La Week of Prayer for Christian UnityHoly Week, which takes place every year between January 18 and 25, has once again filled churches, parishes, and communities throughout Spain with celebrations, vigils, and gatherings between different faiths. Under the common theme, proposed internationally, the dioceses have organized a comprehensive program for pray together and to make visible the commitment to the seeking unity among believers in Christ.
During these days, the following have occurred ecumenical prayers, symbolic routes, conferences and celebrations presided over by bishops and archbishopsThese gatherings have been attended by Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Evangelical, and Protestant faithful. Beyond doctrinal or liturgical differences, the emphasis has been on... fraternity, mutual listening and specific collaboration in a social context marked by polarization.
One Spirit, one hope: the motto and its biblical background
The motto of this edition, "One Spirit, one hope"This connects with the well-known exhortation in the letter to the Ephesians: “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope” (Eph 4:4). This formula, which has resonated in homilies and prayers, underlines that, despite the diversity of traditions, Christians share a same basic faith in Jesus Christ and they are summoned to the same horizon of salvation.
In the Spanish context, voices like that of Miguel Ángel EsnaolaThe delegate for Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue of the Diocese of Bilbao explained that Saint Paul uses the image of the body to express a unity made up of distinct but complementary members. From this perspective, the week aims to raise awareness that Division is not the normal situation of the Churchbut a historical wound that demands conversion, patience, and joint work.
Alongside this biblical foundation, it has often been recalled that the unity of Christians is above all a spiritual calling and a vocationIt is not merely an organizational project. Preachers from different traditions have insisted that this unity is implored of the Holy Spirit and received as a gift, although it requires being made concrete in very specific initiatives, gestures, and processes.
The contribution of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the “ecumenism of blood”
The official materials used this year in parishes and communities around the world have been prepared by the Armenian Apostolic Church, in collaboration with the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of ChurchesTeams made up of Armenian faithful, along with Catholics and Evangelicals, have developed the prayers, biblical reflections, and celebration plans.
This choice is not accidental. Armenia was one of the first peoples to publicly embrace Christianity as a defining element of their identityand its history is marked by numerous periods of persecution. For this reason, various ecumenical leaders have described the Armenian Church as a true “Martyrial Church”, in which fidelity to the Gospel has, on many occasions, cost one's life.
In that context, the expression has been used extensively “ecumenism of blood”Christians from diverse church backgrounds who, in many parts of the world, suffer together discrimination, violence, or restrictions on their religious freedom. It is estimated that hundreds of millions of believers have their fundamental rights violated because of their faith, which serves as a reminder that The common testimony of the martyrs anticipates a unity deeper than the merely legal one..
This approach has permeated several celebrations in Spain, where people have been invited to pray for those who continue to suffer persecution today, often far from Europe. At the same time, it has been emphasized that shared suffering challenges the historic churches to not to resign ourselves to division, but to advance on concrete paths of reconciliation.
Valencia: intense eight days and closing ceremony at the Basilica of the Dominicans
In the diocese of ValenciaThe Week of Prayer has been experienced with a particularly varied calendar, which has combined liturgical celebrations, conferences, concerts and symbolic acts distributed across various locations throughout the province. The organization was handled by Ecumenical Interconfessional Center of Valencia, in collaboration with the Oratori de Sant Felip Neri, the International Ecumenical Association and the Delegation of Interconfessional Relations and Interreligious Dialogue of the Archdiocese.
The program included, among other activities, a ecumenical route who visited churches and spaces of Protestant tradition, as well as the office «Lux in via» in the convent of the Capuchin Poor Clares. In addition, meetings were held in parishes such as Our Lady of the Pillar, Saint Monica, and Saint Peter Pascual, as well as a Mass according to the Anglican rite in the Spanish Reformed Episcopal Church at the beginning of the octave.
One of the most significant moments was the ecumenical prayer prepared by groups working with people with intellectual disabilitiesThe event, organized in an evangelical Baptist church, featured young people from the Catholic communities of Faith and Light and the Baptist community of "Més Vida." They performed the parable of the Good Samaritan and proclaimed the day's readings, naturally demonstrating that "the Kingdom belongs to the humble" and that Inclusion is also a sign of unity.
