Photo: EC-PATR.ORG
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I called on Christians to approve the common date of Easter, because celebrating the unique event of the Resurrection of Christ separately is a “scandal”.
This is what he says appeals On March 31, when Roman Catholics, Protestants, Armenians and representatives of some other churches celebrated Easter, Rubryka reports.
After the service, Patriarch Bartholomew noted that the Church of Constantinople had sent its representatives to all Christian communities in Istanbul, which celebrated Easter on March 31, to send them holiday wishes.
“We pray to the Lord of glory that the joint celebration of Easter, which we will have next year, will not be a happy coincidence, a random event, but the beginning of establishing a common date for the celebration in the East and the West”he emphasized.
The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Constantinople noted that in 2025 there will be a meeting dedicated to 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea.
According to Patriarch Bartholomew, at this meeting, among other things, it is planned to raise the issue of definition of a common dateand Easter celebration.
“We are optimistic because there is good will and desire on both sides. Indeed, a separate celebration of the unique event of the One Resurrection of the One Lord is a scandal!” – he said.
Why do Christians celebrate Easter differently?
Resurrection of Christ is the main event of Christianity and the foundation of faith, but Eastern and Western Christians celebrate it differently.
The thing is that they currently exist two algorithms for determining the date of Easter:
- Easterwhich are based on complex calculations that cover various astronomical,
- and calendar factors.
The Orthodox Church, as well as some oriental ones, such as the Ethiopian or Coptic, adheres to the ancient one Alexandria Easter.
Instead, the Roman Catholic Church, as well as the Protestants who later broke away from it, uses it Gregorian Easter
We will remind you that from September 1, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine switched to the New Julian calendar.
OCU notes that the days of fixed holidays, fasts, communions, days commemorating the memory of saints will shift back 13 days (will be celebrated 13 days earlier).
- On September 8 (not 21), the holiday of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos will be celebrated;
- September 14 (not 27) – Exaltation of the Holy Cross;
- October 1 (not 14) – Intercession of the Holy Mother of God;
- Christmas Lent will last from November 15 to December 24, and Christmas will be on December 25;
- Peter’s fast-2024 will not be general, because Pentecost will be celebrated on June 23, and the day of the holy apostles Peter and Paul – on June 29.
- Great Lent will last from March 18 to May 4;
- Easter in 2024 is May 5.
At the same time on Easter and other holidaysthe dates of which are determined according to the lunar calendar, this decision will not affect.
New Julian calendar — there is that calendar that was created at the beginning of the twentieth century on the basis of modern research and was approved exactly 100 years ago.
