At the beginning of the rites for the Holy Week, the president of the Greek Bishops, mgr. Francesco Papamanolis, bishop of Syros, Santorini and Crete, wishes the Greek Churches may reach "an agreement for Christians to be able to celebrate Easter all together". "This year, we Catholics of Greece too have the joy of celebrating Easter with the universal Church. All Christians will celebrate Easter on April 8th", he says to SIR, which will not happen next year, 2008. "Next year he explains , we will have a 5 weeks’ difference. The universal Catholic Church will celebrate Easter on March 23rd, while the Orthodox Church, with which we Greek Catholics celebrate Easter, on April 27th". "For us adds the bishop , it is sad to celebrate separately from Rome. But it would be even sadder not to celebrate Easter all together in Greece. Many families are of mixed religion; mixed marriages between Catholics and Orthodox devotees are on average 75%. Different days of celebration also create social problems and for us pastoral problems as well. It would be great if we could reach an agreement, so that all Christians might celebrate Easter on the same day. However – he concludes , this year we will rejoice all together for these times of unity".
