Churches should remember persecuted Christians in red – kath.ch
This week there is not only “Black Friday”, but also “Red Week”. It points to the Christians who are persecuted or live in precarious situations worldwide. Churches in Switzerland illuminated in red are intended to indicate their fate.
Georges Scherrer
The idea of this “red week” came up in 2015 at Church in Need in Brazil. In the meantime, most of the 23 national sections of the aid organization have joined this campaign, explains the Swiss branch of the aid organization in Switzerland on request.
2021 is the premiere of this country. For the first time, churches in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein will also take part this year. Around two dozen parishes take part in the action and illuminate the church. The cathedrals in Vaduz, Sitten and Lugano shine among others.
It is best to have outside lighting
It doesn’t always have to be the whole house of God. At the cathedral in Sion, for example, only the tower is illuminated, explains Ivo Schürmann, public relations officer for the Church in Need in Switzerland.
The red lighting can also be used inside. But the lighting from the outside is more interesting, “because you can convey our concerns to the outside world in this way,” says Schürmann.
St. Florin Cathedral in Vaduz in red
The lighting of the churches can be supplemented with the exhibition “Persecuted Christians Worldwide”. The aid organization sent the relevant material to the parishes at the end of August 2021.
Also, resist fathers Georges Aboud from Lebanon to Switzerland and provides information in various parishes about the situation in his home country. Patriarch Gregorios III. Laham from Syria is traveling to western Switzerland at the same time.
Georges Aboud, religious and priest from Syria
Blood of persecuted Christians
The color red achieves different messages. It is actually the color of the Church in Need logo. But they also stand as a symbol for the blood of persecuted Christians. Ivo Schürmann points out the “martyrs” who “bleed” or, in the worst case, pay with their lives for their belief in Jesus Christ.
Not just Christians
Christians and other religious groups suffered from jihadist terror, authoritarian regimes like in China or a growing nationalism, which regards Christianity as “foreign to culture”, warm Schürmann.
As an example he cites the growing Hindu nationalism in India. Terror is «exploding» in sub-Saharan Africa. Persecution of Christians would now also take place digitally. Schürmann addresses the mass surveillance systems. Here, too, China is at the forefront.
Terrifying numbers
According to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the number of hate crimes against Christians and Christian institutions has increased by 70 percent compared to the previous year. The increase in violent anti-Semitic crimes is even higher.
“Anyone who prays for persecuted Christians must not forget religious freedom as a whole,” says the aid agency spokesman. The Church in Need assumes that around 200 million Christians worldwide endure their faith because of discrimination, distress and persecution.
Even on the run
Jan Probst, Managing Director of “Church in Need” Switzerland / Liechtenstein, is delighted that “we are holding the Red Week for the first time in Switzerland and Liechtenstein”.
Vigil in St. Gallen for persecuted Christians
The aid agency could include persecuted Christians on the solidarity of many parishes and believers. “The red light should help us to inform that many Christians around the world will have a difficult time in 2021 because they remain true to their faith, especially those who see more in their home country,” Probst explains to Kath. CH. The relief organization tries to support these people with its projects.
Ecumenical and trilingual
Lucia Wicki-Rensch, Head of Communication at “Church in Need (ACN)” Switzerland / Liechtenstein, calls the “Red Week” a powerful symbol for all martyrs who experience dying of their faith because of oppression, persecution or even death.
The campaign was also a success because it received support in all three parts of the country and from both Catholic and Reformed churches.
5.2 billion people affected
Two thirds of the people worldwide live in countries where religious freedom is restricted, says the managing director of “Church in Need” Germany, Florian Ripka.
That corresponds to 5.2 billion people. The number of Christians in these countries is over 600 million. But that does not mean that all these believers are “bloody persecuted”. But she lives under circumstances that interfere with her everyday and religious life.
© Catholic Media Center, November 22nd, 2021
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