The diocesan closing ceremony took place on January 25th in the Basilica of the Dominican Fathers, in a celebration presided over by the Archbishop of Valencia, Monsignor Enrique BenaventThat same morning, a Mass in the Byzantine rite was celebrated in the parish of Saints Peter and Paul, belonging to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (Patriarchate of Constantinople), highlighting the truly interfaith character of the program.
Bilbao: young people, theological reflection and celebration at the Cathedral of Santiago
In the diocese of BilbaoThe Week of Prayer has had as its central focus the ecumenical celebration at the Cathedral of Santiago, on Sunday, January 25, late in the afternoon, presided over by the bishop Joseba SeguraFaithful from various churches gathered to pray, listen to the Word and share songs in a spirit of unity.
In the days leading up to the event, young people from different faiths have met to reflect together on the motto and prepare their participation in the main celebration. The idea that "we cannot get used to living divided," emphasized by Esnaola himself, has marked the training meetings and exchange spaces, with the aim of ensuring that the new generations embrace unity as something inherent to them.
The Delegate for Ecumenism, Miguel Ángel EsnaolaHe has insisted in interviews on the need "not to resign ourselves to separation" and to heed Jesus' call to be one, as He and the Father are one. As he explained, the motto taken from Ephesians invites us to move from a merely cordial coexistence to a closer and more visible collaboration among the churches, especially in the defense of human dignity and in caring for the most vulnerable.
The bishop too Joseba Segura He has publicly addressed the meaning of this week, reminding us that shared prayer does not erase differences, but helps us to view them from the perspective of faith and not confrontation. The annual celebration in the cathedral, where diverse communities pray side by side, is presented as a a concrete sign of reconciliation and peaceful coexistence in the daily life of the diocese.
Castellón: prayer in Torreblanca and closing ceremony at the Orthodox parish
The diocese of Segorbe-Castellón It has also joined, with particular prominence, in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. One of the most noteworthy events was the ecumenical prayer held in the parish of Torreblancawhere members of the Catholic and Orthodox communities gathered in an atmosphere of fraternity and closeness.
During the celebration, emphasis was placed on the testimony of persecuted Christians in different parts of the world, emphasizing that their shared suffering challenges all the Churches. The reflections focused on how the rejection of the newness of the Gospel, both in the personal and in the social and political spheres, continues to generate misunderstanding and, at times, outright persecution against those who identify as followers of Christ.
The prayer concluded with a fraternal dinnerwhich allowed for the continuation of coexistence and informal dialogue between the different faiths. Simple gestures like sharing a meal have been interpreted as a concrete way of to break down prejudices and strengthen friendship between communities that, for decades, had barely interacted.
The diocesan closure is planned in the Orthodox parish of Castellón, on San Roque street, with an ecumenical celebration presided over by the bishop of Segorbe-Castellón, Casimiro López LlorenteThe meeting, scheduled for Sunday morning, January 25, highlights the desire to alternate worship spaces and recognize the dignity of each Christian tradition.
Burgos and Miranda de Ebro: practical ecumenism and shared prayer
In the province of BurgosThe Week of Prayer has had two particularly significant milestones in the city of Burgos and in Miranda of EbroIn the parish of Brother Saint Raphael, in the capital, a joint ecumenical prayer between Catholics, Orthodox and Evangelicals, following the scheme proposed worldwide by the Armenian Apostolic Church, centered on the symbolism of light.
The celebration, presided over by the diocesan delegate for Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue, José Luis Cabria, had the participation of pastors and priests of the main denominations present in the cityEach of them offered a brief reflection on the motto "one Spirit, one hope", the Lord's Prayer was recited, the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed was proclaimed, and petitions for peace and reconciliation were offered.
After the prayer, members of the different communities shared a gathering, which Cabria described as an example of “practical ecumenism”Getting to know each other, praying together, and strengthening bonds in daily life. This less visible but very real dimension is considered essential so that unity doesn't remain merely theoretical declarations.
