Sat Apr 19 14:50:00 UTC 2025: **Vatican City Celebrates Good Friday Observances Ahead of Easter Sunday**
VATICAN CITY – St. Peter’s Basilica observed Good Friday on April 18th, 2025, marking the Passion of the Lord and a key event in Holy Week leading up to Easter Sunday. Easter, a central celebration in the Christian faith commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, falls on April 20th this year.
While the date of Easter always falls on a Sunday – a tradition rooted in the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ resurrection on the first day of the week – its specific date each year varies. The current calculation, formalized by the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, sets Easter as the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox. This method, however, followed a period of significant debate among early Christians regarding the appropriate day for the celebration, with some initially aligning it with the Jewish Passover.
Historically, Easter’s date has fluctuated, falling anywhere between March 22nd and April 25th. The standardization of Easter Sunday, according to experts, was a complex process involving theological discussions and even excommunication threats during the early centuries of Christianity. The long-standing tradition reflects a blend of religious observance and historical evolution.
First Piper 