13th edition of the Extraordinary Prayer of all Churches for Reconciliation, Unity and Peace 13/05/2016
THE NEXT EDITION OF THE EXTRAORDINARY PRAYER OF ALL CHURCHES - A GREAT INTERCESSORY PRAYER FOR OUR TIME - WILL BE HELD ON JUNE 19, 2016 AT THE MARONITE PATRIARCHAL EXARCHATE CHURCH, JERUSALEM, ON THE DAY OF THE PENTECOST ACCORDING TO THE JULIAN CALENDAR FOLLOWED BY MANY EASTERN CHURCHES. IN THE DIFFICULTY OF THE TIMES, IT WILL BE A SOLEMN AND A PARTICULARLY SIGNIFICANT INVOCATIONE FOR GOD'S MERCY AND FOR THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, TO MAKE ALL THINGS AND HEARTS NEW.
The 13th edition of the Extraordinary Prayer of all Churches for Reconciliation, Unity and Peace will take place on June 19, 2016 at 6 pm Holy Land time at the Maronite Patriarchal Exarchate in Jerusalem, in coincidence with the celebration of the Pentecost according to the Julian calendar, followed by many Eastern Churches. The Extraordinary Prayer of June 19, 2016 is hosted and organized by the Maronite Church, an Eastern Catholic Church of Syriac rite in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church, and presided over by H.E. Moussa El-Hage, Maronite Archbishop of the Archeparchy of Haifa and the Holy Land and Patriarchal Exarch of Jerusalem and Palestine and Jordan (Maronite Church).
The Jerusalem Churches since 2010 repeatedly call all Christians in the world and all persons of good will to join in a special, great intercessory prayer for our time. They organize the prayer in turns and they take part to the prayers organized by other Churches. In Jerusalem, the Churches are uniquely close to each other, being all present around the Holy Places. The Extraordinary Prayer of all Churches for Reconciliation, Unity and Peace, beginning in and proceeding from Jerusalem, is based on the Jerusalem Church's faith in its vocation of being and remaining somehow a starting point for the Church and especially for its full Communion, with the great charisma of the first Pentecost, and also due to their factual commune presence around the Holy Places of mankind's Salvation.
In this time of terrible trials for many persons and especially Christians in the world, particularly in the Middle East, the cradle of Christianity, the prayer of 19 June 2016 is meant to be a solemn invocation for God's Mercy and for the coming of the Holy Spirit to make all things and all hearts new. The prayer will follow the Pentecost celebration and ritual, with the invocation of the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the world and upon our time.
The celebration will include a procession of the Heads of Churches of Jerusalem or their representatives to the roof of the Patriarchal Exarchate, which lays in the middle of the Old City of Jerusalem, with a magnificent view on the Holy City, and in particular, on the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre, or Basilica of the Resurrection (Anastasis), built in the very place where Christ died on the Cross and rose again. From the roof, they will be giving the final blessing to all participants and also bless together small bottles of water (a symbol of the Holy Spirit) to be distributed, as a reminder of the strength that comes from the Holy Spirit in difficult times.
As for all preceding editions of the Extraordinary Prayer, all Jerusalem Churches and all Christian communities, and especially their pastors, are personally invited to participate in the celebration. In order to allow any person around the world to join in a spiritual communion with the Jerusalem prayer, the latter will be broadcast live or in different ways by Christian TV channels in the Middle East, Europe, North and South America and possibly in Asia and Australia, in six languages. It will be followed by a documentary on the Maronite Church, the host of this edition.
The broadcast of the Extraordinary Prayer Initiative is coproduced, in support to the Jerusalem Churches and communities, by the Association for the Promotion of the Extraordinary Prayer Initiative (APEPI) and by the Christian Media Center (CMC), Jerusalem, themselves supported by particularly involved Christian TV channels, such as Cancao Nova, and Noursat-Telelumière.
