Two-hundred leaders of Central European countries recently united in prayer to seek the Lord’s forgiveness and mercy. They each prayed,

We ask your forgiveness, and we surrender our pride, our bitterness, and our past and our future to You. We forgive those who have harmed us, and we release them from their debt. Break every chain of offense and every bond of hatred and renew our country.¹

These leaders, many of whom are members of the European Parliament, hail from twenty-five countries. They joined together at the first Central European Parliamentary Prayer Gathering, where Renewal Ministries Country Coordinator Dr. Bohumir (Bohus) Zivcak, from Slovakia, served as a worship leader. The event was organized by Gudrun Kugler, a member of the Austrian Parliament, and Eduard Heger, the former prime minister of Slovakia. It consisted of a six-hour boat ride from Bratislava, Slovakia, to Vienna, Austria, on the Danube River.

Zivcak said the inspiration for the gathering stemmed from prayer breakfasts held in various countries. The event’s location was significant because the Danube River connects many people in Central Europe, and organizers also wanted to pray against the sins of Communism in the location where the Iron Curtain had been located.

“The event gathered those who are used to praying so that they could pray for something bigger than their own country,” said Bohus. “There are forces operating on a bigger scale.”

This prayer gathering had additional significance because it was held eighty years since the end of World War II and seventy-five years since the Schuman Declaration, which began laying the groundwork for the formation of the European Union. Most of the people in the group were Catholic, but not all.

Bohus explained,

The idea was to bring out the wounds, curses, and bondage since World War II—which is mentioned almost every day, regarding the war between Russia and the Ukraine. These wounds have not been healed; they have not even been spoken about. They were quickly replaced by totalitarian regimes. . . . Working in these countries, you hit walls that were built by these wounds or in reaction to these wounds.

In addition to confessing their country’s wrongs, asking for forgiveness, and renouncing curses, participants also offered blessings for each other. Additionally, some shared testimonies of things that had happened throughout their countries’ histories, like persecution and the imprisonment or death of loved ones.

Participants said they felt Holy Spirit’s presence throughout the day.

Bohus said,

Christians’ voices need to be heard. I admire people who can sustain these political environments and also say what we have been discussing with Renewal Ministries for years—that key things need to be done to unlock the renewal, the Spirit, and mercy. St. John Paul II did this before the fall of Communism. This is a call on Christians in Parliament. On their own, they may not have a voice strong enough to change the country, the laws, or corruption, but these few Christians in Parliament bring a light to these places. If they are faithful to their calling in inviting God into these situations, miracles can happen. There is opposition, because we live in a world that is the enemy of God. But at the same time, the miracle of those few people of God being there as torches, bringing God’s light into these situations, is very nice to see.

Bohus saw a real depth of faith in the participants. “People were praying for each other individually,” he said. “It was good to see them comfortable with praying like that in fellowship. This was a sign to me that this has not happened overnight. They knew how to pray and why they were doing these things.”

Bohus said that amid growing feelings of divisiveness in the world, the day of prayer will have a powerful impact:

Seeing those leaders talking, laughing, and eating together made the idea of the European Union as a fellowship of countries in friendship, peace, and cooperation seem possible. The enemy always tries to divide, both countries and families. There has been so much division because of Covid, politics, and now war in Ukraine and Gaza. People are taking sides—and this is creating an atmosphere of suspicion, fear, sorrow, depression, and anger. You have these feelings when you read the newspaper or look at politics. The immediate fruit of these countries coming together in unity and praying for common intentions was that it fulfilled the prophecy of the Bible, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Mt 18:20).

The event reminded us that biblical promises are important.

God is touching things in us and in our world that need his healing and mercy. There will be untold fruit from this. Bands were loosened and doors were opened for Christ and the Holy Spirit to work in the people of those countries.

People from across the ocean prayed for the for the fall of Communism. They didn’t see immediate fruit. But without those prayers, Communism couldn’t have ended in the way it did—without bloodshed and killing. And now a similar threat is happening in Ukraine. These leaders came together to say, “God, this is your land. We release your power in these things.” God likes to work in small things.

Bohus added that the work accomplished at the prayer gathering doesn’t have to end there. During this Jubilee Year, he said great graces can be poured out if dioceses, parishes, and families repent and seek forgiveness for what they have done in the past or haven’t done and should be doing. He explained, “This is the condition for the mercy and grace of Jubilee Year to be released.”

Footnote
1. “Central European Prayer Breakfast,” Psalm 133, YouTube video, May 21, 2025, 3:04-7:54, www.youtube.com/watch?v=hprvJ7Sfn9M.

Image Credit: Team Kugler

You can see an inspiring video recap of the event here.

This article originally appeared in Renewal Ministries’ August 2025 newsletter.