Orthodox participation into the 28th European Prayer Breakfast at the European Parliament

The 28th annual European Prayer Breakfast took place at the European Parliament in Brussels, on 3 December 2025. Rev. Fr. Sorin ȘELARU, the Director of the Representation of the Romanian Orthodox Church to the European Institutions, also took part into the event, delivering a closing blessing-prayer to the attendees.

A warm welcome by Mrs. Antonella SBERNA, Vice-president of the EP and responsible for the institution's dialogue with religious organisations, was followed by the introductory prayers, by Prince Charles-Adrien de Merode.

This year's topic for reflection was wisdom, with reference to St. James' words in his Letter: "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere." (James 3: 17). Drawing from the Scriptures, as well as from their respective traditions, the speakers highlighted the pressing need for wisdom, in today's extremely complex and in many ways challenging context, and even more so for political leaders.

In his remarks, Mr. Costas MAVRIDES pointed how "in a world overflowing with information but starving for wisdom, this verse from Scriptures reminds us that true wisdom is not something we manufacture — it is something we receive. It comes from above — from God Himself. This kind of wisdom shapes not just what we decide, but how we decide. It calls us to lead with purity, to seek peace rather than power, to listen before we speak, to show mercy instead of judgment, and to act with sincerity rather than self-interest. This of course is not an easy task. Still, when our decisions reflect this heavenly wisdom, nations are healed, trust is restored, and hope begins to rise again. We have gathered here in prayer for wisdom and in this Hope from above."

Established in 1998 by a group of like-minded Christian MEPs, the European Prayer Breakfast has grown into a much larger event, bringing together a few hundreds members and staff of EU institutions, religious leaders and friends of the European project, aiming at building upon the Christian foundations that were laid by the founding fathers of the European Union, back in the 1940s and 1950s.