Nicron #116 29 января 2000

Miscellaneous - a turn of the millennium.

Leonid Kuzmin
http://www.kulichki.rambler.ru



   "That ends the twentieth century." This line from the song
performed by Valery Leontiev, very soon become a
obvious reality. However, not everyone knows that, formally, in
new century and new millennium, we enter only 1 January 2001
year. For all this confusion is responsible monk Dionysius the 
Little, who lived in the VI century. It was a chronology for 
Pope St. John I, and began Count In line with the then practice 
- from the foundation of Rome. At the same time, the monk 
divided into 2 parts: before the appearance of the world of 
Christ and after. He calculated that Christ was born on 
December 25 at the end 753 years "from the inception of the 
city." According to Dionysius, a new era (1 January 1 year of 
the Lord) was to begin not at birth Christ, the feast of 
circumcision performed on the eighth day life of the Savior. It 
just so happened that the Roman calendar it was also New Year's 
Day. Dionysius made a few more Error - "forgot" to indicate a 
zero starting point of our era. AND the reasons we, their 
descendants, so much trouble! Distinguishing between two era, 
he simply could not use zero as a watershed point, because in 
the VI century Western mathematicians did not know such a 
thing. Full definition of zero-established Indian and Arab 
mathematicians, but only at the turn of VI-VIII centuries. So 
the problem with the definition of the end century lies in the 
wrong, but historically inevitable decision Dionysius start our 
first year of an era, rather than zero. So, after 1800 years of 
the nineteenth century came, zavershivsiysya year 1900, and 
2000 year - the last year of the twentieth century, he did not 
start a new Goals. If our short-sighted monk began a new era 
with zero year (as a human life begins), the logic was to be

unison with the voice of the heart. Then would come the 
twenty-first century would year 2000. But the reality is 
otherwise. 

   The "zero" fever has engulfed the entire "civilized world"
fueled by more and a good whip - a computer problem
Y2K. World prepares to celebrate the third millennium. Most
individuals who make up this world, know that in 2000 it has, 
alas, not occur. 1 January 2000 to begin the year, closing

second millennium, however as the XX century. The third 
millennium begins on January 1, 2001. But it's boring. 
Therefore, global industry, the media empire, the largest tour 
operators preparing a great show for December 31, 1999.


   From a formal point of view, starts on January 1 (!) Last
year of the second millennium of the Christian era. But in 
terms of psychological namely in 2000, a man accustomed to 
inscribe in many forms of the last two digits of the year, 
suffered a shock, returning, at least in clerical aspect, to 
the top times to 2000. Also in 2000, unlike 1900, 1800,

1700 is a leap year (see glossary) in the Gregorian calendar.
About 2000 computer problem seriously will not speak - about it
already mentioned, and not even much, and too much.

   Christian era is now used everywhere, even in
those countries that do not recognize Christ as God
(Muslim world) and Messiah (Judaic). In this case, if
need to explicitly specify the event on the timeline, use
euphemism AD (CE - common era), though it is clear whom shall
"Our era" by their appearance. The Christian era was introduced 
in treatment monk Dionysius Small (500 - after 525). Prior to 
this chronology of the vast Roman Empire and adjacent

States came from the founding of the city of Rome (anno urbis 
conditae - abbr. - AUC). Dionysius believed that Christmas 
happened 25 December 753 AUC. And wrong for at least three 
years, since the Gospels makes it clear that Christ was born 
during the reign of Herod Great, at the latest at the end of 
750 AUC, year of death of the tyrant. 

   Nevertheless, for nearly 2000 years as the world lives
Considering the beginning of a new era of the date of 
Christmas. But not even taking into account the error in three 
years, all the already looks a bit strange. A new era of 
Dionysius began on 1 January 754 year, and all that follows 
that date refers to 1 year of AD (AD - anno domimi, in the year 
of our Lord) or BC (CE - common era). Everything that happened 
before that date refers to 1 year BC (BC - before Christ) or 
BCE Christ, therefore, Born in the first year to own Christmas. 
Between 1 st year BC and 1 st year AD no zero year. Hence the 
confusion with change of the millennium.


   So looks like Jan. 1, 2000 on the Gregorian
chronology in other systems: December 19, 1999 - Julian
calendar, 23 Tevet 5760 - The Jewish calendar, 24 months
Ramadan 1420 Hijri on - Muslim calendar, 25 day, 11
lunar month of 1999 (year of the rabbit) - Chinese calendar.

   In Russia in the tenth century with the adoption of 
Christianity in the Ancient Rus it's chronology, applied by the 
Romans and Byzantines: Julian calendar, Roman names of the 
months, the seven-day week. Account's creation of the world was 
conducted, which, ecclesiastical notions happened over 5,508 
years before Christ. 

   The year began March 1. At the end of XV century, the 
beginning of the year was postponed to September 1. Decree of 
15 December 7208, Peter I introduced in Russia, Christian 
chronology. The day following the 31 December 7208, the 
creation of the world, were instructed to consider start the 
new year - January 1, 1700 by Christmas. 

   The Gregorian calendar was adopted in Russia in 1918
the first Soviet government, not connected with the church. Was
introduced an amendment in 13 days: after 31 January 1918 
immediately occurred on February 14. This calendar we now use.


   The Julian calendar was introduced into circulation on Jan. 
1, 1946 BC during the reign of Julius Caesar. The calendar was 
based on calculation at 365.25 days. Every fourth year is

leap year and consisted of 366 days. Annual error is the Julian
calendar was 11 minutes and 14 seconds.

   The Gregorian calendar was introduced in Catholic countries, 
with 1 January 1582 by decree of Pope Gregory XIII. Account days

moved to 10 days ahead to compensate for the error
Julian calendar and the vernal equinox to return to
March 21. Day after Thursday October 4, 1582 ordered
be considered on Friday, but not 5 and 15 October. To further
avoid such errors, it was decided to dispose of every 400 years
of the number of leap for 3 days. That for 400 years was not 100
leap, and 97. For this we must not leap to consider those
centennial years (years with two zeros at the end), in which 
the number of hundred (first two digits) is not evenly 
divisible by 4. So , the years 1700, 1800, and 1900 were not 
leap years. Year 2000 - be a leap year, and 2100 - no. Error of 
the Gregorian calendar is 1 day in 3300 years.


   Millenarianism: from the Latin. word millennium, meaning 
1000. Millennial reign of Christ declared John the Evangelist in

his "Revelations". In what follows, this word is often 
understood Any eschatological movement associated with the 
approach round or magic date type 1666 1777 or 7000

creation of the world in pre-Petrine calendar. Millenarianism 
has always been associated with the proliferation of sects, 
preparing to meet the end Light, "last battle", the temporary 
triumph of the Beast, and then Second Coming of Christ and His 
millennial kingdom. 

   The last significant millenarian movement founded by Adolf
Hitler, proclaiming the coming Millennial Kingdom of Nordic
order. (Hm. .. - Ed.).