En Miranda of EbroMore than a hundred Christians from different denominations gathered at the "La Familia" evangelical church for a particularly participatory celebration, in which music, praise, and intercession played a prominent role. The theme from Ephesians was emphasized, with particular emphasis on the fact that They all share the same mission: to bring God's love to everyday life together.overcoming historical divisions.
Madrid: ecumenical vigil at the Almudena Cathedral and a call for vocational unity
In the capital, the Cathedral of Santa María la Real de la Almudena It hosted the ecumenical vigil closing the Week of Prayer. The celebration, enlivened with Taizé chants, was presided over by the Archbishop of Madrid. Cardinal José Cobo, and had representatives of various Christian denominations present in the diocese.
In his welcoming remarks, the cardinal presented the cathedral as a a home for everyone, with open doorsThis is a sign of a Church called to be a space of fraternity centered on Jesus Christ. He also recalled the recent commemoration of the 1.700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and the Jubilee of Hope, linking these milestones to the current search for unity.
The sermon was delivered by the reverend Lars Pferdehirt, of the German Lutheran Church, who stressed that "Christian unity is a calling"This springs from Christ's way of life and from trust in God's action. He emphasized the importance of learning from one another and recognizing the gifts of other Churches as a gift for the entire People of God.
Cardinal Cobo, for his part, warned that unity is not an optional embellishment, but rather It belongs to the heart of the GospelIn his words, this is not a project that can be created through human strategies, but a work of the Spirit that Christians are called to embrace and accompany with patience, humility, and concrete commitment to the most vulnerable.
Theological reflection, reform of the papacy and ecumenical horizon
Beyond the local celebrations, the Week of Prayer has also served as a framework for reopen fundamental theological debates on the unity of the Church and, in particular, on the role of the papacy in ecumenical dialogue. Voices from the academic and pastoral spheres have recalled that the Second Vatican Council, although it did not dedicate a specific document to the Petrine ministry, did outline a image of a more collegial and synodal Church, which raises new questions about how to exercise the primacy of Rome.
In this context, interventions by popes such as Paul VI, who in the 1960s recognized that the figure of the Pope could be perceived as an obstacle to ecumenism, or of Juan Pablo II, which in the encyclical Ut unum sint He explicitly invited other Churches to dialogue on the ways in which the primacy is exercised "without renouncing the essence of its mission." These calls, although they have not yet led to a global reform, have sown the ground for seek more open and participatory approaches.
The Pope too Francisco He has insisted on the need for a "conversion of the papacy," as he pointed out in the exhortation the gospel of joyand has promoted changes in the curial structure with the constitution Praedicate EvangeliumTheologians of varying persuasions have proposed possible steps, ranging from strengthening collegiate bodies to exploring decentralization formulas inspired by ancient patriarchates, always with the aim of to facilitate mutual recognition among the various Christian traditions.
These reflections are not part of the official program of the Week of Prayer, but they find within it a suitable context to be shared and discussed. The underlying conviction is that Visible unity requires both everyday gestures of closeness and courageous institutional decisions., capable of attending to the legitimate sensitivities of the other Churches.
A common calling: to pray, to meet, and to walk together
Looking at the overall experience in Spain and in Europe, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity leaves the impression of a The process is underway, with concrete progress but also with pending challenges.The vigils in large cathedrals, the celebrations in small parishes, the symbolic routes and the youth gatherings show that there is an ecumenical fabric that, without making noise, is taking shape year after year.
The emphasis on the motto "One Spirit, one hope" has served as a reminder that unity depends not only on theological agreements, but on a attitude of mutual trust and openness to the Holy SpiritMeanwhile, the memory of the martyrs and persecuted Christians remains a compelling argument against indefinitely postponing steps that can be taken towards greater communion.
In summary, what has been experienced in dioceses such as Valencia, Bilbao, Segorbe-Castellón, Burgos, Miranda de Ebro or Madrid points in the same direction: pray together, listen to each other without prejudice, and collaborate in service to the world These are currently the most accessible paths to move towards that longed-for unity which, according to the faith of the Churches, is not only a human desire, but a gift from God waiting to be received.
