Christians from across Toronto will unite later this month to echo Christ's own plea that we may all be one as part of this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. 

A special ecumenical service, offered through the Archdiocese of Toronto’s Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations and the Greater Toronto Area Council of Christian Churches, invites Christians to join at Runnymede United Church on Jan. 18 at 4 p.m. to begin the historic ecumenical celebration, that will carry through Jan. 25. Bishop John A. Boissonneau will join various Christian leaders from different ecclesial traditions in celebration and prayer for unity among one another and for all Christians worldwide. 

Drawing directly from Ephesians 4:4, the theme of this year’s Week of Prayer is “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling.” Reflecting on this theme, Fr. Luis Melo shared insights into the themes underlying truth — that Christian unity, and the opportunity to celebrate it, is not something to be viewed as optional. 

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“ It is a call because if we have the life of God in us through the Holy Spirit, it is just who we are. Like in any family, there are disagreements, divisions and needs for reconciliation to work on, but this is the work of the Holy Spirit. It's a call to who we are, our very identity as Christian believers. That has value. It needs to be protected and continually worked at,” the director of the Archdiocese of Toronto's Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations Office said. 

Describing the week as the heart and soul of the ecumenical movement at large, Melo shared the historical significance of the observance, tracing back to 1908, when it was first observed as the Octave of Christian Unity. Traditionally and continually celebrated in the Global North from Jan. 18 to 25, it was in 1916 when Pope Benedict XV extended the Week of Prayer to the universal Church, giving it broader momentum that continues today. 

Having been directly involved over the last six yearly prayer services, Melo continues to cherish what he describes as “ receptive ecumenism,” a way of learning and understanding one another’s ecclesial traditions without judgment or wavering of faith. 

“ This is not just a text that is produced by Christians for Christian unity, but also a great diversity of Christians, cultures, church leaders and choirs coming together in one spot, getting to know one another,” he said. “ This is about breaking out of isolation, not just social isolation, but also ecclesial isolation.” 

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It’s the hope of breaking out of ecclesial isolation that upwards of 25 church leaders will come together to pursue, with Roman Catholic representation expected from Boissonneau, Fr. Abbot Maroun Abou-Jaoude of Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church and Fr. Haig Chahinian, CEO of Salt + Light Media, among others. 

Representatives form other denominations expected to attend include Rev. Archpriest Ammonius Guirguis of the Coptic Orthodox’s St. Mark’s Cathedral, Bishop Andrew Asbil of the Anglican Diocese of Toronto, Rev. Susan Climo of Holy Spirit of Peace Lutheran/Anglican, Rev. Maureen Walter of St. John’s Presbyterian and Rev. Paula Willis of Yorkminster Park Baptist. 

Also in attendance will be a number of clergy from Armenian traditions, such as Bishop Abgar Hovakimyan of the Armenian Holy Apostolic Church Canadian Diocese and V. Rev. Archpriest Zareh Zargarian, vicar and pastor of Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church. Their presence goes hand-in-hand with this year’s WPCU resources that were written by members of the Armenian Apostolic (Orthodox) Church, the Armenian Catholic Church and several evangelical communities. 

“ This church is an ancient one and the first nation to embrace Christianity officially in AD 301,  even before the Edict of Milan. There is a phenomenal heritage and legacy that continues with the Armenian experience, and the service will reflect that diversity and lasting strength as well,” Melo said. 

This year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity remains as vitally important as the observance has for more than a century. 

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“ There has been a challenge of connecting, but the great Dominican pioneer, Yves Congar said that we pass through the door of Christian ecumenism on our knees. It takes a great effort and sacrifice to move out of our communities, but once you do, you see how much of the Holy Spirit is found in these ecclesial and church communities that can be shared now,”  Melo said. 

“That is what receptive ecumenism is about. To receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit present in these communities, without any compromise or dilution of faith, so that we can start to see what we have in common, which is the Word of God, hymns and just being together.”