The National Council of Churches and over 50 partners invite you to attend the Holy Tuesday service at Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Washington, DC, and the ecumenical program following immediately afterward, on the evening of April 3.

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese is one of our valued member communions. When the ACT to End Racism events were first decided upon by the NCC Governing Board, the Archdiocese enthusiastically invited us to hold our pre-rally evening of prayer at their national cathedral in Washington. The Greek Orthodox Church’s historic and ongoing commitment to human and civil rights was at the heart of this gracious invitation to host this moment of prayer and reflection. The homily will be delivered by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios.

As April 3-5 falls in the middle of the Eastern Orthodox Holy Week, the ecumenical gathering will take on a profoundly solemn character. The Holy Tuesday service is noted for its theme of repentance, which profoundly and movingly connects to the NCC’s call to national repentance for the sin of racism that continues to mark our nation’s history. The program will include a brief media presentation featuring the late Archbishop Iakovos together with the Rev Dr Martin Luther King, Jr., the 50th anniversary of whose assassination we are remembering during this evening of prayer, at the rally the next day, and in the ongoing truth and racial justice initiative commencing the following day.

Please join us for this momentous evening of remembrance. We look forward to seeing you there.