Patriarch Bartholomew called Orthodox and Catholics to celebrate Easter at the same time

According to Patriarch Bartholomew, Christians of the Eastern and Western Rites should begin to celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord in one day, especially since the first year of the first Ecumenical Synod will be celebrated next year. To celebrate the Resurrection separately is a scandal that needs to be committed. And this can be done next year, because the celebration of Easter has fallen out of the Julian and Gregorian calendar on April 20.

This was stated by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, said Catolic Curture. "We ask the Lord of Glory to celebrate Easter next year (April 20 by both calendars - ed. ) It was not simply a random coincidence, but it was the beginning of its celebration for both Eastern and Western Christianity," Bartholomew said. He clarified that such a desire is especially important because in 2025 the 1700th anniversary of the convening of the first Ecumenical Synod in Nickee will be celebrated.

"Among his key discussions was the question of setting a common timeframe for celebrating Easter. We are optimistic, because there is goodwill and desire on both sides. Because, indeed, to celebrate separately the unique event of a single resurrection of a single Lord is a scandal!" Bartholomew.

The Western Christianity, which is used by the Gregorian calendar, includes the Catholic and Protestant Church, as well as their branches: independent Catholicism, restoration, Anglicanism, Lutheranism, Presbyterianism and other smaller religious branches. The overwhelming majority of 2. 3 billion Christians in the world are Western Christians.

The Eastern Christianity, which is used by the Julian calendar, includes: the Eastern Orthodox Church, including the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Oriental Orthodox Churches (for example, the Armenian Apostolic Church), the Church of the East (the East Assyria and the Ancient Church of the East), and the East Church) These include the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Easter this year came on March 31 on the Gregorian calendar, and according to Julian - on May 5.