Announced Broadcasters:
TV 2000 evening of 19 June 2016 (Italy) - Telelumière 6pm local time (Lebanon and Middle East) - KTO 5 pm local time (France) - Maria Vision (Mexico & South America, possibly Spain, Italy) – EWTN (USA & South America , Germany 5 pm) - Cancao Nova (Brasil, Portugal) - Exodus TV (Slovenia) - Bonum TV (Hungary) - Salt & Light (Canada and North/South America) - JN19 TV (Peru)- Cetelmon TV (Spain) - Laudato TV (Croatia) - Trinity Communication Network (Trinity & Tobago) - Copt TV 6 pm local time (Egypt) - Suyapa TV (Honduras) - Regina Web Radio
The Jerusalem Churches since 2010 repeatedly call all Christians in the world and all persons of good will to join in a special, great intercessory prayer for our time. They organize the prayer in turns and they take part to the prayers organized by other Churches. In Jerusalem, the Churches are uniquely close to each other, being all present around the Holy Places. The Extraordinary Prayer of all Churches for Reconciliation, Unity and Peace, beginning in and proceeding from Jerusalem, is based on the Jerusalem Church's faith in its vocation of being and remaining somehow a starting point for the Church and especially for its full Communion, with the great charisma of the first Pentecost, and also due to their factual commune presence around the Holy Places of mankind's Salvation.
In this time of terrible trials for many persons and especially Christians in the world, particularly in the Middle East, the cradle of Christianity, the prayer of 19 June 2016 is meant to be a solemn invocation for God's Mercy and for the coming of the Holy Spirit to make all things and all hearts new. The prayer will follow the Pentecost celebration and ritual, with the invocation of the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the world and upon our time.
As for all preceding editions of the Extraordinary Prayer, all Jerusalem Churches and all Christian communities, and especially their pastors, are personally invited to participate in the celebration. In order to allow any person around the world to join in a spiritual communion with the Jerusalem prayer, the latter will be broadcast live or in different ways by Christian TV channels in the Middle East, Europe, North and South America and possibly in Asia and Australia, in six languages. It will be followed by a documentary on the Maronite Church, the host of this edition.
The broadcast of the Extraordinary Prayer Initiative is coproduced, in support to the Jerusalem Churches and communities, by the Association for the Promotion of the Extraordinary Prayer Initiative (APEPI) and by the Christian Media Center (CMC), Jerusalem, themselves supported by particularly involved Christian TV channels, such as Cancao Nova, and Noursat-Telelumière.
Announced Broadcasters:
TV 2000 evening of 19 June 2016 (Italy) - Telelumière 6pm local time (Lebanon and Middle East) - KTO 5 pm local time (France) - Maria Vision (Mexico & South America, possibly Spain, Italy) – EWTN (USA & South America , Germany 5 pm) - Cancao Nova (Brasil, Portugal) - Exodus TV (Slovenia) - Bonum TV (Hungary) - Salt & Light (Canada and North/South America) - JN19 TV (Peru)- Cetelmon TV (Spain) - Laudato TV (Croatia) - Trinity Communication Network (Trinity & Tobago) - Copt TV 6 pm local time (Egypt) - Suyapa TV (Honduras) - Regina Web Radio
12th edition of the Extraordinary Prayer in coincidence with Week of Prayer for Unity 02/01/2015
THE NEXT EDITION OF THE EXTRAORDINARY PRAYER OF ALL CHURCHES - A GREAT INTERCESSORY PRAYER FOR OUR TIME - WILL BE HELD ON JANUARY 28, 2015 AT THE BASILICA OF GETHSEMANE IN JERUSALEM, IN COINCIDENCE WITH THE JERUSALEM WEEK OF PRAYER FOR UNITY. IT WILL BE CENTERED ON THE THEME OF ECUMENISM OF SUFFERING.
The Jerusalem Churches since several years repeatedly call all Christians in the world and all persons of good will to join in a great intercessory prayer for our time. They organize the prayer in turns and they take part to the prayers organized by other Churches. They also join since several decades for the week of prayer for Unity. In fact, in Jerusalem, the Churches are uniquely close to each other, being all present around the Holy Places. Also, the special liturgies linked to the service of the Holy Places are found in the different ecclesial traditions: they form, together, the unique "Jerusalem tradition". The Jerusalem Churches often remember that the divisions of the Church did not come from Jerusalem, but from outside, and by grace of the Lord, in the Holy Town one can contemplate with spirit of wonder the Mystery of the one Church of Christ in its diversity, more than anywhere else. The Extraordinary Prayer of all Churches for Reconciliation, Unity and Peace, beginning in and proceeding from Jerusalem, is based on the Jerusalem Church's faith in its vocation of being a starting point for the Church and especially for its Unity, with the great charisma of the first Pentecost.
