About the Movement

A continent-wide initiative encouraging every European nation to set aside one day, in law, on which its people may pray together for their country.

Generations of Europeans united in prayer across the continent

Who we are

A movement, not an institution

The National Days of Prayer Movement in Europe brings together churches, religious communities, public figures and ordinary citizens around a single, simple aim.

We are not a denomination, a political party or a lobby group. We are a network of people convinced that the peoples of Europe are strengthened when they are able to pray together for their nations — and that a National Day of Prayer, recognised by the state, gives that prayer a shared date, a shared voice and a lasting place in public life.

Our work is interdenominational by conviction. In every country the initiative belongs to the local churches, communities and leaders of that nation; the movement offers the experience, the precedents and the practical framework that others have already tested.

What guides us

Principles of the movement

Prayer first

Everything the movement does begins and ends with prayer for the nations of Europe — for their freedom, their peace and their common good.

Unity across confessions

The initiative is open to all Christian confessions and, where nations choose it, to interfaith participation. Unity is the point, not uniformity.

Respect for the state

We work through lawful, transparent parliamentary and governmental procedure, with full respect for constitutional order and freedom of religion.

National ownership

Each National Day of Prayer belongs to its own nation — its date, its form and its language are decided locally, by local leaders.

Service to society

A day of prayer is also a day of charity, compassion and service — its fruit is measured in the life of communities.

Open coordination

Materials, legal precedents and contacts are shared freely with anyone ready to carry the initiative in their country.

What we do

From an idea to a day in the national calendar

We gather and share the evidence

Europe’s history holds many moments in which united prayer preceded decisive change. The movement documents these stories, together with the legal texts and parliamentary procedures that turned a day of prayer into law in the United States and in Ukraine.

We connect people across borders

The movement introduces church leaders, parliamentarians and civic initiators to counterparts who have already walked this road, so that no national committee has to begin from a blank page.

We accompany national initiatives

From the first interdenominational meeting to the drafting of a legislative proposal and the celebration of the first National Day of Prayer, the movement offers a seven-step framework tested in practice.

  • Support in forming an interdenominational steering committee.
  • Model documents, vision papers and legislative language.
  • Guidance on engaging government and national leaders.
  • Materials for the first national celebration.

Our board

The International Board

The movement is guided by an international board drawn from across Europe and from the United States, where a National Day of Prayer has been established in law since 1988. Each member carries the initiative in their own country and answers for it there.

United States

Chair of the Board

Brings the experience of Public Law 100-307 and of a National Day of Prayer observed annually since 1988.

Poland

Board Member — Central Europe

Coordinates with churches and parliamentarians across Poland, Czechia, Slovakia and Hungary.

Germany

Board Member — Western Europe

Heir to the Leipzig Peace Prayers; works with the German-speaking churches and with the European institutions.

Austria

Board Member — Interconfessional Relations

Responsible for dialogue between Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant communities within the movement.

Ukraine

Board Member — Legal Precedent

Accompanied the 2025 resolution of the Verkhovna Rada and advises national committees on legislative procedure.

United Kingdom

Board Member — Northern Europe

Works with churches and public institutions across the British Isles and the Nordic countries.

Board members are confirmed country by country, and each name is published with that member’s consent. For correspondence with the board as a whole, write to info@nationaldayofprayer.eu.

These stories represent only a small part of Europe’s rich spiritual heritage. Every nation can recall moments when, in times of uncertainty, people united in prayer and witnessed events that shaped the destiny of their society.

From the movement’s brochure