The Episcopal Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Manhattan was filled with prayerful voices and a spirit of unity as Christians from diverse traditions gathered on January 19 for an Ecumenical Evensong celebrating the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and the Nicene Creed. The event, a highlight of the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (January 18-25), brought together clergy, choir members, and laity to affirm their shared faith and hope for closer bonds among Christian denominations.
Father Ryan Muldoon, Director of the Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Dialogue for the Catholic Archdiocese of New York, reflected on the historic meaning of the evening. “It’s significant that we’re gathered on Sunday, the Lord’s Day, during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. While we as Catholics and our brother and sister Christians of other denominations have gathered this morning in our own houses of worship for Sunday Mass or Eucharist, now we gather on Sunday afternoon and evening for a common prayer, a Vespers service,” he said.
Father Muldoon highlighted a special moment in the liturgy: the singing of the Nicene Creed. “During this Vespers service, we will sing the Creed as it was meant to be sung. A new musical setting has been composed for this occasion, and we are excited to unveil it tonight as we profess our common faith together,” he shared. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, and all the ecumenical endeavors of Christian communities, seek to fulfill Christ’s prayer at the Last Supper when He prayed to the Father “that all may be one” so that “the world may believe that you have sent me.”
Dean Patrick Malloy, Dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, explained the cathedral’s mission of fostering Christian unity. “Unity is baked into the DNA of this cathedral,” he explained. “When we were chartered, it was explicitly stated that we are to be a force and a center for Christian unity. The seven chapels at the east end of the cathedral reflect this mission, each representing a nationality group and their distinct religious traditions.”
Dean Malloy expressed hope for renewed ecumenical efforts, even amid challenges. “What gives me hope are the personal relationships I see and have with clerics across the Christian spectrum. It’s these relationships that remind us that while dogma and doctrine matter, underneath it all, there is something that holds us together. This anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and the Creed we share are reminders of our common foundation.”
Reverend Doctor Mary Newbern-Williams, Transitional Presbyter for the Presbytery of New York City, brought the perspective of the Presbyterian Church (USA) to the evening. “This evening is essential because the Presbyterian Church USA is part of an ecumenical commitment with the Episcopal Church, the Reformed Church in America, the United Church of Christ, and other denominations,” she said. “We believe that God is the sovereign God—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Creator of us all. Although we may govern ourselves differently, our core belief and our commitment to creation remain the same.”
The Evensong, with its prayers, hymns, and readings, was a powerful reminder of the unity Christians seek in Christ. For those present, it was a moment of shared faith and renewed hope in the ongoing journey toward unity.
