Easter 2025: Why Orthodox and Catholics celebrate Easter on the same day

This year's Easter is special. For the first time in several years, Christians of the Eastern and Western rites are celebrating it together. Find out more about the reason for this coincidence and whether it will be a step towards greater church unity

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In 2025, there will be a rare coincidence: both Orthodox and Catholics will celebrate Easter on the same day, April 20. Accordingly, Palm Sunday will fall on April 13. This happens infrequently, about once every three to four years, and is due to astronomical calculations, not calendar reforms.

BBC Ukraine explained in detail why this year Easter will be a common date for most Christians.

Calendar changes in Ukrainian churches

It is worth recalling that in September 2023, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) switched to a new calendar for celebrating fixed holidays - in particular, Christmas is now celebrated on December 25.

However, the situation with Easter is more complicated. It is a moving holiday, and its calculation depends not just on the calendar but on astronomical phenomena: the vernal equinox and the first full moon after it.

How is the date of Easter calculated?

According to the decision of the Council of Nicaea in 325, Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. At first glance, it seems simple, but in reality, it's much more complicated.

The Catholic Church uses the Gregorian calendar, while most Orthodox churches use the Julian or Reformed Julian calendar. Because of this, the spring equinox falls on different dates: March 20 or 21 for Catholics and only April 3 for Orthodox, who follow the old system. As a result, the full moon is “calculated” differently.

In 2025, the vernal equinox according to the civil calendar (which practically coincides with the Gregorian calendar) will be on March 20, and the first full moon after it will be on April 13. Thus, the following Sunday, April 20, is suitable for both traditions.

In addition, in the Orthodox tradition, it is important that Easter is celebrated after the Jewish Passover (Pesach). In 2025, Passover falls on April 12, which also allows Easter to be celebrated on April 20.

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Why is the unification of Easter unlikely?

Although the year 2025 seems symbolic (all Christians celebrate Easter together, and the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea is also celebrated), it is too early to talk about a stable unification of dates. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Pope Francis have repeatedly called for a single date for the celebration, but these initiatives remain at the level of wishes.

Both historical differences between the churches and current geopolitical conflicts stand in the way. For example, the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as the Serbian, Georgian, and Jerusalem Patriarchates, remain faithful to the pure Julian calendar and do not agree with the initiatives of Constantinople.

It is also important that the Moscow Patriarchate broke off communication with Constantinople back in 2018 against the backdrop of the Ukrainian church issue.

Sometimes together, more often not

It is estimated that in 30% of cases the date of Easter coincides in both traditions. In 45% of cases, Catholic Easter is a week earlier, and in 20% - five weeks earlier. A difference of 2-3 weeks is almost never the case. For example, in 2024, Orthodox Easter was on May 5, while Catholics celebrated on March 31-the biggest possible difference.

People perceive differently

For many Christians, especially in multinational regions or in countries with religious diversity, the date of Easter is not the main feature of the celebration. The main thing is the spiritual meaning of the holiday itself, which symbolizes the victory of life over death, light over darkness, resurrection and hope.

In the practice of life, Christians in Ukraine, in particular, have already formed the habit of living under different church calendars-for example, one family can have both Catholics and Orthodox. That is why holidays are sometimes celebrated twice, which for many is an additional reason to gather as a family around the Easter table rather than a cause for disputes.

It should also be noted that society increasingly values unity in faith and mutual respect between denominations. Many people are sincerely happy when Easter is celebrated together, because it not only simplifies the planning of family events, but also serves as a symbolic gesture of unity in the Christian world, despite differences.

Easter 2025 is an exceptional phenomenon that gives hope for Christian unity. So far, however, it is more a coincidence of calendar calculations than the result of concerted action by the churches. Although calls for a single date are becoming louder and louder-especially against the backdrop of the anniversary of the Council of Nicea-real steps toward this goal are too cautious and sometimes even symbolic.

Not only theological nuances, but also political and geopolitical factors stand in the way. With a part of the Orthodox world in a state of division and conflict, it is unlikely that an agreed calendar will be reached in the near future. However, the fact that this topic is being actively discussed at the highest church level is already a positive sign. This indicates a desire to find common ground between the East and West of the Christian world.

As a result, the date of Easter may be different, but the faith and symbolism of the holiday remain the same. And every joint celebration is a chance to remind us once again that Christianity is based on love, reconciliation, and hope for restoring unity.

We remind you! Easter in Ukraine is not just a religious holiday, it is a real celebration of life, spring and renewal. This day carries with it centuries-old traditions and customs, some of which may still be found today, but most of which have been forgotten by our generation. We told you how the ancestors of Ukrainians celebrated Easter and why preparations for the holiday lasted throughout Holy Week.

Photo: Getty Images

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