Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
18–25 January 2026“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling.” (Ephesians 4:4)
Each January, Christians across the world come together to pray for the unity of the Church. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (WPCU) is a precious opportunity to deepen our shared faith in Christ, to recognise one another as brothers and sisters, and to witness to the Gospel through prayer, friendship and action.
What is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity?
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is celebrated every year from 18 to 25 January, uniting Christians of all traditions in prayer. These dates have deep symbolic meaning, marking the time between the feasts of St Peter and St Paul -apostles who represent both diversity and unity in the early Church.
Across the globe, churches, schools, communities and individuals pause during this week to pray that Christ’s desire “that they may all be one” (John 17:21) may be more fully realised. Locally, the week is an invitation to strengthen relationships between churches in our villages, towns and counties, and to grow in mutual understanding, trust and love.
Whether through shared worship, simple prayer, learning together or acts of service, WPCU reminds us that Christian unity is not an abstract idea, but something lived day by day.
Theme for 2026: One Body, One Spirit
The theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2026 is drawn from Ephesians 4:1–13, with its heart in the words:
“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling.” (Ephesians 4:4)
In this passage, St Paul calls Christians to live in a way worthy of their calling: with humility, gentleness, patience and love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Unity, here, is not uniformity. Rather, it is a rich harmony of different gifts, traditions and vocations, all held together in Christ.
This year’s theme invites us to reflect anew on what unites us as Christians: one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one shared hope. In a world marked by division and conflict, this calling to unity is both a gift and a responsibility.
Prayers from the Armenian Christian Tradition
The prayers and reflections for WPCU 2026 have been prepared by the faithful of the Armenian Apostolic (Orthodox) Church, together with their brothers and sisters from the Armenian Catholic and Armenian Evangelical Churches.
These resources draw deeply on the ancient Christian heritage of Armenia – the first nation to adopt Christianity as its state religion in the early fourth century. They include prayers, hymns and images that emerged from monasteries and churches whose roots stretch back over 1,600 years.
By praying with these texts, Christians around the world are invited to encounter a living tradition of faith that has endured persecution, exile and hardship, yet continues to witness to the light of Christ. These prayers remind us that unity is sustained not by our own efforts alone, but by the work of the Holy Spirit across time, cultures and traditions.
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2026 invites us to draw upon our shared Christian heritage and to reflect more deeply on our fellowship in Christ – a fellowship that unites Christians worldwide in one body and one Spirit.
