Towards the Sibiu assembly

With a welcoming ceremony in the central square of the town, the Third European Ecumenical Assembly (EEA3) will be opened in Sibiu (Romania) on the evening of 4 September. Promoted by the CCEE (Council of the European Bishops’ Conferences) and by the CEC (Conference of European Churches), EEA3 will end on 9 September. Its theme is “The light of Christ shines upon all. Hope for renewal and unity in Europe”. The inaugural event – explain the organizers – “will be one of prayer and celebration, with music and songs of Romanian culture, organized by the local Christian communities and the civic authorities” in the city at the centre of Transylvania, “a place particularly significant for its historic ecumenical vocation, confirmed by numerous Christian churches”. “The light of Christ and of the Church” is the theme of the first day of the assembly (5 September); in its opening session (in the morning) the delegates will meet for the first time in plenary session. The plenary assembly will also form the central morning event during the following days. Nine points of the Charta Oecumenica will form the themes of nine forums due to be held in the afternoon on 5, 6 and 7 September (three each day). The forums of 5 September will be on: unity, spirituality and witness. On 6 September discussion will focus on “The light of Christ and Europe”. After the plenary assembly, in which European and Romanian political exponents will intervene on the question of Europe and the process of integration, the afternoon forums will discuss: Europe, religions and migrations. “The light of Christ and the world” is the theme of the work of the third day (7 September); the afternoon forums will explore the themes of creation, justice and peace. On Saturday 8 September, feast of the birth of the Virgin Mary, after the celebrations in various parishes and churches of the city, the results of the work of the forums will be presented in plenary assembly. The final message of the EEA3 will also be presented in the plenary. Various cultural events will conclude each day, after evening prayers in the churches or Orthodox vespers. On the evening of 8 September, the whole population will be invited to participate in the “Celebration of Light”, “an event rich in symbolic meaning – explain the promoters – and one in which the various ‘models’ of Christian life will be illustrated”. On Sunday 9 September, last day of EEEA3, after celebrations in the local communities, the final meeting will be held in the largest square in Sibiu at 11.00 am.