Search results

“Circle of Prayer” reverberates out from Dover—to the world

When COVID-19 brought its dark cloud of sickness, fear, and anxiety to his corner of the UK, Rev. Harvey Richardson decided to embrace his friends with the light of prayer.

21 February 2024

A man standing up hands a pair of woven gloves to a man sitting down, both dressed in religious garb.

Finnish bishop meets Pope Francis, gifts gloves “to keep warm in a cold world”

In an annual audience during the ongoing Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Bishop Bo-Göran Åstrand of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland gifted a pair of gloves to Pope Francis, described as “a modest gift, to warm the Pope’s hands in an otherwise cold world.”

22 January 2024

Woman shown on screen holding a card reading 'Safe space for everyone'.

WCC communications in 2023: prophetic storytelling, growing channels

Communication from the World Council of Churches (WCC) in 2023 involved prophetic storytelling and growing channels to highlight justice, reconciliation, and unity across the world.

18 January 2024

People walking in front of large white building in the countryside.

Alexander Vozhdaev, Bossey student, reflects on “rewarding experience in my life”

Alexander Vozhdaev, from the Russian Orthodox Church, participated in a study visit to Rome 20-27 January as part of pursuing a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Ecumenical Studies at the Bossey Ecumenical Institute.

02 February 2022

Rev. Dr Susan Durber: “We belong to one, highly interconnected, world”

As the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity fast approaches, moderator of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Faith and Order Commission Rev. Dr Susan Durber reflects on the theme “We saw the star in the East,” and on what unity means for the world today.

14 January 2022

Cover of the publication "A History of the Desire for Christian Unity"

Webinar in Week of Prayer for Christian Unity to launch new history of ecumenism

Registrations are open for a World Council of Churches webinar on 19 January that will launch the first volume of a major new history of ecumenism produced by a team of academics and scholars coordinated by the Italian-based Foundation for Religious Studies (FSCIRE).

11 January 2022

Brother Alois, prior of the Taizé community

Brother Alois: Faith in Christ means strengthening unity

The Taizé community is well-known in the churches around the world for its encouraging accompaniment of young people on their faith journey. How has the pandemic challenged the community located in Southern France, and what do the young people thirst for in the time when most of our interactions take place online? WCC Communications learned more on these topics from Brother Alois, prior of the Taizé community, who was visiting the WCC in the beginning of December.

21 December 2021

Denise and Benoît Lokila, of the Cana Fraternity in the Democratic Republic of Congo, sitting next to each other in front of the camera

Prayer for unity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: a great warmth of love

The following interview with Benoît and Denise Lokila, of the Cana Fraternity in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is part of a series dedicated to the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

27 May 2021

Prayer

O, Lord, who give unto each nation its place and time and mission: grant us the gift of unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, that the ancient church, and all Christians of this land, each loyal to their confession, culture and nationality, may discover new forms of common Christian witness, and stand before the divided world as a united and humble fellowship. O Lord, who commanded your disciples to pray both for their neighbours and their enemies: give us such love for one another, that with one voice

Morning Prayer for Monday, 12 April 2021

This week in the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle, we pray with the people and churches of

Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania.

Prayers were prepared in cooperation with the Lutheran World Federation.

12 April 2021

Photo essay

Collage of some of the Week of Prayer pictures shared by Christians in different places

In pictures: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Prayers for unity took on a different look and feel this year, but they weren’t stopped by widespread restrictions on face-to-face gatherings. From prayer cards to personal reflections, online gatherings to new connections, the images worldwide convey the spiritual richness of an ecumenical family that came together in prayer.

01 February 2021

Global ecumenical prayer for Christian Unity

Global ecumenical prayer shows “we are one world and one human family”

In a culmination of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the World Council of Churches (WCC) held its first ever online global ecumenical prayer on 25 January, drawing attendees from across the world who came together in a spirit of hope.

25 January 2021

Christians worldwide gather in prayer for unity— even if distanced

Even as nations continue to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, final preparations are under way for one of the world’s largest annual prayer observances, traditionally celebrated 18-25 January. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity involves Christian communities from many traditions and all parts of the globe. At a time when public health concerns put a limit on physical gatherings, it provides an opportunity for churches to come together by means of a typically Christian practice that long predates modern transport: prayer.

15 January 2021

For the service broadcast on national TV, the Ursuline sisters in Trnava had decorated the altar space with a boat evoking St Paul's shipwreck in Malta. Photo: Nata Hovorkova/Ecumenical Council of Churches in Slovakia

Week of Prayer in Slovakia: “The unity was growing in front of my eyes”

Rev. Eva Guldanova is a Lutheran minister, ecumenical theologian, and assistant to the general secretary of the Ecumenical Council of Churches in Slovakia. This interview is part of a series dedicated to the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

24 June 2020

Pope Francis visits WCC, 2018. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC

Multilateral Ecumenism. Sixty Years of Experience From the Perspective of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity

In the field of multilateral relations, the major partner of the Catholic Church is the World Council of Churches (WCC). Founded in 1948, it is the broadest and most inclusive ecumenical organization, bringing together 350 Christian denominations including Orthodox, Lutherans, Reformed, Anglicans, Methodists, Baptists as well as United and Independent churches. Altogether they represent over 500 million Christians worldwide.

18 June 2020

Sisters share wisdom of life rooted in Christ for next week of prayer for unity

The newly available materials for next year‘s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity draw on the experience of contemplative community life to guide us on a journey of prayer bearing fruits of reconciliation and solidarity. Tasked with preparing a draft for the 2021 edition, the Community of Grandchamp in Switzerland chose the theme “Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit” (cf. Jn 15:5-9).

10 June 2020

Ecumenical celebration at Zagreb cathedral, January 2020. Photo: COMECE

“Week of Prayer made me feel deeply the Lord’s desire for our complete unity”

This interview with Fr Manuel Barrios Prieto, secretary general of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE), is the first one in a series dedicated to the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

10 June 2020

Prayer for Christian unity prepares the way for Pentecost

The tradition of praying for Christian unity at Pentecost takes on new significance as physical prayer gatherings have been suspended in many places in an effort to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.

19 May 2020

Mikael Stjernberg. Photo: Arne Hyckenberg

Christian unity strengthens between Sweden, Malta

Mikael Stjernberg is public relations manager for the Christian Council of Sweden, which visited Malta in October to meet with churches and organizations to hear how they worked to produce the material for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, and to see how they work with refugees.

23 January 2020