Introduction to the Theme for the 2026 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
from resources provided by the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity
and the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches
“There is one body, and one spirit, just as you are called
to the one hope of your calling”
[Ephesians 4.4]
For this year, the prayers and reflections
for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity have been prepared by the faithful of the Armenian Apostolic Church, along with
their brothers and sisters of the Armenian Catholic and Evangelical Churches. These
resources were developed, written, and discussed at the historic spiritual and administrative headquarters of the Armenian
Apostolic Church, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in Armenia, during the inspiring days of the blessing of the Muron (holy
oil) and the re-consecration of the Mother Cathedral, on September 28-29, 2024, following extensive renovations over ten years.
This commemoration provided the people of Armenia and the members of the
drafting committee with a unique opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the common Christian faith that remains alive and
fruitful in our churches today. These resources draw upon centuries-old
traditions of prayer and petitions used by the Armenian people, along with
hymns that originated in the ancient monasteries and churches of Armenia, some of which date as far back as the fourth century. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2026 extends an invitation to draw upon
this shared Christian heritage and to delve more deeply into our fellowship in Christ, which unites Christians worldwide.
Unity is a divine mandate at the core of Christian identity, more than simply
an ideal. It represents the essence of the Church’s calling –
the call to reflect the harmonious oneness of our life in Christ amidst our diversity.
This divine unity is central to our mission and is sustained by the profound love of Jesus Christ, who has set before
us a unified purpose. As the Apostle Paul asserts in his Letter to the Ephesians,
“there is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling” [4.4].
This Bible verse, chosen for this year’s theme, encapsulates the theological depth of Christian unity.
Throughout the Holy Scriptures, God’s call to unity resonates from the
earliest times. Starting with the Old Testament, Abraham’s plea to
Lot highlights the divine desire for peace and harmony among the faithful: “Let
there be no strife between you and me and between your herders and my herders; for we are kindred” [Genesis 13.8]. Abram’s call for harmony and mutual respect, despite their eventual parting
of ways, emphasized the importance of living peacefully. This divine instruction
continues in Leviticus 19.18, where God commands, “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your
people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.” Such
commandments remind us that forgiveness and love are vital for maintaining unity within the community of faith.
The Psalms celebrate the beauty of unity among God’s people, declaring,
“How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity! [Psalm 133.1].
This imagery underscores the significance of unity in God’s design for his people. Proverbs, on the other hand,
warns against discord among the people of God, stating that God despises those who sow strife among brothers and sisters [Proverbs
6.19], and teaches that patience and forgiveness are essential in maintaining harmony [Proverbs 19.11].
In the New Testament, Jesus Christ elevates the concept of unity to a spiritual dimension, mirroring the profound
relationship between him and the Father. Unity among his followers is not
merely the absence of conflict but a deep spiritual bond reflecting the unity of the Holy Trinity.
Jesus’ prayer in John 17.21 calls for believers to be one as he and the Father are one, demonstrating that our
unity is grounded in our relationship with Christ and our collective mission of sharing the Good News.
The foundational command of Jesus to love one another as he has loved us [John 13.34-35], reinforces that his love
is the essence of our unity. This sacrificial and selfless love is both
the bond of our community and the primary testimony of our discipleship. Jesus’
prayer that our unity would witness to the world [John 17.23] is an enduring testament to his divine mission.
The Apostles echo this theme in their teachings.
Paul’s epistles stress the importance of unity within the Church, urging us to live worthy of our calling with
humility, gentleness, patience, and love [Ephesians 4.1-3]. Paul’s
vision of unity in Romans 12.6 shows the diversity of gifts that build up the Body of Christ.
His pleas for harmonious relationships in 2 Corinthians 13.11 and Philippians 2.1-2 call believers to be of one mind
and one spirit in their commitment to Christ, thus reinforcing the divine mandate for unity, recognizing our diversity.
Ephesians 4.4 summarizes the teachings of Paul about Unity, emphasizing, here
too, that the followers of Christ represent “one body and one spirit,” united in a single hope.
This metaphor signifies the Church as a unified entity transcending barriers of geography, nationality, ethnicity,
and tradition. Paul uses the metaphor of the Church being the Body of Christ
to describe its unity with the diversity of its members.
He writes to the Corinthians, “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body,
though many, are one body, so it is with Christ” [1 Corinthians 12.12]. To
the Colossians, Paul elaborates on Christ’s role as the head of the unified body of diverse members, stating, “He
is the head of the body, the church”
]Colossian 1.18]. Thus, the
Church, although composed of many parts, functions as a cohesive whole. Each
member has a unique role and contributes to the overall life and mission of the Church.
Recognizing that we are part of one universal Body in Christ encourages global collaboration in spreading his gospel
and serving humanity, shifting the focus from internal divisions to a collective mission.
Conversely, to limit the Lord’s Great Commission to go into the world and make disciples of all nations[ Matthew
28.10] to a community defined by ethnic, geographic, or socio-economic boundaries would deprive that community of one of the
Chruch’s essential foundations established by the Lord – the unity of his followers worldwide.
The concept of “one body” in Ephesians 4.4 also reflects the nature of the Church. Christianity transcends
cultural and national boundaries, uniting believes worldwide in faith and hope.
This fellowship, as envisioned in Revelation 7.9, where every culture, tribe, people and language is represented, provides
strength and encouragement to believers, affirming their connection within the Body of Christ……..
Local Services during the Annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity:
Wednesday, January 21st, 7:30 PM
Conducted by South Bay Clergy, with Father Michael Courey, of
of Saint Katherine Greek Orthodox Church as homilist.
Trinity Lutheran Church, 1340 11th Street,
Manhattan, Beach, CA
Sunday, January 25th, 2:00 PM
Join the Southern California Christian
Forum, the Focolare Movement, and
Parishioners of Saint Bernadette Catholic Church, 3825 Don Felipe Drive,
Los Angeles, for an afternoon of worship,
music, and prayer