In this time of terrible trials for many Christians in the world, and especially in the Middle East, the cradle of Christianity, the prayer of 28 January 2015 will be centered on the theme of the Ecumenism of suffering, invoked during the recent common prayer at the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre between H.H. Pope Francis and H.H. Patriarch Bartholomeus. The Basilica of Gethsemane, built in the very place where Christ started His Passion and of His great sacerdotal prayer to God the Father, is one of the possibly most significant shrines to host the prayer,
The celebration will include a procession of the Heads of Churches of Jerusalem, bringing to their faithful olive branches taken from the Garden of Gethsemane. At the end of the prayer, small bottles of Gethsemane olive oil blessed by all the Churches will be distributed, as a reminder of each Christian's chrismal baptismal anointment for following Christ's steps, as priest, prophet and king - up to martyrdom.
As for all preceding editions of the Extraordinary Prayer, all Jerusalem Churches and all Christian communities, and especially their pastors, are personally invited to participate in the celebration. In order to allow any person around the world to join in a spiritual communion with the Jerusalem prayer, the latter will be broadcast live or in different ways by Christian TV channels in the Middle East, Europe, North and South America and possibly in Asia and Australia, in at least six languages. It will be followed by a documentary on the Custody of the Holy Land, the host of this edition.
The broadcast of the Extraordinary Prayer Initiative is coproduced, in support to the Jerusalem Churches and communities, by the Association for the Promotion of the Extraordinary Prayer Initiative (APEPI) and by the Christian (formerly "Franciscan") Media Center (CMC), Jerusalem, themselves supported by particularly involved Christian TV channels, such as Cancao Nova, Noursat-Telelumière and Maria Vision.
11th edition of the Extraordinary Prayer at the Anglican Cathedral of St George in Jerusalem 08/05/2014
THE NEXT EDITION OF THE EXTRAORDINARY PRAYER OF ALL CHURCHES - A GREAT INTERCESSORY PRAYER FOR OUR TIME - WILL BE HELD ON JUNE 7, 2014 THE VIGIL OF PENTECOST IN ALL CHRISTIAN CALENDARS, SHORTLY AFTER THE MEETING IN THE HOLY CITY BETWEEN POPE FRANCIS AND HIS BEATITUDE BARTHOLOMEOS, THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE, AND THEIR ECUMENICAL PRAYER ON MAY 25 2014 AT THE HOLY SEPULCHRE TOGETHER WITH ALL HEADS OF CHURCHES OF JERUSALEM
The 11th edition of the Extraordinary Prayer of all Churches for Reconciliation, Unity and Peace will take place on 7 June 2014 at 6 pm Holy Land time in the Anglican Cathedral of St George, at the Vigil of Pentecost in Jerusalem. This happens to be twelve days after the ecumenical prayer at the Holy Sepulchre to which Pope Francis, Patriarch Bartolomeos and all heads of Churches of Jerusalem will participate on May 25, 2014 - an event of extraordinary significance for the Christian Community at large.
On June 7, 2014, the ‘Mother Church’ of Jerusalem will once again call on all Christians and Christian communities in the world to pray for reconciliation with God and with one another, for unity and peace, and to continue to support the development of relationships of trust and love, in a spirit of humility, among all Churches.
The Extraordinary Prayer of June 7, 2014, is organized by the Anglican Episcopal Church and presided over by His Grace Bishop Suheil Dawani, Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem.
As one of the major feasts of the Church, Pentecost is indigenous to the Church of Jerusalem and its celebration in the Holy City is not only historic, but also unique. Recalling its diversity in the Holy Land and throughout the world, the text about Pentecost in Acts 2 will be read in many different languages during the service. Also, as a sign of the Holy Spirit descending upon the faithful, clergy from all Churches will bless the water which will be distributed following the service. This Ecumenical celebration of unity and peace will be crowned by the blessing of all the Heads of Churches at the end of the Service.
