All Christian Churches resolve to celebrate Easter together in 2025
Meeting of the Local Orthodox and Ancient Oriental Churches. Photo: DECR MP
Participants of the meeting of the Local Orthodox Churches and the Ancient Oriental Churches, held on September 16-17, 2024, in Egypt, expressed support for the initiative to return to a unified date for Easter celebration according to the Julian calendar, in accordance with the decisions of the First Ecumenical Council of 325, reports the DECR MP.
The Joint Communiqué, issued at the end of the meeting, states: “In light of the fact that 2025 marks the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, and all Christians around the world will celebrate Easter on the same day, the representatives of the Churches participating in the meeting expressed the desire for all Christians to follow the canonical tradition of Nicaea and the Orthodox Paschalion for the celebration of Easter.”
It is noted that, from the Orthodox side, delegates from the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Patriarchates of Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, the Russian, Romanian, Bulgarian, Cypriot, Greek, Polish, Albanian Orthodox Churches, and the Orthodox Church in America participated in the meeting. From the Ancient Oriental side, representatives of the Coptic, Syriac Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic (Catholicosates of Etchmiadzin and Cilicia), and Eritrean Churches were present.
As previously reported by the UOJ, Patriarch Bartholomew of the Ecumenical Patriarchate has called on Christians of both the Western and Eastern rites to celebrate Easter on the same date, starting in 2025.
Read also
Petition Warns Canada’s Hate Speech Law Could Criminalize Scripture
Thousands of Canadians have signed a petition urging the Liberal government to drop proposed hate-speech changes that critics warn could criminalize quoting the Bible and other religious texts.
JD Vance: Criticizing Israel Is Not Antisemitism
Vice President JD Vance said opposing Israeli policies is not the same as antisemitism, sparking debate over where criticism of Israel ends and hatred of Jews begins.
First Orthodox Prayer Book Published in Indonesian Language
The first Orthodox prayer book in Indonesian has been published and presented in Bekasi, providing local faithful and new converts with a vital resource for prayer and liturgical life.
OCA Joins Legal Challenge to Illinois Abortion Referral Law
Amicus brief argues mandate violates religious freedom and compels pro-life providers to contradict their faith.
EXCLUSIVE: Leaked Ukrainian Memo Says Religious Freedom is ‘Achilles Heel’
In an emergency strategy meeting held in response to the Society of St. John's Day of Action, D.C.-based Ukrainian lobbyists acknowledged the weight of the religious freedom issue as it pertains to the Ukrainian government’s public perception.
Historic $2.9 Million Bequest Strengthens Greek Orthodox Foundation
The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago Foundation has received a record $2.9 million bequest from the late Andy Efthim, a devoted layman whose faith-filled generosity will support the Church’s mission for generations.