The next Days of Christian Encounter will take place in July 2014 in Wroclaw

„It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.!“ Gal 5,1

Görlitz, Niesky, Wisła, Český Těšín, Görlitz, Prag, Bratislava, Dresden – This is the chain of towns and cities through which, since 1991, leads the way of encounters of Christians from Central Europe. In 2011 the last stop was in Dresden and Central European believers took part in the events of the German Protestant Church Congress (Kirchentag). Christians from Hungary, Austria, Slovakia, Germany, Czech Republic and Poland will come together for the 9th time from 4th to 6th July 2014 in the Polish city Wroclaw to celebrate together 25 years after the fall of the Iron Curtain and the freedom to discuss, based on Galatians 5:1, the challenges that Christians face in the freedom in Christ. This is another excellent opportunity to meet with other European Churches in one place, brothers and sisters from very similar socio-cultural traditions and to become better acquainted and to share experiences with them. Wroclaw is the location for this meeting due to the fact that it was, at different times for different states, an importance and interesting city.

This time the organizer of this meeting is the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Poland. The bishop of the diocese of Wroclaw, Ryszard Bogusz, invited the preparation team, consisting of representatives of all eleven participating Churches from six countries, from 17th to 18th January 2013 for the second time to Wroclaw. This international team has been working together for over 20 years and it can be stated, although the members change annually, that already the preparations themselves are a valuable ecumenical experience in itself for all involved. Things discussed in Wroclaw were the program and the distribution of tasks, the funding, the registration process, the preparation of the songbook, the invitation of guests, the participation of the youth and the active participation of contributors from different countries. Preparations are already taking shape, from which it becomes increasingly clear what we can look forward to in Poland. The meeting will take place in the unique setting of the city of Wroclaw and a large portion of the programs will take place in the "Hall of the Century", which is on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. Please keep the date for the first weekend in July 2014 free and come to see and experience the atmosphere of the meeting that exceeds the borders of our country, to give our fellowship with other Churches a lively content, to share a common faith, to strengthen Christian unity in Europe and to take a further step on our pilgrimage to freedom. The website www.wroclaw2014.net will be available from April 2013 onwards and you can find more information there.

Daniela Hamrová