The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity was observed from January 18 to 25, 2025, in various churches across the Delhi National Capital Region.
This annual event, which fosters Christian unity through prayer, is promoted by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) and the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI).
The Week of Prayer was jointly prepared by the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity and the Commission on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches. This week-long observance provides a special opportunity for Christians to reflect on and celebrate their unity in Christ, transcending denominational differences.
The 2025 observance holds particular significance, as it marks the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, which took place in 325 AD. This council played a pivotal role in shaping the doctrinal unity of the Christian Church, and its anniversary serves as a reminder of the enduring importance of Christian unity.
The preparation of the prayers and reflections for this year's Week of Prayer fell to the monastic community of Bose, located in northern Italy. The theme for the 2025 observance was "Do You Believe in This?" based on the passage from John 11:17-27. This scripture invites Christians to reflect on the fundamental question of faith that unites them and to reconnect with their shared Christian heritage, deepening the faith that binds them together.
The following churches hosted the events of the Unity Octave this week: Caleb Institute (Faruknagar, Gurugram), Free Church (Green Park), St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral Church (Safdarjung Development Area), Jerusalem Marthoma Church (Safdarjung Enclave), Centenary Methodist Church (Lodhi Road), Salvation Army (Green Park), Church of Mother of Perpetual Succor (Mayur Vihar Phase 3), and ECI Faith Cathedral Church (Janakpuri).
Catholic Archbishop Anil JT Couto of Delhi emphasized the importance of unity among Christians.
He stated, "Our Christian life should reflect our faith in the Triune God."
The archbishop stressed that, in Christ, Christians are called to experience a newness of life through humility and fidelity to their faith, which ultimately unites them in fellowship to heal a broken world.
In addition to Couto, other notable preachers who participated throughout the week included Rev. Varinder Kumar from the Methodist Church, Rev. Zacharias Mar Aprem Episcopa from the Marthoma Church, HG Dr. Youhanon Mar Demetrios Metropolitan from the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Rev. Richard Howell from Caleb Institute, Fr. Dr. Mondeep Daniel from Cathedral Church of Redemption, Fr. Afilash from the Orthodox Church, and Rev. Edwin John Wesley from the Evangelical Church of India.
The success of the event was made possible through the dedicated efforts of the core team of the Unity Octave, comprising G. Jaya Kumar, Dr. Sandeep Chaudhary, Fr. Afilash T. Issac, and Fr. Norbert Herman SVD.
Special thanks are due to Rev. Dr. Abraham Mathew for his support and encouragement, which ensured the event was both beautiful and successful. It was heartening to witness the large participation of believers who gathered to worship the Lord in unity.
This event was a powerful reminder of the shared faith that unites Christians across different denominations, fostering a deeper sense of fellowship and commitment to the principles of Christian unity.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
Latest News
