Thursday, April 17, 2025

Churches Celebrate a United Easter This Year

The Presidents of Churches Together in England (CTE) have issued a joint statement celebrating the fact that this year Christians of all denominations will celebrate Easter on the same day and in honor of a formational meeting of the early church, the Christian Today website reports today (April 17, 2025).  


Due to their use of the Julian calendar,Eastern Orthodox churches nearly always mark  religious events like Easter at different times to Wesrtern Churches which use the Gregorian calendar. This year, however, a happy coincidence means that both calendars are in agreement about the date for Easter.


The statement by CTE was made in celebration of this fact and in recognition that 2025 marks the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicea.


The council, held in 325 AD, discussed setting a unified date for events such as Easter, but more importantly, laid some of the theological groundwork for determining some of the key beliefs of Christianity shared by all denominations. 


The Presidents of CTE include representatives of the Roman Catholic Church, Orthodox churches, Pentecostal churches, Lutheran and other Protestants. The Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury is also one of the presidents, but that position is currently vacant.


In their statement, they said, Often divided by our sins and arrogance, we now come together in unity, with one voice and one heart, as did those divinely --guided individuals seventeen hundred years ago to defend the Truth that has been entrusted to us. We come together to reiterate the message and ruth of Nicea."


"It is a special blessing from God that rthis year all Christians will celebrate Easter -- Pascha --on the same Sunday. We are empowered by this and we draw strength to face the realities of our divisions with a new hope of reconciliation."   

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