Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox prelates under the Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC) impart a blessing to the faithful during the joint Ecumenical Public Way of the Cross in Kampala.
All Christian denominations—Catholic,
Orthodox, Anglican, and various Protestant churches—are set to celebrate Easter
on the same day this year, Sunday, April 20, 2025. This rare convergence occurs as the
Gregorian and Julian calendars, traditionally used by Western and Eastern
churches, respectively, align.
“This alignment is of great
significance,” said Metropolitan
Jeronymos Muzeeyi, Archbishop of the Holy Metropolis of Kampala, during
an interview with the Uganda Radio Network (URN). Metropolitan Muzeeyi added that
the shared celebration is a meaningful and powerful symbol of Christian unity,
noting that Easter offers a clearer expression of ecumenism as all believers
proclaim the death and resurrection of Christ together.
“Easter gives a clearer picture of
Christian ecumenism as we all proclaim the death and resurrection of Christ. We
are all Christians, but we’ve been using different calendars. This has created
differences in the dates we observe Easter. This year, Easter is aligned, and
we will celebrate together.”
Metropolitan Muzeeyi added that
this shared celebration is not only symbolic but also a hopeful indication of
growing unity among Christian churches. He further offered prayers for those
engaged in international high-level discussions aimed at establishing a
permanent common date for Easter, emphasizing that such efforts deserve strong
support and encouragement.
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In Uganda, the shared
celebration of Easter has been warmly received, viewed as a powerful
opportunity to strengthen the mission of the Uganda Joint Christian Council
(UJCC). Established in 1963, the UJCC serves as an umbrella body uniting
Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox churches in the country in the spirit of
ecumenism.
The Council also provide a
platform for its members to work towards greater mutual understanding and unity
of purpose among and address issues of common concern including peacebuilding,
health, education, and social and economic justice.
The council plays a key role in
promoting interdenominational cooperation, regularly organizing joint religious
activities such as the Ecumenical Public Way of the
Cross - a Good Friday procession held annually in Kampala and
replicated in other regions. These events offer Christians from different
traditions a space to reflect on their common faith and shared values.
Bishop Anthony Zziwa,
Chairperson of both the UJCC and the Uganda Episcopal Conference, welcomed the
historic alignment of Easter dates, calling it a meaningful step toward deeper
Christian unity. Zziwa, who is also the Bishop of
Kiyinda Mityana Diocese, expressed optimism that this unique moment of
collective celebration would bring to life Jesus' prayer for unity among His
followers and strengthen the spirit of togetherness among churches across the
globe.
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Easter is the most significant day in
the Christian faith, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ and
symbolizing hope, renewal, and new beginnings. According to historical records, the
Church convened the First Ecumenical Council—known as the Council of Nicaea—in
325 AD. This year, Christians worldwide are also marking the 1700th anniversary
of that pivotal event.
Records show that before the council,
Easter was celebrated on various dates by different Christian communities. To
bring unity, the council established a formula to determine a universal date
for the celebration. It was agreed that Easter would be observed on the first
Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox—but always after
the Jewish Passover. To standardize the calculation, March 21 was fixed as the
date of the equinox.
Although the Council of Nicaea aimed to
unify the Church’s observance of Easter, that vision was later challenged by
the East–West Schism of 1054. Following the split, the Western Church adopted
the Gregorian calendar introduced in 1582, while the Eastern Orthodox Church continued
using both the Julian calendar and the original Nicaean formula for determining
Easter—leading to differing celebration dates that persist to this day.
