Patriarch Theophilos responds to call to celebrate Easter with Catholics
Patriarch Theophilos III noted the importance of Christian unity but stressed that there is already a clear answer regarding the definition of joint Paschal.
His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, in an interview with the Vatican edition Losservatore Romano, commented on the calls for a joint celebration of Easter with other Christian confessions.
The Patriarch of jerusalem noted the importance of the "common Chalice" to all those who are the followers of Christ, but stressed that there is already a clear answer regarding the definition of joint Paschal.
“Let us restore our unity on the foundation that was laid for the faith by the acknowledgement and acceptance by the Churches of the Ecumenical councils. It was the Council of Nicaea in 325 that set the calculation of the date of Easter which we follow to this day,” said the Patriarch. “So of course, we want a common date, but we must take into serious account the fact that the Bible is made of both the Mosaic Law and the New Covenant. We have to bear in mind that there is a process from the Mosaic Law to the Commandments of Christ. We have no right to change or confuse the course of sacred history, which means that Christian Easter must fall after the Jewish Passover. With these considerations in mind, we would welcome a common date for Easter."
Earlier, the ROC commented on the statement of Phanar representative about their readiness to carry out a reform and establish a single date for celebrating Easter with other Christian denominations.
As the UOJ reported, Phanar spoke in favor of calendar reform and joint celebration of Easter with the RCC.
