Did Pope Sylvester redefine the “first day of the week” as the “Lord’s Day” in 325 AD? This article dismantles the viral claim using the Bible, Apostolic Fathers, Church Fathers, early Christian historical evidence, and modern scholarship. Includes timeline, comparison tables, quote boxes, and full annotated bibliography.

1. INTRODUCTION: THE VIRAL CLAIM

A Facebook post claims:

“In the year 325 AD, Sylvester, Bishop of Rome, changed the title of the first day, calling it the Lord’s Day!”

This is historically false.
The term “Lord’s Day” (Kyriakē hēmera) was already:

Used by St. John in the 1st century
Used by Apostolic Fathers in the 1st–2nd century
Universally recognized in Christian writings 200 years before Sylvester
Never the result of any papal decree

2. WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? — “LORD’S DAY” IS A 1st-CENTURY TERM

2.1 Lord’s Day is already in Scripture

Revelation 1:10 — “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day.”

The Greek term used here is:
κυριακῇ ἡμέρᾳ – kyriake hemera – “the Lord’s Day.”

The Book of Revelation was written ca. 90 AD —
235 years before Sylvester (325 AD).

2.2 The early Church already worshiped on the first day

Acts 20:7 — “On the first day of the week, we gathered to break bread.”

1 Corinthians 16:2 — “On the first day of every week…”

These verses show:

weekly Christian assembly
Eucharistic celebration
The first day was already special to Christians during apostolic times

3. EARLIEST EXTERNAL EVIDENCE — LONG BEFORE POPE SYLVESTER

3.1 Apostolic Fathers (100–150 AD)

The Didache (c. 80–100 AD)

“On the Lord’s Day of the Lord gather together…”
(Didache 14)

This is a 1st-century document.
Sylvester was born in ~285 AD — almost 200 years later.

St. Ignatius of Antioch (107 AD)

“…no longer observing the Sabbath, but living according to the Lord’s Day…”
(Letter to the Magnesians 9)

This is explicit, direct, and 100% pre-Constantinian.

St. Justin Martyr (155 AD)

“On the day called Sunday, we gather… because it is the day Jesus rose from the dead.”
(First Apology, 67)

Already standard Christian practice almost 170 years before Sylvester.

4. CHURCH FATHERS BEFORE CONSTANTINE

Church Father	Date	Quote about Sunday/Lord’s Day
Tertullian	197 AD	“We make Sunday a day of joy.”
Origen	230 AD	“The Lord’s Day is the day of resurrection.”
Cyprian of Carthage	250 AD	“The eighth day… the day of the Lord.”

These are all before Sylvester.

5. DID THE COUNCIL OF NICAEA CHANGE THE DAY OF WORSHIP?

No.
The Council of Nicaea (325 AD) never discussed:

Sunday worship
“Lord’s Day” terminology
changing biblical titles
altering Christian liturgy

The council focused on:

Arianism
Christ’s divinity
The Creed
Calculation of Easter

6. DID POPE SYLVESTER CHANGE ANYTHING?

6.1 What is historically known about Sylvester?

Pope from 314–335 AD
Key contributions:

oversight during Nicaea (though he wasn’t present)
support of Constantine
development of Roman basilicas

Zero historical documents link Sylvester to:

renaming days
redefining “Lord’s Day”
instituting Sunday worship

6.2 Evaluation from scholars

Modern historians (e.g., Jaroslav Pelikan, Eusebius scholars, and liturgical historians) agree:

“Sunday observance long predates Constantine or the papacy.”

7. WHY DID EARLY CHRISTIANS GATHER ON THE FIRST DAY? (Biblical Arguments)

(1) Jesus rose on Sunday

Matthew 28:1
Mark 16:2
Luke 24:1
John 20:1

(2) Jesus appeared to the disciples on Sunday

John 20:19, 26

(3) Pentecost occurred on Sunday

Leviticus 23:15–16 → the 50th day (Pentecost) always falls the day after the Sabbath.

