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Demands Removal of Disparagement Against Jews in Nicaea Decree

February 28, 1929
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“Remove injustice to the Jews,” Moses B. Cotsworth, Director of the International Fixed Calendar League, urged in a letter to the Archbishop of Dublin on the Fixed Easter question.

“During a conference I was privileged to have today with Archbishop Germanos of Thysteira, who is the official spokesman for the Orthodox Churches,” Mr. Cotsworth said, “we discussed the question of the need for removing the now unjust aspersions cast upon present-day Jews throughout the world every Easter, through the unfortunate clause in the Decree of Nicaea in 325 A. D., which reads: ‘Should the fourteenth day of the moon, which is regarded as the “full moon” happen on a Sunday, Easter Sunday is deferred to the following Sunday-to avoid concurrence with the Jews and other heretics.’

“It is evident,” he proceeds, “that no fixed date for Easter can be established until these words are withdrawn by separate Occumenical Councils of both the Holy See and the Orthodox Churches. While we may not know the full weight of the reasons why these words were emphasized in the Decree, it is very respectfully submitted that it is unjust to apply them to the now living Jews, who are not to blame for mistakes made by any ancestors 1,600 years ago.”

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