ASIA/SYRIA - Ecumenical reflection and experience in Aleppo: how long must we wait before all Christians celebrate Easter together on the same date?

Wednesday, 18 May 2005

Aleppo (Fides Service) - There is an air of ecumenism and brotherhood in Syria. Recently the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Aleppo invited Catholic Bishop Luigi Padovese vicar apostolic of Anatolia to Aleppo to give a conference on Ecumenism for a group of Greek Orthodox faithful who work for Christian unity.
“We enjoyed two intense days which were highly significant for ecumenical relations between the different Churches. Our host was Greek Orthodox Archbishop Pol Yazici who cares for a large community of Arab speaking Greek Orthodox Christians and representatives of the local Chaldean, Armenian and Melkite communities were also present”, Franciscan missionary Fr. Domenico Bertogli, who resides in Antioch and was also present in Aleppo, told Fides.
“Many of the lay people present were asking if it was possible to set one date for Easter on which all Christians celebrate together - said Fr. Bertogli - and this is a problem which needs to be addressed and it is most important for Christians of different confessions living side by side. And in Aleppo there are nine bishops and almost one million Christians”.
In a spirit of harmony and brotherhood Archbishop Pol Yazici accompanied the Catholic Bishop and Fr Bertogli to Cirro, north of Aleppo, where Saints Cosmo and Damien were martyred under emperor Diocletian in 303 AD. The journey was an opportunity to make a pilgrimage of unity in a spirit of brotherhood and ecumenical sharing.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 18/5/2005 righe 23 parole 232)


Share: