Chicago, IL, May 23, 2025 – Ecumenism Metro Chicago and the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago welcome all to join an Ecumenical Prayer Vigil commemorating the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea and its foundational statement of unified Christian faith, the Nicene Creed.
The service – themed “The Mystery of Creation in Christ” – will be Sunday, June 8, at 3:00 p.m. at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 1017 North LaSalle Drive, Chicago, IL. The prayer vigil is hosted by the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago and is sponsored by Ecumenism Metro Chicago, a committee comprising 19 Christian faith traditions within the metropolitan Chicago area.
The prayer vigil will be presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago and accompanied by Christian denominational leaders of Ecumenism Metro Chicago.
This special vigil reflects on the mystery of creation as the cornerstone of salvation. Convened in 325 A.D., the Council of Nicaea affirmed the full humanity and divinity of Jesus Christ and preserved the unity of the Church in truth and love. The Nicene Creed continues to shape Christian worship across denominations to this day and is recited during service every week by Christians around the world.
“United by the Nicene Creed’s timeless words of faith and with open hearts, we welcome every believer to this prayer vigil. We look forward to joining our Christian brothers and sisters to celebrate the mystery of creation in Christ,” said Michael Terrien of Ecumenism Metro Chicago, the sponsoring organization.
“Seventeen hundred years ago, the 318 Holy Fathers of the Council of Nicaea confessed the universal Christian belief in the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—one God in three Persons. The Holy Trinity creates, transfigures, and sanctifies the world. Today, we, as Christians, come together not merely to commemorate the Council of Nicaea, but also to recommit ourselves to these unifying tenets of our faith,” said His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael.
Event Details
- Date and Time: Sunday, June 8, 2025, 3:00 p.m.
- Location: Annunciation Cathedral, 1017 North LaSalle Drive, Chicago, IL
- Livestream: www.annunciationcathedralchicago.org
- Admission: Free, with valet parking and reception to follow
Participating Christian Denominational Leaders
- Armenian Orthodox Church, Rev. Fr. Andreas Garabedian
- Church of the Brethren, Illinois and Wisconsin District, Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
- The Church of God in Christ, First Jurisdiction, Illinois, Bishop Ocie Booker, Rev. Dr. Michael Eaddy
- The Episcopal Church, Diocese of Chicago, Rev. Jaime Briceno
- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Bishop Yehiel Curry
- Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago, His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael
- The Polish National Catholic Church, Western Diocese, Fr. David Rowinski
- The Presbyterian Church (USA), Rev. M. Grayson Van Camp
- The Roman Catholic Church, Archdiocese of Chicago, Bishop Larry Sullivan
- St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Chicago, Fr. John Melepuram
- Syriac Orthodox Church, Rev. Fr. Samer Yacoub Youhanoun of Saint John the Baptist Church, Deacon Sharbel Jirji of St. Ephrem Syriac Orthodox Church
- Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Eparchy of St. Nicholas, Very Rev. Bohdan Nalysnyk
- United Methodist Church, Rev. Hyewon Sophia Carno
About Ecumenism Metro Chicago
Ecumenism Metro Chicago (EMC) was formed in 1999 to prepare for the Third Christian Millennium and is comprised of 19 Christian Churches within the Metropolitan Chicago area. In addition to sponsoring the annual Ecumenical Prayer Service observed as part of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the committee serves as a forum for ecumenical dialogue, understanding, hospitality, and the care of creation in the Chicagoland area. Originally called the Ecumenical Millennium Committee, the group’s name was changed to Ecumenism Metro Chicago in 2010.
About the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago
Tracing its roots back to the early 1920s, the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago is the bishopric of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, northern Indiana, and central Missouri, consisting of 58 parishes and two monastic communities. The Metropolis is one of nine eparchies in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and is presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago. The general offices of the Metropolis are temporarily located in Lombard, Illinois. For more information and to get involved, visit our Metropolis website and/or sign up to receive Metropolis news. For further information, contact the Metropolis of Chicago at: contactus@chicagometropolis.org or 312-736-2280.
For More Information
Ecumenism Metro Chicago
Michael Terrien, Obl. OSB
312-771-9996
Metropolis of Chicago
Chris Varones
312-213-3887
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