Week of Christian Unity Program
Apply- Week of Unity Program (Core): January 17th – February 1st, 2027
- Week of Unity + Galilee Extension: January 17th – February 6th, 2027
- Full Six-Week Experience: January 17th – February 20th, 2027
Week of Christian Unity Program
The Week of Christian Unity Program offers a profound immersion into the ecumenical heart of Jerusalem through a curated schedule of excursions, expert lectures, and communal encounters. Designed to deepen knowledge of the city’s diverse Christian landscape, with a special focus on Oriental and Eastern traditions, the program invites participants to pray with a different tradition every evening following the unique Jerusalem calendar, which begins the Saturday after Armenian Christmas. This initiative is centered around the global Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, an observance organized annually by the World Council of Churches and the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, who jointly produce the foundational liturgical texts used by churches worldwide to foster ecumenical spirit and local contextualization.
Program
The heart of this program is the "Jerusalem Tradition" of evening prayers. Each evening, we join the local Christian communities in their diverse liturgical traditions, journeying to a different historic church in the city. Participants will follow the prayer rotation that moves between the Greek Orthodox at the Holy Sepulchre, the Anglican Cathedral, the Armenian Cathedral of St. James, the Latin Parish of St. Saviour, and the Upper Room (Cenacle) on Mount Zion, among others.
This program also includes:
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Lectures & Reflections: Morning sessions focused on the history of ecumenism in the Holy Land and the annual global theme for Christian Unity.
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An Encounter with the Living Traditions: Excursions to meet with local church leaders and learn about the traditions, challenges, and hopes of the various communities.
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Shared Heritage: Like our other programs, this includes visits to biblical sites that highlight our common roots, exploring how the geography of the Holy Land shapes our search for oneness in Christ.
[Click here to view the Unity Encounter sample itinerary.]
Program Extensions and Combinations
While the Week of Christian Unity is a standalone experience centered on Jerusalem, participants have the opportunity to expand their journey into a comprehensive six-week Holy Land experience. You may choose to extend your stay by adding a dedicated week in the Galilee or an additional two weeks exploring the broader Holy Land, allowing for a more exhaustive study of the region's biblical and historical sites. Please note that because the curriculum is designed as a sequential journey, participants cannot join the program mid-way; however, you are welcome to extend the Unity week by one or three weeks depending on your preference and desired level of immersion.
[Click here to view the six-week program sample itinerary], from which you can choose to add the Galilee week alone or the total additional three weeks to complete the full six-week experience.
Costs
Program fees include your room, all meals (including on overnight trips), all lectures and excursions, and all program related tips. There is no price reduction for missed meals, although simple packed lunches/dinners can be made in such cases.
2027 program fees Please note all prices are in US Dollars (USD)
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- Single room (with private bathroom) at Tantur & Single Room on Trips:
- Week of Unity Program (Core): January 17th – February 1st, 2027:
- Week of Unity + Galilee Extension: January 17th – February 6th, 2027:
- Full Six-Week Experience: January 17th – February 20th, 2027:
The first and the last days of this program are meant to be travel days for arrivals or departures. If you wish to arrive earlier or depart later than these transitional days, you may do so, space permitting, for an additional per-day fee. Our Reservations Office will endeavor to keep visitors in the same room throughout their stay. If you wish to extend your stay before and/or after your program, please contact the program office as soon as possible after acceptance to the program.
You will have some free time to explore the region at your own cost. Please budget for these opportunities and other personal expenses accordingly. Each participant should also have adequate medical insurance during their stay.
Payment
Payment is due upon arrival for a program. Further payment details will be sent to you when we have received your application.
Payment options are as follows:
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Credit Cards: Visa and Mastercard (American Express and Diners Club are not accepted)
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Wire transfers: payment should be made to the University of Notre Dame and clearly indicate the name and/or organization of the sending party for tracking and accounting purposes. Do not address the wire transfer to Tantur Ecumenical Institute. Payment will normally take 5 to 10 working days. Transfer fees are the responsibility of the party issuing payment.
Please note: we can no longer accept payments by cash or check.
Application
There is no deadline for applications, but we encourage you to apply as early as possible. Each application will be considered until a program is full, and may be placed on a waiting list thereafter.
A special note on visas: depending on your citizenship, you may need an advance Israeli visa to travel to Jerusalem. Please apply at least 90 days prior to the start of the program as this process can be lengthy, especially in late summer or early fall. For information on applying for a visa, please check with the Israeli embassy or consulate in your country of citizenship.