Progress From the First to the Fourteenth Century - James Aitken Wylie

While the, "living oracles" were neglected, the
zeal of the clergy began to spend itself upon rites
and ceremonies borrowed from the pagans. These
were multiplied to such a degree, that Augustine
complained that they were "less tolerable than the
yoke of the Jews under the law." At this period the
Bishops of Rome wore costly attire, gave
sumptuous banquets, and when they went abroad
were carried in litters They now began to speak
with an authoritative voice, and to demand
obedience from all the Churches. Of this the
dispute between the Eastern and Western Churches
respecting Easter is an instance in point. The
Eastern Church, following the Jews, kept the feast
on the 14th day of the month Nisan — the day of
the Jewish Passover. The Churches of the West,
and especially that of Rome, kept Easter on the
Sabbath following the 14th day of Nisan. Victor,
Bishop of Rome, resolved to put an end to the
controversy, and accordingly, sustaining himself
sole judge in this weighty point, he commanded all
the Churches to observe the feast on the same day
with himself. The Churches of the East, not aware
that the Bishop of Rome had authority to command
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