Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2026: the Armenian Church in the spotlight

Three celebrations, one prayer. On the occasion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity from January 18 to 25, Father Houssik Sargsyan will welcome Greek Orthodox, Coptic, Catholics and Protestants to the three parishes for which he is responsible, in Charvieu-Chavagneux (Isère), Romans-sur-Isère (Drôme) and Lyon (Rhône).

For this priest of the Armenian Apostolic Church who began his priesthood in his country of origin, what a long way he has come! “I arrived in France in 2012 and started by spending seven years in Paris. At the time, I was not familiar with ecumenical issues. This type of responsibility was entrusted to perfectly French-speaking people,” recalls the forty-year-old.

In January 2019, appointed to a parish in Charvieu-Chavagneux, he immediately plunged into the deep end of ecumenical dialogue. “The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity took place a few days after my arrival. The program having already been developed, I adapted. Protestants played guitars to accompany songs of praise in our church. It was completely unexpected for me!”

Surprised by the diversity of traditions, he recognizes today that the expression of faith can take many forms: “Armenian songs sometimes seem very exotic to the ears of many French people,” he laughs.

For the unity of the Church

Since this experience, which left him with happy memories, he participates every year in this event inviting Christians from around the world to pray for the unity of the Church.

For the 2026 edition, the documentation serving as a resource for the organizers was prepared by the different Churches of Armenia. This country with a checkered history, surrounded by Turkey, Georgia, Iran and Azerbaijan, will thus be at the center of attention. “It is important because it encourages us, there as well as here,” emphasizes this priest who, as in most Eastern Christian Churches, is married and the father of three children.

Common prayer for Lent, Walk for Jesus in spring: other meetings have been added over the years to Father Houssik’s ecumenical agenda. “This work opened my mind, not only intellectually but also in my heart. And not only towards other Churches, but also within my home,” he concludes.