www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall A common date for Easter when???

Dear Friends.

For years they've been talking about a common date for Eastern, that would be celebrated by Catholics and Orthodox of all rites.

When will they adopt this decission? I believe this is all in the hands of Pope Benedict. The answer would be for the Latin Church to adopt the Julian paschalion, as there's no religious issue bounding the Roman Church to the New Calendar. (On the other side, the New Calendar was the cause of schism among Orthodox).

What obstacles exist?

Some have said there is an economic reason. To have holidays when the Julian easter is celebrated at the end of April or beggining of May (like this year) would cause trouble for schools, tourism providers, etc. Holy Week would also swallow the vacation period of Workers Day (1 May).

Have you got some information about this? How could common people and Christians contribute to inspire Pope Benedict to take such an important decission?

Greetings.

You might try circulating a petition to Pope Benedict asking His Holiness to restore the Julian Calendar paschalia in the Western Church - and then make sure that the Pope actually receives the petition.

Fr. Serge

All the Pope has to do is return the western Church to the canons of the first ecumenical council.

Joe

...when pigs fly?!?

Alice, just being silly and teasing

Why not instead have everyone adopt a calendar and paschalion that actually conforms to the directives of the Council of Nicea and is also accurate? The Julian calendar and paschalion are deficient in each of these instances as has been discussed before, most recently here on the forum. Why the presumption that everyone just adopt the Julian calendar when it is known to have significant cumulative errors?

The real obstacle "for the Latin Church to adopt the Julian paschalion" is, or should be, the demands of rationality.


Dn. Anthony

This is demonstrably false: such an incorrect statement should not be repeated.

Dn. Anthony

It will happen when everyone standardizes on the Julian Calendar. Not any time soon in my estimation which is too bad.

There are two separate issues and they sometimes are treated together.

One is: Do we, Christians, need to have a single, uniform, method for determining the date of Easter/Pascha?

The other, and the one I address, is: What is an acceptable method -- effectively implemented though a calendar -- that determines the Sunday of Pascha as stipulated by Nicea I?

In answer to the second question: The Julian calendar is NOT such "an acceptable method." And it is very unfortunate that the myths and misrepresentations about the Julian calendar and its presumed superiority continue to be repeated.

Dn. Anthony

The following is interesting and informative:

http://www.oca.org/Docs.asp?ID=133&SID=12

Another interesting article:

http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article7050.asp

It is indeed. If one applies the information and conclusions put forth by Archbishop Peter, one does not arrive at the dating of Pascha as given by the current Julian calendar methodology; rather, it is the Gregorian calendar approach that is in conformity with his analysis.

Dn. Anthony

Yes, as previously noted, link.

Dn. Anthony

As I understand it, the actual canons of I Nicaea are not extant. However, there is sufficient documentation available to confirm that the fathers of I Nicaea approved the formula, "the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox," and even mentioned that it was important that the Church's observation follow as nearly as possible the rhythms of the seasons and the movement of the celestial bodies. They did not establish any table for calculating this, but designated the Patriarch of Alexandria as the one to declare the date for Pascha each year.

It was only subsequent to the council that astronomers were commissioned by the Patriarch of Alexandria to come up with a tool that would help the Church estimate this as nearly as possible.

If this is the case, then the tool that was developed is nothing more than a response to the dictates of I Nicaea, and cannot be said to have been promulgated at the council.

Furthermore, if a tool could be developed in the future that would be more accurate in making this estimate, it follows that not only would such a tool be perfectly in line with the mind and will of the fathers of I Nicaea, it would also be contrary to their mind and will to oppose it.

My two cents.


Peace,
Deacon Richard

Who cares when if Easter is celebrated at different times? If the schism can not be brought to an end, It wouldn't mean ANYTHING to have both Catholics and Orthodox celebrate Pascha on the same day.

X. B. / C. I. X.

Which are we more concerned with, a common formula for Pascha or a single annual date for Easter? Remember when both dates are together, is your life richer or more hectic? Who will profit more the "true" Church or Hallmark?

Mykhayl

P. S.
If one fasted and celebrated their Resurrection on Easter and due to overlapping acquaintances or curiosity leads one to celebrate a second Pascha, should one fast/abstain again even though they are still in an earlier Pascha time warp?