When is Easter in 2025: the date of the main church holiday for Orthodox and Catholics
Easter is the main holiday in the calendar of any branch of Christianity. Traditionally, however, believers of the Western rite (Catholics and Protestants) and the Eastern rite (Orthodox and Greek Catholics) usually celebrate the Resurrection of Christ on different dates. However, this will not be the case in 2025.
As OBOZ.UA found out, this year a rather rare event will take place – Catholic and Orthodox Easter will coincide in dates. We will tell you where the difference in calculations came from and when Easter will be in 2025.
When is Easter in 2025
This year, Orthodox and Catholics will celebrate Easter together.
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According to the church calendar, this year the entire Christian world will celebrate Easter on April 20. The last time such a coincidence happened was 8 years ago. In 2017, all Christians celebrated together on April 16.
But the next coincidence will happen relatively soon – in 2028. The dates of Easter by the end of this decade are as follows
- Easter in 2026: Catholic – April 5, Orthodox – April 12;
- Easter in 2027: Catholic – March 28, Orthodox – May 2;
- Easter in 2028: all Christians will celebrate the holiday on April 16;
- Easter in 2029: Catholic – April 1, Orthodox – April 8;
- Easter in 2030: Catholic on April 21, Orthodox on April 28.
Why different Christian churches do not celebrate Easter at the same time
The difference in the date of the celebration arose because of different calendars.
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The fact that the date of the holiday does not coincide for Christians of the Western and Eastern traditions is due to differences in the church calendar. Catholics and Protestants follow the Gregorian calendar, while Orthodox Christians follow the Julian calendar. Or, as the Orthodox Church of Ukraine does, the New Julian calendar.
The method of calculating the date of Easter is the key difference between them. Both Christian churches start from the date of the first full moon after the vernal equinox. The Sunday following this astronomical event is the date of the holiday.
However, the difference is that the Julian and New Julian calendars consider the date of the vernal equinox to be April 3. Whereas according to the Gregorian calendar, it is defined as March 21. This means that Orthodox Christians cannot celebrate Easter before April 4, while Catholics can celebrate the holiday on March 22.
Other transitional holidays of the Easter cycle
The dates of other Easter-related holidays will be the same.
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But Easter is not the only Christian holiday that changes its date every year. Several other important dates in the church year are tied to it.
In particular, the beginning of Lent is counted from the date of the Resurrection of Christ. For Orthodox Christians, it begins on March 3 and ends on April 19.
A week before Easter, the Feast of the Lord's Entry into Jerusalem or Palm Sunday is celebrated. In 2025, all Christians will celebrate Palm Sunday on April 13.
Another major holiday, the Holy Trinity Day, falls on the fiftieth day after Easter. In 2025, Christians will celebrate the Trinity on June 8.
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