January 18, 2021 (WCC). Today, Christian communities throughout the world will start observing the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, an annual event with more than 100 years of history. Traditionally, the week is celebrated between 18-25 January, between St Peter and St Paul’s feasts.
At least once a year, Christians come together to pray for their unity. Congregations and parishes from all over the world exchange preachers or arrange special ecumenical celebrations and prayer services. The event that touches off this unique experience is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity has been jointly organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity since 1968. In the southern hemisphere, where January is a vacation time, churches often find other days to celebrate it, for example around Pentecost, also a symbolic date for unity.
The theme of the 2021 edition, “Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit”, was prepared by the Monastic Community of Grandchamp, an ecumenical religious community of sisters based in Switzerland. The chosen theme is based on John 15:1-17 and expresses Grandchamp Community’s vocation to prayer, reconciliation and unity in the church and the human family.
Worship and background materials for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity are available on this link.