As for all preceding editions of the Extraordinary Prayer, all Jerusalem Churches and all Christian communities, and especially their pastors, are personally invited to participate in the celebration. The prayer will be broadcast live or in different ways by Christian TV channels in the Middle East, Europe, North and South America and possibly in Asia and Australia, in six languages, in order to allow Christians and all persons of good will around the world to join in a spiritual communion with the Jerusalem prayer. It will be followed by a documentary on the hosting Church.
On June 7, 2014, the ‘Mother Church’ of Jerusalem will once again call on all Christians and Christian communities in the world to pray for reconciliation with God and with one another, for unity and peace, and to continue to support the development of relationships of trust and love, in a spirit of humility, among all Churches.
The Extraordinary Prayer of June 7, 2014, is organized by the Anglican Episcopal Church and presided over by His Grace Bishop Suheil Dawani, Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem.
As one of the major feasts of the Church, Pentecost is indigenous to the Church of Jerusalem and its celebration in the Holy City is not only historic, but also unique. Recalling its diversity in the Holy Land and throughout the world, the text about Pentecost in Acts 2 will be read in many different languages during the service. Also, as a sign of the Holy Spirit descending upon the faithful, clergy from all Churches will bless the water which will be distributed following the service. This Ecumenical celebration of unity and peace will be crowned by the blessing of all the Heads of Churches at the end of the Service.
As for all preceding editions of the Extraordinary Prayer, all Jerusalem Churches and all Christian communities, and especially their pastors, are personally invited to participate in the celebration. The prayer will be broadcast live or in different ways by Christian TV channels in the Middle East, Europe, North and South America and possibly in Asia and Australia, in six languages, in order to allow Christians and all persons of good will around the world to join in a spiritual communion with the Jerusalem prayer. It will be followed by a documentary on the hosting Church.
NINE PRAYERS DAYS IN PREPARATION OF POPE FRANCIS' AND PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEUS' VISIT 06/05/2014
NINE PRAYER DAYS IN JERUSALEM FROM 14 to 22 MAY 2014 IN SPIRITUAL SUPPORT TO AND IN PREPARATION OF THE PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOLY LAND (24-26 MAY 2014) OF PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEOS - POPE FRANCIS
From 14 to 22 May 2014, the Jerusalem Christian Churches and communities will prepare for and support spiritually with nine days of prayer the pilgrimage and encounter of Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomeos in the Holy Town on 25 and 26 May 2014. This meeting happens fifty years after the historical encounter of Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras in Jerusalem, which marked a new start in the relationship between the Orthodox and the Catholic Church.
The nine preparatory days from 14 to 22 May 2014 consist of individual and community prayer in the Holy sites, fasting, worshipping and good deeds. Community prayer will be held in turn by the different Churches present in the Holy Town, with all other Christian communities being invited to join.
The initiative - an official initiative linked to Pope Francis’s pilgrimage (see http://popefrancisholyland2014.lpj.org/blog/2014/03/23/pray-for-the-popes-pilgrimage/) - elsewhere in the world takes place on the days 24, 25 and 26 March, April and May 2014 and is coordinated by “TerraSanctaPax” (www.terrasantapax.org), a recurring, annual catholic prayer initiative for Peace in the Holy Land. In Jerusalem, the nine preparatory days of prayer are being coordinated by the “Association for the Promotion of the Extraordinary Prayer of all Churches for Reconciliation, Unity and Peace, beginning in and proceeding from Jerusalem” (APEPI) (www.prayrup.info), which supports, since 2009, the homonymous Extraordinary Prayer Initiative of the Churches of Jerusalem, a great intercessory prayer for our time, beginning in and proceeding from the Holy Town. Since 2011, TerraSanctaPax and APEPI cooperate and join efforts, trying to organise contemporaneously a prayer in January, also in coincidence with the Jerusalem week of prayer for Unity. The specific vocation of APEPI is to work in favour and to support all Churches of Jerusalem.
