Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew hopes for ‘unified date’ for Easter in East and West

[Michie]

The Eastern Orthodox patriarch of Constantinople has expressed a desire that Christians in the East and the West begin celebrating Easter on a “unified date” rather than adhere to separate Lenten calendars.

“It is a scandal to celebrate separately the unique event of the one resurrection of the one Lord,” Patriarch Bartholomew I, who holds the title “first among equals” in Eastern Orthodoxy, said in a recent homily, according to Orthodox Times.

The ecumenical patriarch made the comments during a homily on March 31, which marked Easter on the Western calendar and the second Sunday of Lent on the Eastern calendar.

“We extend a heartfelt greeting of love to all Christians around the world who celebrate holy Easter today,” Bartholomew said during the homily. “We beseech the Lord of Glory that the forthcoming Easter celebration next year will not merely be a fortuitous occurrence but rather the beginning of a unified date for its observance by both Eastern and Western Christianity.”

Continued below.

Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew hopes for ‘unified date’ for Easter

“It is a scandal to celebrate separately the unique event of the one Resurrection of the One Lord,” Patriarch Bartholomew I said in a recent homily.

www.catholicnewsagency.com

 

[Mockingbird0]

He should announce that he will maintain communion with Orthodox provinces that, like Finland, adopt the Gregorian calendar.

 

[RileyG]

Praying for reunion between the East and the West