Tag: temple-church

Historic Ecumenical Service held in London and Jerusalem on Anniversary of Council of Nicaea

Cardinal Pizzaballa live-streamed from Jerusalem. Photo: Friends of the Holy Land

Source: Jo Siedlecka, Independent Catholic News

Colette Joyce, our Co-ordinator, attended this Service on behalf of Westminster Justice and Peace.

The Temple Church in London and Co-Cathedral of the Most Holy Name of Jesus in Jerusalem were the settings for an historic simultaneous ecumenical service on Tuesday 20th May 2025, marking the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. The event featured a livestream broadcast from the two churches and shown on screens.

At the Council of Nicaea, in the year 325, church leaders formally assembled to agree on Christian doctrine and endorse the Nicene Creed.

The choice of the Temple Church for this event was particularly significant. It was built in 1162 to recreate the Rotunda of the Holy Sepulchre, or Anastasis, in Jerusalem, commissioned by Constantine soon after the Council of Niceae.

Organisers at the Temple church said yesterday’s service was planned “to bring us all together in unity to pray for peace in the midst of the current troubles in the Holy Land and in our shared concern for the founding communities of our faith.”

As the clergy processed into both churches the Temple Singers led the hymn: Jerusalem the Golden.

In London, Cardinal Vincent Nichols welcomed those present with a blessing. He then delivered a message prepared for the occasion by the late Pope Francis in which he prayed for peace in the Holy Land and prayed this “commendable initiative” which he said “bears eloquent witness to the rich religious tapestry that characterises the land of Our Saviour’s birth and calls attention too the enduring desire for peace held dear by its citizen’s today.”

In Jerusalem Cardinal Pizzabella welcomed everyone in the first words of Pope Leo XIV as Pope:

“Peace be with all of you!”

He said: “Dearest brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting of the Risen Christ, the good shepherd who gave his life for God’s flock . I too would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families, and all people whoever they are, all of the people all over the earth.

This is the peace of the Risen Christ, an unarmed peace and a disarming peace, humble and persevering .It comes from God. God, God who loves us all unconditionally . We still have in our ears that weak , but always courageous voice off Pope Francis as he blessed Rome!

The Pope who blessed Rome gave his blessing to the world that Easter morning. Allow me to follow up on that same blessing.: God loves us. God loves you all, and evil will not prevail.

We are all in the hands of God. Therefore without fear, united hand in hand with God and among ourselves we move forward. We are disciples of Christ.

Christ preceded us. The world needs his light. Humanity needs him as the bridge to allow it to be reached by God and his light.”

Continue reading on ICN

To support the work of Friends of the Holy Land, please visit: www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/


FURTHER LINKS

Temple Church: www.templechurch.com/

Council of Nicaea: www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/councils-of-nicaea

20th May: Join Friends of the Holy Land for Historic Ecumenical Service Online to mark 1700th Anniversary of Council of Nicaea in London and Jerusalem

Brendan Metcalfe, CEO of Friends of the Holy Land writes: 

It has been a very painful Holy Week and Easter for our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land; so, we ask you to show you care and seek for an end to this escalating war by joining us online in an historic ecumenical service to pray for a lasting peace during this time of brokenness and conflict.

This special ecumenical service will take place in Temple Church, London, on Tuesday 20th May. The event will feature a simulcast broadcast from the Co-Cathedral of the Most Holy Name of Jesus in the Latin complex, Jerusalem. The service will commence at 12pm BST in London and 2pm IDT in Jerusalem.

“This event marks the 1700th anniversary of the opening day of the Council of Nicaea (325 AD) and will bring together Christian leaders and communities for a profound moment of unity and prayer for peace, during this time of brokenness and conflict.” The Revd Robin Griffith-Jones, Master of the Temple

His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa will lead the service in Jerusalem along with Archbishop Hosam Naoum of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, with invitations extended to the other leaders in the Holy City. In London, Cardinal Vincent Nichols will lead along with Bishop Christopher Chessun, leaders from the Orthodox Churches and from Churches Together in England.

HB Cardinal Pizzaballa in his Easter Homily said: “Following Jesus, even in our difficult trials, is as compelling as it gets. So let us not forget that the Gospel speaks of an overturned stone. Therefore, even though there are so many problems and difficulties that beset us, let us affirm with serene confidence and clear determination that nothing keeps us trapped in our tombs, that we are a living Church that does not give up in the face of the stones that lie before us.”

Please share the online joining details with your friends and family so they will be able to join us on this special occasion. The service can be watched either live or within 48 hours.

Join online here: www.youtube.com/live/tCwQG1TPvJk

Friends of the Holy Land