This year's Praying octave is held under the moto Follow justice and justice alone (Deuteronomy 16:20). The ecumenical celebration that was organised under the initiative of Council for ecumenism and dialogue among religions and cultures of BK BiH, was led by cardinal Vinko Puljić. High priest of Dabrobosna, Metropolit Hrizostom, Apostolic Nuncio msgr. Luigi Pezzuto and many catholic and orthodox priests participated in ecumenical celebration.

Cardinal greeted all present believers that participated in the prayer, and he analysed this year’s motto saying that unity in Christ is the source of force to fight for justice and life worthy for a man.

At the beginning of his addressing, the Metropolit of Dabrobosna greeted all present and thanked cardinal Puljić and cooperants for their constant yearly devotion for Christian’s unity with all their differences. “The unity must begin from within, from our hearts, our souls, our beings. Unity doesn’t come by itself, it will not drop from the sky, nobody will bring it and give it to us. No, we have to build it in our hearts”, said at the beginning of his sermon Metropolit of Dabrobosna.

“The apostle st. Paul, based his writings to the Christians on freedom and love because in first Church there was no total unity. Unity was always searched and prayed for. It is a task. ON one side we have Christians from Judaism, on the other side we have Christians from pagans. The first based their religion on old testament laws and family tradition, which is appropriate. The other ones still remembered their Greek-roman customs and traditions (…) It was a big problem for the first Church and it was long period to be renewed again in the age of humanism and renaissance, the time when ancient Greek axiom returned: Anthropos metron panton – the man is measure of everything instead it being Christ – measure of everything”, said Metropolit Hrizostom.

He added that apostle Paul called Christians to be free, and serve each other out of love, and all that through the sentence “love thy close one like you love yourself”. He also spoke how love frees unity. “Finnishing this speech, I want like Holy apostle Paul tell you – let’s stick with love and let’s take care that we bring back our Christian unity because of love by knowing that the Lord will recognize us as sons and daughters of his love”, said Metropolit of Dabrobosna Hrizostom finishing his sermon.

The mass was animated by choir of Vrhbosna theologian seminary Stjepan Hadrović.

All present got a prayer book with intercession prayers so the believers can use them during this praying octave. At the end of the mass, the Cardinal invited all present to an Ecumenical concert of Christians in the Cathedral on January 19th and gathering on January 25th that will take place in the Orthodox cathedral where Prayer for peace will be prayed.

For this occasion, the Council for ecumenism and dialogue among religions and cultures of BK BiH, published an appropriate booklet.