This Easter, the Anglican Communion is one of 12 Christian World Communions to issue a letter marking a joint celebration of Easter 2025 and the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea.

The message seeks to bear witness to the Resurrection of Christ and has been signed by General Secretaries and ecumenical representatives of 12 Christian World Communions.

It calls for Christians to work for the unity of the Church, praying for “the Holy Spirit to move our Communions to live and walk together, in obedience to the call of Jesus’ that all his disciples may be one.”

It also offers words of hope “at this time of great political instability in the world, when so many live with fear, suffering, persecution, famine, and other forms of instability and vulnerability.” All Christians are called together to proclaim the good news of “repentance and forgiveness of sins … to all nations” (Luke 24:47-48).

The statement embodies the Communions’ conviction that “that the Lord calls us to agreement, and unified witness,” in a year when the coincidence of Christian calendars will see all Christian churches, West and East, celebrate the Day of Resurrection on Sunday, April 20.

Historically, the date of Easter has differed between Eastern and Western churches. The Gregorian calendar, used by most Western churches, differs from the Julian calendar, which is the basis for calculating Easter in some Eastern Orthodox churches. 

Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew have publicly advocated for a shared Easter date, seeing it as a step towards greater unity among Christians. 

2025 is also significant as the 1700^th anniversary of the Nicene Creed, formulated by the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD (and later revised at the Council of Constantinople in 381 AD).

The Nicene Creed presents the most authoritative statement of trinitarian Christian faith. 

Speaking in support of the Statement, the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, the Right Reverend Anthony Poggo said:

“2025 is an important year, in which we celebrate a joint Easter and celebrate the Nicene Creed as a universal statement of faith for all Christian people. The Anglican Communion joyfully stands with fellow Christian World Communions in calling Christians globally to prayer, to common witness and to the unity of God’s Church."

The Letter has been signed by:

• The Armenian Apostolic Church, Holy See of Cilicia.
• The Anglican Communion.
• The Baptist World Alliance.
• The Christian Church and Churches of Christ.
• The Ecumenical Patriarchate.
• The International Old Catholic Bishops’ Conference/Old Catholic Church.
• The Lutheran World Federation.
• The Moravian Church Worldwide Unity Board.
• The Mennonite World Conference.
• The Pentecostal World Fellowship.
• The Salvation Army.
• The World Methodist Council.

The World Communion’s statement can be read here

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