(4) The early Church met for Eucharist on Sunday

Acts 20:7

(5) Paul commands giving offerings on Sunday

1 Corinthians 16:2

(6) The name “Lord’s Day” is biblical

Revelation 1:10

8. DEVELOPMENT OF THE TERM “LORD’S DAY”

Century	Usage	Evidence
1st century	Biblical term appears	Revelation 1:10
2nd century	Widespread liturgical term	Didache, Ignatius, Justin
3rd century	Universal usage in East & West	Tertullian, Origen, Cyprian
4th century	Incorporated into imperial language	Constantine’s edicts reference “the venerable day of the Sun,” not “changing names”
Post-4th century	Fixed in Christian tradition	Church liturgies & Fathers

There is no “change” — only continuity.

9. VISUAL ADD-ONS FOR BLOG

9.1 Comparison Table

Before Sylvester (0–300 AD)

Term “Lord’s Day” used (Rev 1:10)
Sunday worship universal
Apostolic Fathers teach Sunday worship
No pope involvement

During/After Sylvester (314–335 AD)

No decree about Lord’s Day
No doctrinal change
No change in Christian practice

9.2 Historical Timeline Graphic (Text-Version)

30–90 AD — Sunday Resurrection, Pentecost, Apostolic practice
90 AD — “Lord’s Day” in Revelation
100–150 AD — Didache & Ignatius use “Lord’s Day”
155 AD — Justin Martyr describes Sunday Mass
197–250 AD — Fathers affirm Lord’s Day theology
314–335 AD — Pope Sylvester: no Sunday decree
325 AD — Nicaea: no topic of Sunday change

9.3 Quote Box

“The Lord’s Day is a 1st-century apostolic term, not a 4th-century papal invention.”
— Summary of scholarly consensus

10. CATHOLIC TEACHING (CCC)

CCC 2174

“Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week… It is called the Lord’s Day.”

CCC 2175

“Sunday is explicitly distinguished from the Sabbath…”

CCC 1343

Early Christians met on the first day to celebrate the Eucharist (Acts 20:7).

None of these teachings attribute the term to Sylvester.

11. CONCLUSION

The viral claim that Pope Sylvester changed the first day of the week into the “Lord’s Day” in 325 AD is:

Biblically false
Historically false
Liturgically false
Scholarly false

“Lord’s Day” is apostolic, scriptural, and pre-Constantinian.
No pope invented it. No council changed it.

12. FULL ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY (Primary + Modern Scholarship)

A. Primary Sources (with annotations)

1. The Holy Bible

Rev 1:10, Acts 20:7, 1 Cor 16:2, Gospels on Sunday resurrection.
Primary scriptural evidence for Lord’s Day and Sunday assembly.

2. Didache (c. 80–100 AD)

Earliest extrabiblical use of “Lord’s Day.”

3. Ignatius of Antioch — Magnesians 9 (107 AD)

Explains Christians no longer keep Sabbath but the Lord’s Day.

4. Justin Martyr — First Apology 67 (155 AD)

Detailed description of Sunday Eucharist.

**5. Tertullian — Ad Nationes I.13**

Refers to Sunday as Christian day of joy.

6. Origen — Homilies on Exodus

Theological discussion of “Lord’s Day” as resurrection day.

7. Cyprian — Epistle 58

Calls Sunday the “eighth day” of Christ.

8. Eusebius — Life of Constantine

Historical confirmation of early Sunday practice.

B. Councils

Council of Nicaea (325 AD)

No reference to Sunday renaming or changing worship day.

C. Modern Scholarly Works

**1. Jaroslav Pelikan — The Christian Tradition, Vol. 1**

Traces liturgical development; confirms early Sunday practice.

**2. Philip Schaff — History of the Christian Church, Vol. 2**

Documents Sunday worship origins before Constantine.

3. R.J. Bauckham — “The Lord’s Day” (Academic Essay)

A standard scholarly reference on the term kyriake hemera.

4. F.F. Bruce — The Canon of Scripture

Affirms Revelation’s early terminology.

5. Andrew McGowan — Ancient Christian Worship

Comprehensive study of early liturgical patterns.

6. Samuele Bacchiocchi — From Sabbath to Sunday

(Non-Catholic Adventist scholar; still admits Sunday practice predates the papacy.)

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Monday, December 1, 2025

**✨ Did Pope Sylvester Change the Lord’s Day in 325 AD? - A Historical & Biblical Apologetic Against a Popular Myth**