Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

“There Is One Body and One Spirit” (Ephesians 4:4)

Each year, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (WPCU) invites believers from different Christian traditions to come together in prayer and reflection in order to grow in the unity willed by Christ. For 2026, the chosen theme is inspired by the Letter of the Apostle Paul to the Ephesians:

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling.”
(Ephesians 4:4)

A Theme Rooted in Faith and History

The prayers and reflections for this year were prepared by members of the Armenian Apostolic Church, in collaboration with representatives of the Catholic Church and the Armenian Evangelical Churches. This ecumenical work took place in a particularly rich spiritual setting, at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the historic spiritual and administrative center of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Armenia.

The meetings were held on September 28 and 29, 2024, during the blessing of the Muron (Holy Chrism) and the reconsecration of the Mother Cathedral, following ten years of extensive restoration work. This moment offered a unique opportunity to reflect on the shared Christian faith, which remains living and fruitful in today’s churches.

Drawing From a Shared Christian Heritage

The material prepared for WPCU 2026 draws upon a rich Armenian spiritual heritage, including traditional prayers, ancient supplications, and hymns composed in monasteries and churches, some dating back to the fourth century. This tradition invites Christians around the world to deepen their fraternity in Christ and to recognize unity as a divine mission at the heart of the Church’s vocation.

Traditionally celebrated from January 18 to 25, between the Feast of the Confession of Saint Peter and the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, the Week of Prayer may also be observed at other times of the year—particularly around Pentecost—depending on local contexts.

Canadian Resources

In Canada, the resources for WPCU 2026 were prepared by the ecumenical writing and animation team, in partnership with the Canadian Centre for Ecumenism, the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism, and the Ecumenical Women’s Council of Canada. For more than 50 years, these resources have supported Christian communities across the country in their commitment to unity.