COMMON DATE FOR EASTER AGAIN PROPOSED
DAMASCUS, Syria, (Zenit.org).- Hoping that his trip to Syria will foster Christian unity, John Paul II
proposed once again that Eastern and Western Christians come to an agreement on the date for
Easter.
The most important ecumenical event of the Pope´s Syria visit took place Saturday afternoon when he
attended a meeting of representatives of all the Christian communities present in the country. The
event was held in the Greek-Orthodox Cathedral of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary.
On hand were patriarchs and bishops of Christian communities that trace their origin to the apostles´
preaching.
Greek-Orthodox Patriarch Ignatius IV Hazim of Antioch and All the East, whose present see is in
Syria, delivered the welcome address. Also present were Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, Syrian-Orthodox
patriarch of Antioch and supreme head of the Syrian-Orthodox universal Church, as well as
Greek-Melkite (Catholic) Patriarch Gregoire III Laham.
The Christians who attended the event pray in Arabic, Greek or Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke.
In this country that is 90% Muslim, Jesus´ disciples put aside their centuries-old differences to
welcome the Bishop of Rome.
Some of Syria´s Christian communities came here to flee from persecutions, especially early in the
20th century. The neighborhoods of Damas, Aleppo and Homs became places of refuge for them.
As soon as the Pope´s plane landed in Damascus on Saturday, all Syrian Christian leaders were there
to greet and applaud him.
The Greek-Orthodox patriarch greeted the Pope with moving words: "I embrace you, together with
the synod around me -- priests, monks and faithful -- in love for Jesus Christ our Lord," Ignatius IV
Hazim said.
For his part, the Pope encouraged "the process of ecumenical rapprochement" that has been taking
place in the country for years, as "part of the wider process of reunion between the Catholic Church
and the Orthodox Churches."
"By virtue of the apostolic succession," John Paul II said, "the priesthood and the Eucharist unite in
very close bonds our particular Churches, who call one another, and love to call one another, sister
Churches."
"And now," he continued, "after a long period of division and mutual misunderstanding, the Lord is
enabling us to discover ourselves as sister Churches once more, in spite of the obstacles that were
once raised between us. If today ... we are seeking the re-establishment of full communion, it is for
the accomplishment of this reality that we must work and it is to this reality that we must refer."
John Paul II renewed an initiative he has proposed for years: the celebration of Jesus´ resurrection on
the same date by Eastern and Western Christians, as a visible sign of their quest for full unity.
The difference in dates for the celebration of Easter was the result of Pope Gregory XIII´s reform of
the liturgical calendar in 1582. Eastern Christians, most of them Orthodox, continue to calculate the
date of Easter according to the old Julian calendar. Sometimes, Easter Sunday falls on the same date
in both calendars, as happened this year.
"Since Vatican Council II, the Catholic Church has shown herself favorable to every effort to
re-establish the common celebration of the paschal feast," the Pope said. "Yet this process seems
more difficult than anticipated. Is it, perhaps, necessary to envisage intermediate or gradual stages, in
order to prepare minds and hearts for the implementation of an arrangement acceptable to all
Christians of East and West?"
The Holy Father said that the answer should come from the Christian patriarchs and bishops of the
Mideast.
|
