The 2026 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, running from Sunday 18 January to Sunday 25 January, is being marked by Archbishops John McDowell and Eamon Martin, the Church of Ireland and Roman Catholic Archbishops of Armagh and Primates of All Ireland, respectively, on the theme ‘One Body, One Spirit’.

A video message from the Primates of All Ireland is available to watch here:

Drawing on the ancient prayer traditions of the Armenian Church, the archbishops call Christians to deeper unity and active peace-making. They emphasise that the Church, though diverse in culture and tradition, is called to live as one body in Christ, united by humility, patience, love and the bond of peace.

Linking the Armenian Church’s appeal for justice and peace with their own witness on the island of Ireland, the Primates stress that peace is both a gift and a responsibility for Christians, rooted in Christ the Prince of Peace and the work of the Holy Spirit.

In a joint message, the archbishops said:

'In this year’s theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, we focus on Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, chapter 4, which stresses the importance of unity within the Church and urges us to live lives worthy of our calling, with humility, gentleness, patience and love.

'In verse 4 of that chapter, Paul emphasises that the followers of Christ represent one body and one Spirit, united in a single hope. The metaphor ‘one body, one Spirit’ signifies the Church as a unified entity that transcends barriers of geography, nationality, ethnicity and tradition. Paul speaks of the Church as the body of Christ to describe its unity within the diversity of its members.'

For 2026, resources for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity have been prepared by the faithful of the Armenian Apostolic Church, together with the Armenian Catholic and Evangelical Churches.

For more information and resources about the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

Find out more about the Church of Ireland.

Find out more about the Archdiocese of Armagh.