This Easter marks a rare occurrence for Christians as Catholic and Orthodox Churches celebrate the holy day on the same date, Sunday, April 20, for the first time in eight years. 

While not the first time the Gregorian and Julian calendars have lined up, having done so in 2011, 2014, and 2017 most recently, the coincidence of the shared holiday taking place during the Jubilee Year, as well as the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, has drawn considerable interest from the global churches and their faithful. 

To Fr. Haig Chahinian, CEO of Salt + Light Television, this Easter is not simply a rare alignment of lunar cycles and calendar calculations, but rather an act of divine providence — one that couldn’t come at a more opportune time.

Advertisement

“We look at everything that's going around us. It is in a time of war, disillusionment and religious polarization throughout the world. This (joint Easter) brings Christ's resurrection to the forefront as a form of coming together for the East and the West,” Chahinian said.  

A beautiful image of unity over uniformity, as Chahinian sees it, this Easter provides the chance of further healing a wounded Christian body. At just 30 years old himself, he especially hopes that young Christians will become fresh witnesses to the importance, unity and cooperation across the traditions of Eastern and Western beliefs. 

A member of the Armenian Catholic Church, Chahinian holds a deep, unique understanding of both Easter traditions. As he explained, the broadest significance of this year’s celebrations lay in the core truths the two branches share, not what they hold to as their own. 

“This is a chance to celebrate with our Eastern brothers and sisters through  the common apostolic faith that we have, such as the sacramental life, and of course, most importantly, our deep reverence for the Church fathers and the Holy Eucharist,” he said. “There is a  harmony in these shared truths that we celebrate together this year, in particular, through the resurrection of our Lord, but also the Creed that we are faithful to so many years later.” 

Following its mission to evangelize through media, Salt + Light Television has been leveraging the shared Easter date  by increasing ecumenical dialogue with Eastern Orthodox Christians throughout its programming. One example Chahinian believes holds the key blend of  mutual respect and curiosity is seen in its running of reflections of Gregory of Narek,  a saint in the Armenian Apostolic Church as well as the Armenian Catholic Church. 

Advertisement

“ These reflections through his Book of Lamentations are available both on television and online and truly speak to this work of cosmic prayer, expressing repentance, suffering and a mystical longing,  which is a great companion in the Jubilee Year of Hope as Catholics and in preparation for Easter together as well,” he explained. 

There is still no  formal agreement between the Catholic and Orthodox parties for a unified and consistent Easter celebration. Typically, the Julian calendar falls behind the Gregorian calendar by 13 days, with Easter’s date calculated based on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox. 

Despite this, efforts to align Easter dates have been a topic of ecumenical discussion for decades, most notably  in the last 60 years. As recently as this January, Pope Francis spoke at an ecumenical evening prayer service at Rome’s Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, saying, “I renew my appeal that this coincidence may serve as an appeal to all Christians to take a decisive step forward toward unity around a common date for Easter. The Catholic Church is open to accepting the date that everyone wants: a date of unity.”

Chahinian sees a twofold approach of education and dialogue is the practical next step for the Church to build on this moment and deepen Catholic-Orthodox collaboration. He points to the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue as particularly beneficial in these aspects. 

“ If both parties can understand that there is a shared commonality ground in apostolic succession, the more unified we are. It's not about the political motivation, it's about the pastoral and spiritual motivation — the personal connection to Christ that we share together. At the end of the day, unity is the commandment of Christ,” he said. 

As efforts for unity continue at the highest levels behind the scenes, Chahinian brings the onus to the laypeople celebrating this Easter season to look deeper through reflection about the unique role we play in bringing the vision of a united Church to fruition. 

Advertisement

“The Great Commission was the root  of the apostles' mission, but it was our human nature that led to the separations of the Church. The reality is that this is a time to truly understand that when we come together as one people in Christ,  we are unified, and the biggest proof of that is what we are celebrating this year in Easter,” he said. 

“When we look at where we are today, it is a world that needs this more than ever. This is not by accident. It couldn't have come at a more opportune time.”