Coptic leader writes Pope, suggests single date for Catholic, Orthodox Easter celebration
May 07, 2014
The head of the Coptic Orthodox Church has written to Pope Francis, proposing that Catholics and Orthodox agree on a date for the celebration of Easter, the Fides news service reports.
Coptic Pope Tawadros II sent his message to Pope Francis on the anniversary of their first meeting in Rome. In return, the Roman Pontiff asked the Egyptian prelate to send a representative to attend the October meeting of the Synod of Bishops.
A shared date for Easter celebrations would be a boon to Christians in the Middle East, where Catholic and Orthodox communities often live side by side in predominantly Muslim countries.
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Posted by: bruno.cicconi7491 -
May. 07, 2014 9:59 PM ET USA
When did we start celebrating on different dates? As early as the 2nd century, Bishop Polycarp of Smyrna (Izmir in modern Turkey), who is said to have been a disciple of St.John, met with the bishop of Rome and both agreed to disagree in love, and decided to celebrate Easter in different dates for their people had different traditions. Perhaps what wasn't possible then, is possible now. May Pope Tawadros have a good trip to Rome!
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Posted by: Defender -
May. 07, 2014 4:12 PM ET USA
The Golden Legend might be a place to start this discussion.
