Praying with and for Christians in the East
The Day of Eastern Christians was established at the initiative of L’Œuvre d’Orient in 2018. It is a day of communal prayer for and with our brothers and sisters in the East, for peace, under the watchful eye of Mary. It takes place on the sixth Sunday of Easter.
On this day, we are invited to pray for one another. This day fosters greater unity among Christians around the world, as the East and the West join in prayer for peace.
Prayer intentions for Western Christians are read in all the communities supported by the Œuvre d’Orient in Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, the Holy Land, as well as in Ethiopia, India, Ukraine, and elsewhere. We invite all parishes in France to join this initiative and to offer a special thought for their brothers in the East. Eastern patriarchs and priests have shared their prayer intentions with us.
It is also an opportunity to reconnect with the Eastern roots of our faith.
Christians in the East are going through a long period of reconstruction. While for some, the easing of conflicts offers a glimmer of hope, for others, anxiety prevails in the face of the worsening situation in their countries and the persecution suffered by minorities. They need our prayers to face these times with fervor and to keep hope alive.
In practical terms, what should we do?
Everyone is invited to participate in this day of observance, so that we may stand in even closer solidarity with the Christian communities in the East. We suggest several ways to get involved:
Pray with Eastern Christians using this booklet.
Include an intention for Eastern Christians in the universal prayer during the Sunday celebration.
Build relationships with an Asian community living in the parish’s vicinity: participate in the celebration by singing a song or offering a prayer in their language, and spend time talking with them after Mass…
Discover Eastern heritage by visiting the Eastern parishes of France.
Provide financial support for a project in the Middle East.
"Let Us Pray as a Church" offers prayer intentions and an action for the six days leading up to the Day of Eastern Christians.
Monday: As I read a passage from the Acts of the Apostles, I reflect on how the early Christians of the East brought us the Gospel. I give thanks to the person who passed on the faith to me.
Tuesday: On this feast day of Constantine, who authorized the Christian religion and the free assembly of bishops in the East, I learn about the early councils that shaped the Church and recite the Creed.
Wednesday: “At Your Gates, Jerusalem!” I find out about the Eastern parishes near where I live. I step through the doorway of their church—so Eastern, and yet so close.
Thursday: I reflect on the joy I find in my faith. I decide to share that joy with someone close to me.
Friday: Today, I am making an offering on behalf of the Christians of the East to help them rebuild their homes, so that they may bear fruit on their land and that their fruit may endure.
Saturday: Syria, Jerusalem, Cappadocia, Greece… I picture these places on a map—the ones the Bible tells me about. I pray for those who live on the other side of our Mediterranean “village” and who today hope for peace so they can return home.
Sunday: Day of the Christians of the East. Lord, on this Day of the Christians of the East, we pray to you for peace in that part of the world. Grant our brothers and sisters in the East the strength to hold on to hope and to believe in a possible future in their own lands.
