, Book 4, chapter 16, translated by W. J. Ferrar, Vol. 1, p. 207 as quoted in ibid.
(21) E. Diehl, Inscriptiones Latinæ Christianæ Veteres, (Berolini, 1925), Vol. 2, p. 118, #3033.
(22) Ibid., p. 193, #3391. See also, G. B. de Rossi, Inscriptiones Christianæ Urbis Romæ, Vol. 1, part 1, p. 18, #11.
