The Press Office of the Romanian Patriarchate issued a statement addressing Pope Francis’ recent proposal to establish a common date for the celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord. The statement underscored the importance of Pan-Orthodox unity and collaboration in discussing any changes to the date of Easter.
“Any consultation on the date of Easter and a possible decision can only take place within the framework of a future Pan-Orthodox Council, with the participation of all sister Orthodox Churches,” clarified the Romanian Patriarchate.
This stance aligns with recommendations made during the Synaxis of the Primates and Representatives of the Orthodox Churches, held at the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Center in Chambésy from January 21-28, 2016. The meeting reaffirmed the collective Orthodox commitment to preserving the unity of the Easter celebration.
“Regarding the issue of the Calendar, it is appropriate for each Church to freely implement what it considers beneficial for the spiritual formation of its faithful, but without altering the common date of the celebration of Easter by all Orthodox,” the statement emphasized, citing the conclusions from the Chambésy Synaxis.
The Romanian Patriarchate concluded that any initiative concerning the date of Easter must be addressed collectively within the context of a Pan-Orthodox Council, ensuring the participation and agreement of all Orthodox Churches. This approach, they noted, upholds the spiritual and liturgical coherence of Orthodoxy worldwide.
Read the full text below:
Following a recent statement by Pope Francis regarding the establishment of a common date for the celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord, we wish to clarify that any consultation on the date of Easter and a possible decision can only take place within the framework of a future Pan-Orthodox Council, with the participation of all sister Orthodox Churches.
This initiative aligns with the ongoing efforts on this matter, taking into account the significant recommendation of the Synaxis of the Primates and Representatives of the Orthodox Churches, convened from January 21-28, 2016, at the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Center in Chambésy.
During this meeting, it was emphasized: “Regarding the issue of the Calendar, it is appropriate for each Church to freely implement what it considers beneficial for the spiritual formation of its faithful, but without altering the common date of the celebration of Easter by all Orthodox.”
Therefore, any initiative concerning the date of Easter can only be addressed within the context of a Pan-Orthodox Council.
Press Office of the Romanian Patriarchate
Source and photo: Basilica.ro
