Zagreb, January 20, 1997 (IKA) – On January 18, eight days of ecumenical prayer for the unity of all Christians began in Zagreb with a joint prayer service in the overflowing Zagreb Cathedral, led by the Catholic archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Franjo Kuharić; together with Evangelical Bishop Vladimir Deutsch; the Serbian Orthodox Episcopal Representative, the Rev. Milenko Popović; the president of the Baptist Church in the Republic of Croatia, Dr. Branko Lovrec; the president of the Evangelical Church of the Republic of Croatia, Dr. Peter Kuzmič; the apostolic nuncio in the Republic of Croatia, Giulio Einaudi; the Greek Catholic Bishop Slavomir Miklovš; and bishops and priests of the Zagreb Archdiocese. Representatives of all the Christian Churches and communities in the Republic of Croatia assembled around the altar of the Roman Catholic cathedral, at the grave of the Servant of God, Alojzije Stepinac. They prayed “to be truly be united in Christ#!s prayer that all would be one, “for the conversion of all Christians so that, in the words of Cardinal Kuharić, “all would experience a change of heart by the power of the Holy Spirit and thus become reconciled in the depths of their hearts through the mercy of God and the redemption of Jesus Christ, open for mutual dialogue in sincerity, resect and love.” During the recent war, representatives of the Christian Churches and communities in the Republic of Croatia attempted various forms of working together. Representatives of the Catholic Church and the Serbian Orthodox Church have met together on numerous occasions at home and abroad. However, these meetings did not produce concrete plants for improved cooperation and relations between these two Churches, which had been disrupted during the war within the territory of the former Yugoslavia. Therefore, this prayer encounter was of particular importance to the Christians in the Republic of Croatia. “Ecumenicism is respect for the other in his faith, in his conviction, in his conscience. This is respect for the dignity of the human being. From this respect, from this love, there has already occurred an encounter and a prayer meeting, this meeting tonight in our cathedral,” stated Cardinal Franjo Kuharić. Christian faithful in the Republic of Croatia assembled in ecumenical prayer that began this week of prayer for the unity of Christians. This was the world#!s first ecumenical undertaking within the framework of preparations for the celebration of the Great Jubilee. After the joint prayer, representatives of the Churches and religious communities in the Republic of Croatia invited all Christian faithful to unity, harmony and appreciation of their mutual differences in order to contribute to the spiritual renewal of the homeland after years of conflict, hatred and violence. On the second day of the eight days of prayer, Sunday, January19, Christians assembled in joint prayer at the Serbian Orthodox Church of the Holy Transfiguration, led by Serbian Orthodox Paroh Milenko Popović, together with Dr. Antun Škvorčević, representing the Catholic Church; and Bishop Vladimir Deutsch, Dr. Branko Lovrec and Dr. Peter Kuzmič, representing the Evangelical Church.