In Jerusalem, three times three days will be dedicated from May 14 to May 22, 2014, respectively, to the adoration of the Holy Cross, to Eucharistic adoration, and to prayer for Reconciliation, Unity and Peace, associated with three days of fasting and with three visits to a person in need. Personal prayer and worship is proposed, and at least one ecumenical community prayer every day. The Jerusalem Churches will in fact invite the other Christian Churches and communities to join their daily, ordinary prayers for this purpose. A specific intention will generally be added. Also, the special prayer for Reconciliation, Unity and Peace will be held in turn by the Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Syriac Orthodox Church and the Latin (Roman) Catholic Church.
The nine Jerusalem prayer days in preparation of Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomeos’ visit will take place just before the latter starts, in order to open a spiritual path to this important event in the very place where it will happen. Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomeos are foreseen to pray together with all Heads of Churches of Jerusalem in the Holy Sepulchre Basilica (Anastasis) on May 25, 2014 – an extraordinary event for all Christian communities.
PROGRAMME
WEDNESDAY, 14 MAY 2014
Day dedicated to Fasting – personal prayer during the day
3 pm: Prayer in Veneration of the Holy Cross (individual prayer in the Greek Orthodox Chapel on Golgotha)
4 pm: Evening prayer – Ethiopian Orthodox Chapel of Saint Michael (Holy Sepulchre)
THURSDAY, 15 MAY 2014
Day dedicated to the Adoration of the Holy Body and Blood of Our Lord – personal prayer during the day
3 pm: Adoration (individual visit to a Church where the Holy Body and Blood of Our Lord is kept, such as Latin Patriarchate Church; Saint Saviour Church (Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land); Syriac Catholic Church of St Thomas (opposite the Ecole Biblique); Greek Melkite Catholic Church (near Jaffa Gate); Armenian Catholic Church (fourth Station); Maronite Church (Maronite Convent); etc.)
6 pm: Way of the Cross followed by solemn Adoration – Armenian Catholic Church of Saint Mary of the Spasm (fourth station)
FRIDAY, 16 MAY 2014
Day dedicated to prayer for Christian Communion and Unity – personal prayer during the day
Visit to a family member/a friend, a sick person, a person in need
5 pm: Extraordinary Prayer for Reconciliation, Unity and Peace – Lutheran Church of the Redeemer
SATURDAY, 17 MAY 2014
Day dedicated to Fasting – personal prayer during the day
3 pm: Prayer in Veneration of the Holy Cross (individual prayer in the Coptic Chapel of Saint Elena (9th Station)
5 pm: Prayer of the Rosary followed by Holy Mass – Syriac Catholic Church of St Thomas (opposite the Ecole Biblique)
SUNDAY, 18 MAY 2014
Day dedicated to the Adoration of the Holy Body and Blood of Our Lord – personal prayer during the day
3 pm: Solemn Adoration - Armenian Catholic Church of St Mary of the Spasm (fourth Station)
6.45 pm: Vesper followed by solemn Adoration – St Saviour Church (Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land)
MONDAY, 19 MAY 2014
Day dedicated to prayer for Christian Communion and Unity – personal prayer during the day
Visit to a family member/a friend, a sick person, a person in need
6 pm: Extraordinary Prayer for Reconciliation, Unity and Peace – Syriac Orthodox Church of Saint Mark
TUESDAY, 20 MAY 2014
Day dedicated to Fasting – personal prayer during the day
3 pm: Vespers - Armenian Orthodox Cathedral of Saint James
6 pm: Vespers – Coptic Orthodox Church of Saint Anthony (Coptic Convent)
WEDNESDAY, 21 MAY 2014
Day dedicated to the Adoration of the Holy Body and Blood of Our Lord – personal prayer during the day
3 pm: Solemn Adoration – Maronite Convent Church
6 pm: Evening Prayer followed by Way of the Cross (Eastertide version) – Anglican Cathedral of Saint George
THURSDAY, 22 MAY 2014
Day dedicated to prayer for Christian Communion and Unity – personal prayer during the day
5 pm: Extraordinary Prayer for Reconciliation, Unity and Peace with Prayer of the Rosary - Latin Patriarchate Church
6 pm: Holy Mass – Greek Melkite Catholic Church (near Jaffa Gate)
The nine preparatory days from 14 to 22 May 2014 consist of individual and community prayer in the Holy sites, fasting, worshipping and good deeds. Community prayer will be held in turn by the different Churches present in the Holy Town, with all other Christian communities being invited to join.
