November 4, 2012
(Romereports.com) In 1582 Pope
Gregory XIII adopted the current Gregorian calendar, which is used in
most parts of the world. This calendar actually replaced the Julian
calendar which was approved by Julius Cesar during his reign.
Despite the replacement, some in the Orthodox Church still use the
Julian calendar. In places like the Holy Land, where Catholics and
Orthodox live together, this reality can pose a problem.
FR. PIERBATTISTA PIZZABALLA
Custodian of the Holy Land
“Ecumenism
in the Holy Land is not a theological problem, is a pastoral problem.
Because all families are mixed families. One part is Orthodox and
another Catholic. So we have two different calendars: the Gregorian
calendar and the Julian calendar for families.”
As
a gesture in favor of unity, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem has
decided to modify its liturgical schedule in 2013 to that of the
Orthodox. That means Easter in the Holy Land will be celebrated on May
5th next year instead of March 31. There is an exception though. Both
have agreed that Jerusalem and Bethlehem will not follow the new
calendar.
FR. PIERBATTISTA PIZZABALLA
Custodian of the Holy Land
“For
Christian families, it's a problem. They want to celebrate Christmas
together and Easter together. So the Catholic Church decided to adopt
just for Easter, not for Christmas, the Julian calendar in order to
allow and permit our Christian families to celebrated Easter together.”
The
intention of the Patriarchate is that from 2015 the Catholic Church in
the Holy Land will adopt the Julian calendar, definitively. From that
point onwards, Christians will celebrate Easter together, the central
celebration of the faith.
OFL
AA
-JM
- PR
