Vienna Cathedral at the Centre of Europe

by | Nov 10, 2017

An ardent ecumenical prayer service. On the 9th November, 2017, Vienna Cathedral – dedicated to St Stephen – became the focal point for Europe. Visible, inviting, and European – this is how this “Ecumenical Evening Prayer for Europe” came across in the cathedral church of Vienna, the Stephansdom. Members of the ecumenical network Together for Europe […]

An ardent ecumenical prayer service. On the 9th November, 2017, Vienna Cathedral – dedicated to St Stephen – became the focal point for Europe.

Visible, inviting, and European – this is how this “Ecumenical Evening Prayer for Europe” came across in the cathedral church of Vienna, the Stephansdom.

Members of the ecumenical network Together for Europe at the heart of the Austrian capital city, at the vigil of their annual Congress. They came from countries such as Portugal, Russia, England, and Greece.

Their aim: unity and reconciliation among various Christian denominations and cultures, as well as solidarity and integration within Europe.

Cardinal Christoph Schönborn lead an ecumenical group of representatives of various Churches: hundreds of people gathered under the “Lettner” Cross which is a significant memorial of the victims of the two world wars. “People today do not expect us to rule, but to serve,” the Cardinal emphasized in his speech. The solemn prayer for a TOGETHERNESS of cultures and generations and for peace resounded powerfully.

“This moment of prayer was a multilingual, visible, and European sign of hope,” said one of the participants, “and it gives us hope for the future.”

Video Ecumenical Prayer Vienna (German)>

At the reception that followed the celebration, Thomas Hennefeld, Superintendent of the Reformed Church of Austria and President of the Ecumenical Council of Churches in Austria, and Joerg Wojahn, Head of the European Commission Representation in Austria,  underlined that Christian values are the basis for a united Europe. “We need everybody,” exclaimed the representative of the EU.

After November 9, 1938 (the Night of Broken Glass) and November 9, 1989 (fall of the Berlin wall), couldn’t November 9, 2017, day of the ecumenical prayer, be a significant step on the road of Together for Europe and a sign for Europe?

Beatriz Lauenroth;  Photo: Annemarie Baumgarten

 

 

0 Comments

Leave a Reply

Subscribe to Newsletter

Leave this field blank

RELATED ARTICLES

DialogUE and the ecology of relationships

DialogUE and the ecology of relationships

A few months ago a veteran of Together for Europe asked me if our network has any influence on the life of the Continent. The question surprised me, but behind the words I sensed the real question: ‘did my-our work make sense’? Last year, the European Union invited us to participate in a call that “promotes citizens’ participation and involvement in the democratic life of the EU” in these three fields: communication, social policy and ecology The webinar held on 2 March developed the latter.

Our common YES to the protection of creation

Our common YES to the protection of creation

The challenges for the protection of creation and an integral ecology are growing exponentially worldwide. On 2nd March 2024, the Together for Europe network has dedicated an entire day online to this topic. Professionals and activists from various Churches and Movements, from 9 European countries, spoke at the Seminar entitled: ‘Called to Unity – Towards an Ecology of Relationships’. An enthralling ‘journey’, in which the speakers in an atmosphere of increasing convergence presented their research and commitment to environmental protection, and then entered into dialogue with the many persons present in the ‘virtual hall’.

The event in Timisoara in 12 minutes

The event in Timisoara in 12 minutes

In November 2023, the Friends of „Together for Europe“ gathered in this city, one of the European Capitals of Culture. t was the first time the network of Christian movements met in a predominantly Orthodox nation. The 221 Christians from 29 countries representing 51 movements and communities, travelled to the Western Romanian town for three days of prayer and reflection, workshops and sharing, outreach and networking. Its main objective: building friendships across nations, charisms and Churches.
The short film gets you into the atmosphere of the meeting.