The initiative - an official initiative linked to Pope Francis’s pilgrimage (see http://popefrancisholyland2014.lpj.org/blog/2014/03/23/pray-for-the-popes-pilgrimage/) - elsewhere in the world takes place on the days 24, 25 and 26 March, April and May 2014 and is coordinated by “TerraSanctaPax” (www.terrasantapax.org), a recurring, annual catholic prayer initiative for Peace in the Holy Land. In Jerusalem, the nine preparatory days of prayer are being coordinated by the “Association for the Promotion of the Extraordinary Prayer of all Churches for Reconciliation, Unity and Peace, beginning in and proceeding from Jerusalem” (APEPI) (www.prayrup.info), which supports, since 2009, the homonymous Extraordinary Prayer Initiative of the Churches of Jerusalem, a great intercessory prayer for our time, beginning in and proceeding from the Holy Town. Since 2011, TerraSanctaPax and APEPI cooperate and join efforts, trying to organise contemporaneously a prayer in January, also in coincidence with the Jerusalem week of prayer for Unity. The specific vocation of APEPI is to work in favour and to support all Churches of Jerusalem.
In Jerusalem, three times three days will be dedicated from May 14 to May 22, 2014, respectively, to the adoration of the Holy Cross, to Eucharistic adoration, and to prayer for Reconciliation, Unity and Peace, associated with three days of fasting and with three visits to a person in need. Personal prayer and worship is proposed, and at least one ecumenical community prayer every day. The Jerusalem Churches will in fact invite the other Christian Churches and communities to join their daily, ordinary prayers for this purpose. A specific intention will generally be added. Also, the special prayer for Reconciliation, Unity and Peace will be held in turn by the Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Syriac Orthodox Church and the Latin (Roman) Catholic Church.
The nine Jerusalem prayer days in preparation of Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomeos’ visit will take place just before the latter starts, in order to open a spiritual path to this important event in the very place where it will happen. Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomeos are foreseen to pray together with all Heads of Churches of Jerusalem in the Holy Sepulchre Basilica (Anastasis) on May 25, 2014 – an extraordinary event for all Christian communities.
PROGRAMME
WEDNESDAY, 14 MAY 2014
Day dedicated to Fasting – personal prayer during the day
3 pm: Prayer in Veneration of the Holy Cross (individual prayer in the Greek Orthodox Chapel on Golgotha)
4 pm: Evening prayer – Ethiopian Orthodox Chapel of Saint Michael (Holy Sepulchre)
THURSDAY, 15 MAY 2014
Day dedicated to the Adoration of the Holy Body and Blood of Our Lord – personal prayer during the day
3 pm: Adoration (individual visit to a Church where the Holy Body and Blood of Our Lord is kept, such as Latin Patriarchate Church; Saint Saviour Church (Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land); Syriac Catholic Church of St Thomas (opposite the Ecole Biblique); Greek Melkite Catholic Church (near Jaffa Gate); Armenian Catholic Church (fourth Station); Maronite Church (Maronite Convent); etc.)
