Christian leaders unite in Assisi to establish historic Feast of Creation

[World Council of Churches] In a landmark gathering addressing the spiritual dimensions of the ecological crisis, Christian leaders from Eastern and Western traditions convened in Assisi, Italy, to develop a shared liturgical Feast of Creation.

The three-day conference May 5-7 marks a significant step toward establishing what Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, moderator of the World Council of Churches central committee, described as “a wonderful expression of the trinitarian essence that unites us as churches” and a powerful spiritual response to the urgent climate challenges facing our planet.

The conference brought together representatives from 16 world communions including the Anglican Communion, Baptist World Alliance, Roman Catholic Church, Lutheran World Federation and Eastern Orthodox churches. The discussions will focus on the theological foundations of the feast, lectionary readings, liturgical prayers and the date, with Sept. 1 being traditionally observed as Creation Day in Eastern Orthodox traditions.

In his introductory address, Bedford-Strohm set the tone for the gathering, stating, “If the Assisi process continues to develop and reach its goal, it might become a landmark in the history of Christianity. Looking back into the second millennium, there seems to be only one precedent: the Feast of the Transfiguration, which was originally celebrated in the East and then adopted in the West in 1456.”

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