Posted on 02/08/2013 3:01:27 PM PST by marshmallow
JERUSALEM (CNS) -- Ghassan Rafidi, 53, remembers enjoying celebrating Easter twice as a child in his village of Jifna.
"We had two times to celebrate and two vacations. My father's family gave us gifts on the Greek Orthodox date, and my mother's family on the Catholic," said Rafidi, the son of a Catholic mother and a Greek Orthodox father.
But today the Christian community has shrunk, and it is important that the celebrations be united, he said. Employers honor vacation on only one of the celebrations, putting pressure on families to decide which to celebrate, he said.
"The Muslims always ask us how many Jesuses do we have," he said.
There are many families like Rafidi's, both in Israel and the Palestinian territories, with members belonging to the Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Protestant churches.
For the past 15 years, Catholic parishes throughout the Palestinian territories and many in Israel have been celebrating Easter on the Greek Orthodox date. Now, following a directive from the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land, within two years all Eastern Catholics and the Latin Patriarchate in the Holy Land will officially adopt the Greek Orthodox Julian calendar date.
The Latin Patriarchate calls the move a "decisive step toward ecumenism." The official directive will take place after completion of the decree and approval by the Vatican.
(Excerpt) Read more at catholicnews.com ...
Good thing is we outsiders can now travel to the Holy Land and have a second Easter!!!
Ask the Muslims how come Ramadan comes at a different time every year?
Thought the Russians (Orthodox) agreed to celebrate Christmas according to the Gregorian calander won’t this mess up that arrangement ? How much later is Easter on the Julian ?
May all those who put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ be one. Amen.
Good news. Maybe we can soon have it the same date for both. It’s a small step, but a meaningful one. The present Pope and his predecessor have done a lot to emphasise the relationships as first among equals. A lot more needs to be done, but we can remove a lot of the, let’s call it, administrative issues slowly but surely
Hugs and best wishes to you.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.