The Press Office of the Romanian Patriarchate has issued a statement in response to Pope Francis’ recent proposal to establish a common date for the celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord. The statement emphasizes the importance of Pan-Orthodox unity and collaboration in discussions regarding any changes to the date of Easter.
The Romanian Patriarchate clarifies, “Any consultation on the date of Easter and any potential decision can only occur within the framework of a future Pan-Orthodox Council, with the participation of all sister Orthodox Churches.”
This position is in line with the recommendations put forth during the Synaxis of the Primates and Representatives of the Orthodox Churches, which took place at the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Center in Chambésy from January 21-28, 2016. The meeting reiterated the Orthodox commitment to maintaining the unity of the Easter celebration.
The statement further emphasizes, “Regarding the issue of the Calendar, each Church is encouraged to implement practices that benefit the spiritual growth of its members, while still preserving the common date of Easter celebration among all Orthodox Churches,” referencing the conclusions reached at the Chambésy Synaxis.
The Romanian Patriarchate asserts that any discussions regarding the date of Easter must be approached collectively within the context of a Pan-Orthodox Council, ensuring the participation and agreement of all Orthodox Churches. This approach is seen as crucial in upholding the spiritual and liturgical coherence of Orthodoxy worldwide.
For the full text of the statement, please see 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 any potential 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 ongoing efforts in this regard, considering the significant recommendation of the Synaxis of the Primates and Representatives of the Orthodox Churches, held 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 discussions 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