6 pm: Way of the Cross followed by solemn Adoration – Armenian Catholic Church of Saint Mary of the Spasm (fourth station)
FRIDAY, 16 MAY 2014
Day dedicated to prayer for Christian Communion and Unity – personal prayer during the day
Visit to a family member/a friend, a sick person, a person in need
5 pm: Extraordinary Prayer for Reconciliation, Unity and Peace – Lutheran Church of the Redeemer
SATURDAY, 17 MAY 2014
Day dedicated to Fasting – personal prayer during the day
3 pm: Prayer in Veneration of the Holy Cross (individual prayer in the Coptic Chapel of Saint Elena (9th Station)
5 pm: Prayer of the Rosary followed by Holy Mass – Syriac Catholic Church of St Thomas (opposite the Ecole Biblique)
SUNDAY, 18 MAY 2014
Day dedicated to the Adoration of the Holy Body and Blood of Our Lord – personal prayer during the day
3 pm: Solemn Adoration - Armenian Catholic Church of St Mary of the Spasm (fourth Station)
6.45 pm: Vesper followed by solemn Adoration – St Saviour Church (Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land)
MONDAY, 19 MAY 2014
Day dedicated to prayer for Christian Communion and Unity – personal prayer during the day
Visit to a family member/a friend, a sick person, a person in need
6 pm: Extraordinary Prayer for Reconciliation, Unity and Peace – Syriac Orthodox Church of Saint Mark
TUESDAY, 20 MAY 2014
Day dedicated to Fasting – personal prayer during the day
3 pm: Vespers - Armenian Orthodox Cathedral of Saint James
6 pm: Vespers – Coptic Orthodox Church of Saint Anthony (Coptic Convent)
WEDNESDAY, 21 MAY 2014
Day dedicated to the Adoration of the Holy Body and Blood of Our Lord – personal prayer during the day
3 pm: Solemn Adoration – Maronite Convent Church
6 pm: Evening Prayer followed by Way of the Cross (Eastertide version) – Anglican Cathedral of Saint George
THURSDAY, 22 MAY 2014
Day dedicated to prayer for Christian Communion and Unity – personal prayer during the day
5 pm: Extraordinary Prayer for Reconciliation, Unity and Peace with Prayer of the Rosary - Latin Patriarchate Church
6 pm: Holy Mass – Greek Melkite Catholic Church (near Jaffa Gate)
10th edition of the Extraordinary Prayer at the Syriac Catholic Church of St. Thomas, Jerusalem 22/01/2013
THE 10th EXTRAORDINARY PRAYER OF ALL CHURCHES, A GREAT INTERCESSORY PRAYER FOR OUR TIME, WILL BE HELD ON MAY 18, 2013, VIGIL OF PENTECOST (GREGORIAN CALENDAR) AT THE SYRIAC CATHOLIC CHURCH OF JERUSALEM. IT IS ORGANISED IN CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH THE SYRIAC ORTHODOX CHURCH
The Extraordinary Prayer of May 18, 2013 is organized by the Syriac Catholic Church in close collaboration with the sister Syriac Orthodox Church. It will be based on the profoundly spiritual Pentecost rites of the antique Syriac tradition and held in Aramaic, the language used by Christ himself, and also the liturgical language still used by the Syriac Churches. Some of the prayer’s invocations will be prepared by Christians of Syria, the region where the Syriac Church originally developed from the Patriarchate of Antioch: they will in this way entrust the great difficulties of the present times to the prayer of the whole Christendom. The Extraordinary Prayer will also be an occasion for invoking reconciliation and expressing mutual forgiveness; it will be a faithful invocation to the Holy Spirit and to the Mercy of the Holy Trinity for our time, beginning from Jerusalem.
As for the preceding editions of the Extraordinary Prayer, all Jerusalem Churches and all Christian communities, and especially their pastors, are invited to personally participate to the celebration. The prayer will be broadcast live or in differed mode by Christian TV channels in the Middle East, Europe, North and South America and possibly in Asia and Australia in six languages,
The Extraordinary Prayer of all Churches was born during a Vigil of Prayer at the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem between few clergy representatives and lay worshippers in 2005, and is based on the inspiration of the urgent necessity of an intercessory prayer for our time involving all Churches, beginning in and proceeding from Jerusalem. In Jerusalem, in fact, all Christian Churches are present, as nowhere else. As the birthplace of the Church from the blood and the water that flowed from the side of Christ on Golgotha - according especially to Orthodox theology - and the original place of the effusion of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the Holy Town has an extraordinary spiritual vocation to be a living spring of ecclesial communion. The lack of communion in the Church in fact is not only a counter-testimony to Christ’s message, but it is also, and especially, a negative spiritual reality, which weakens her spiritual strength.
The Extraordinary Prayer is characterized by an irresistibly joyful spirit. Since 2009, starting with the first broadcast prayer then organized at the Syrian Orthodox Convent Church of St. Mark in Jerusalem, the Jerusalem Church, using, each time, the words of one of the Christian traditions represented in the Holy City, publicly calls all nations in the name of Christ to “repentance for the forgiveness of sins, beginning from Jerusalem” (Luke 24, 47).